How to Breed Scarlet Shrimp

Scarlet shrimp, otherwise known as skunk shrimp or scarlet cleaner shrimp, are quite handy to have in just about any saltwater tank. With their bright red backs and white "skunk" stripe, they add beauty to the tank while also providing a cleaning service. These shrimp are loved by almost all other tank mates due to their amazing cleaning abilities. They will remove parasites and dead tissue from the bodies of your fish, keeping them cleaner and healthier. Scarlet shrimp are hermaphrodites and change sex often, making it easy to find a breeding pair.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 scarlet shrimp (minimum)
  • Saltwater aquarium
  • Hatchery tank (optional)
  • Tank thermometer
  • Tank heater
  • Baby brine shrimp
  • Copepods
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Instructions

    • 1

      Have a saltwater tank set up before adding shrimp. Test the water temperature by adding a floating thermometer to the tank. Wait two hours before checking the temperature due to temperature fluctuations. Scarlet shrimp like temperatures of 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust the tank heater as necessary.

    • 2

      Place at least two scarlet shrimp in the tank. Wait about one week for the shrimp to decide which role they are going to play. One shrimp will molt and lose its exoskeleton; this shrimp is the female. The male will inject a sperm packet into the softened shell of the female. The eggs will be fertilized by this sperm packet as the eggs leave the female's body. The eggs will be carried under her body until they hatch. At this time, it is said that this egg-carrying shrimp will turn into the male and take care of the eggs, while leaving the other shrimp to lose its exoskeleton and be fertilized.

    • 3

      Look for the greenish eggs to start turning an amber color and then a silver color. This can take 14 to 20 days. Some of the babies can survive if they are hatched in the main tank, but it is rare. Once the eggs turn silver, it is recommended that you move the parent shrimp to the hatchery tank. This tank can be 5 gallons, and should be filled with water from the main tank. A thermometer and a heater are needed to keep the water in the hatchery at the same temperature.

    • 4

      The egg-carrying shrimp will find a good spot in a current and release the larvae as they hatch. If you decided to use a hatchery tank, remove the parent back to the adult tank immediately after the larvae are released. The adult will begin molting once more, returning to its female state to be fertilized again.

    • 5

      Feed the larvae with baby brine shrimp and copepods. In the hatchery tank, any brine shrimp that survive more than a day should be removed, as they can become too big for the baby scarlets and will only pollute the water. If you chose not to use a hatchery tank and are feeding in the adult tank, something else in the tank will clean up the left-over food. If a hatchery was used, return the babies to the adult tank when they have grown bigger than the mouths of other fish in the tank. They are less likely to be seen as food by then.