Looking for 'local' Caridina shrimps

[Trichopsis]

Hi everyone,

This is probably going to be quite a strange request for assistance in sourcing for a particular species of shrimp. You see, I'm not interested in any of the fancy shrimps found in the trade today, but am looking for examples of one of the local species of Caridina.

My current setup is supposed to represent a selection of small fishes and invertebrates that can be found in streams and drains in some of the rural areas of Singapore. Not so much a stream in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest, more like those streams and marshes you might find in the open areas and agricultural land in Kranji.

Based on what I've read, my best shot is probably the form listed as Caridina weberi sumatrensis or Caridina sumatrensis. I'm not too sure as to whether it's commonly represented in the local shrimp trade, and whether it has its own unique trade name. And I'm also a little confused as to how to identify this species at a glance, compared to all the countless other shrimp species and colour varieties*. I've found photos of what are supposed to be Caridina sumatrensis on Flickr here and here, as well as some photos here, but I honestly have no experience in identifying the various species of shrimps.

Any idea as to where I can get this species of shrimp, and how to differentiate it from other Caridina shrimps in the store? Catching my own shrimps from the wild is quite out of the question, since I have no idea as to where I have the best chances of finding them, as well as any possible legal issues arising from collecting shrimps, even if I'm not at the reservoir or nature reserve.

Would appreciate any useful suggestions. Thanks in advance!

*Honestly, I probably wouldn't even know if I'd gotten Caridina babaulti or some other species. But I'm anal enough to want to at least try to obtain a shimp species known to occur in Singapore.

[Draka]

Hey, I feel that your best shot, would be to collect Caridina propinqua as, if the suppliers have been getting the species right, then these would be brackish breeders who are able to be acclimatised to freshwater. I refer to the orange shrimp selling for 80 cents to $2.50 per pc, as they too are supposed to be brackish breeders that are able to be acclimatised to freshwater, and their appearance is sufficiently different from other shrimp that you are able to tell them apart. Doubt the orange ones are what you will find in Singapore though. Choose those that have changed colour, some of mine a while back changed colours to blue-brown and brown.

[eviltrain]

Try google for caridina temesek. Its last known to be found on peninsiula malaysia and singapore stream.

Send from my GT-P1000 (Overcome 7 Series v4.0.0)

[Trichopsis]

Thanks for the advice.

eviltrain: Caridina temasek is listed as locally Endangered, and I don't think it's available in the stores. As far as I know, its range is within the Central Catchment Area, and probably isn't the hardy, open-country sort of shrimp I'm looking for. But thanks for the suggestion.

[Navanod]

I got some unknown shrimps from a bro and it looks like this:





Is it similar to what you're looking for? But it's probably not local or mangrove type although I have no idea at all.
They are pretty able climbers though

[Trichopsis]

Navanod: Looks close enough. I probably won't ever be able to know for sure if they match the species I'm looking for, unless there's a shop that explicitly labels its shrimps as Caridina sumatrensis. (Still a newbie where it comes to differentiating freshwater shrimps)

I suppose I could settle for Malaya shrimp Caridina sp. "Malaya" (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4), since they are from a neighbouring country and should be similar enough to the local Caridina found in our reservoirs and open-country streams. Are there any stores where this species is known to be in regular supply?

And what's the best way to tell this apart from Yamato shrimp (Caridina multidentata) at a glance? Was at Sam's Pet & Aquarium at Marine Parade earlier on, saw some atyid shrimps and nearly succumbed to temptation, until I saw that they were Yamato. Found this old AQ thread on differentiating Malaya shrimp from Yamato, is the information accurate with regards to Malayans having a white stripe and Yamatos having tiny spots?

[Draka]

Malayans can have no stripe and yamatos can sometimes have stripe. The mistake is also easy to make if the yamatos are young, so careful there.

[stormhawk]

Some will not have the "skunk" stripe, some will. Yamatos will have the tiny spots on the body. It is very difficult to make a mistake between the two shrimps, since their head profiles do differ. A check on Google will show you some variability in the colors of the Malayans. The Yamato is not as variable in color forms.

See these two pics and you will see the difference in the head profile:
http://www.theshrimptank.com/Picture...o-shrimp-1.jpg <-- Yamato (short rostrum - longer antennal spine)
http://www.theshrimpfarm.com/images/caridina_sp_3.jpg <-- Malayan (longer rostrum)

Photo of the Yamato shows the spotting I mentioned in the thread you referenced. These side spots are not present on Malayans, which are far more cryptic in coloration and pattern, along with behavior. Mine were experts at hiding, not so much the Yamato, which are more gregarious and "out-going".

The Temasek shrimp are present in a stream along a dirt path that takes you from Bukit Timah and out at SICC on the other end. It's a hiking trail. That area is still within the confines of the Central Catchment Area so catch at your own risk.

[eviltrain]

Wooo. Mod stormhawk getting more and more expert lo. When setting up shrimp rack? Hehe

Send from my GT-P1000 (Overcome 7 Series v4.0.0)

[Navanod]

I thought Temasek shrimps are endangered? Better not to collect them since TS already says he wanted more "hardy, open-country sort of shrimp" in #4. Haha.
One wonders why no one is starting a captive breeding program to save the shrimp?

[Simon]

Errr, please do not poach from the wild, in the nature reserves or what's not.

[Draka]

Mein gott! Thank you very much stormhawk... Good to know the shrimp's biotype. Purely for interest of cause, purely for interest heh heh heh. After all, both locally endangered AND in the reserve. It's just that it'll be very interesting to really see shrimp reproducing in the wild, as it is. Normally you'd expect them to be fish food.

[Simon]

the correct spelling is biotope, Draka. Not so much as it is endangered or anything of that sort, but as hobbyist, we should learn to appreciate and preserve the remaining natural environment we still have.
I have come across some beautiful streams with health community of fish, invertebrates and plants

[Draka]

the correct spelling is biotope, Draka. Not so much as it is endangered or anything of that sort, but as hobbyist, we should learn to appreciate and preserve the remaining natural environment we still have.
I have come across some beautiful streams with health community of fish, invertebrates and plants

I understand. Woah what shrimp is that? Long arms haha.

[Simon]

no idea, I don't have a clue

[xconnect.]

I catch those shrimp before song grow very big and they have a blue strip at its back look like the mini prawn that we eat

[Shaihulud]

I have a local species of dwarf shrimp, but of what kind I have no idea. It is smaller than any of the commercial species and is especially hardy.

[eviltrain]

I have a local species of dwarf shrimp, but of what kind I have no idea. It is smaller than any of the commercial species and is especially hardy.

bro, any photos of it?

[Draka]

Yep pictures please if possible!

[stormhawk]

The stream I came across was a small jungle stream. Was not equipped to take readings of the water at the time, but it was a fast flowing stream, much narrower than the one photographed in Simon's pictures. You can see them clearly in the water foraging on the stream bed and among the small rocks. This was many years ago during a expedition I took in my Scout years, so the stream may have changed by now. Still, it's illegal to collect them so don't do it. If you have to, just take a photograph, and release it back into the water.

Alan, no space for shrimp rack. Have plans for a small Sulawesi tank just for C. dennerli but still in planning stages only.