Shrimp are a great addition to the freshwater tank, and they are available in an array of colors. However, it is not uncommon to see them looking dull and faded. This may be due to diet, stress, molting or their environment.
The color intensity of your shrimp depends on several factors, some of which make them among the rarest neocaridina shrimp. One of the most important is the aquarium substrate. Black substrate is known to bring out intense shrimp colors.
Genetics
Shrimp have a lot of different color pigments in their skin and shell. This allows them to blend in with the environment, camouflage, and even protect themselves. In the wild, shrimp often eat algae and bacteria that produce colorful pigments as part of their diet. The amount of this pigmentation that a shrimp has is genetically determined by its parents.
Aside from genetics, the amount of pigment a shrimp has is also affected by its environment. For example, scientists found that shrimp kept in black and red gravel had higher levels of total carotenoids (astaxanthins) than those in white gravel. Astaxanthin is a member of the carotenoid family of compounds that gives many animals (including humans) their yellow, orange and red colors. It is likely that the shrimps in the dark gravel produced more of this compound because they were able to absorb more light from their surroundings.
As a result, the shrimps in black and red gravel exhibited darker colors compared to those in white gravel. These results are important because they indicate that the coloration of a shrimp is influenced by its background. This is why most shrimp keepers use substrates like crushed lava or Akadama soil in their tanks.
Other factors that can cause a shrimp to lose its color include water quality, stress, and feeding conditions. For instance, shrimp can turn yellow if they are fed too much protein or are stressed. They can also lose their colors if the water is too warm or if they are exposed to too much sunlight. If you notice that your shrimp is losing its color, try to change the lighting in your tank or feed it a different food.
Food
In nature, shrimp are exposed to a wide variety of nutrients that affect their color pigments. Some of these are genetic, while others like the food they eat or aquarium decorations can affect their color intensity as well. This is why many shrimp keepers use different types of substrates like Black or Red gravel, Akadama soil or crushed lava in their tanks to boost the natural carotenoids (astaxanthin) and other colors in their shrimp.
The color of the shrimp depends on astaxanthin which belongs to a group of molecules called carotenes and is also the same molecule that turns carrots orange. Astaxanthin is bound to proteins and called crustacyanin, so it hides from the eye. But when the shrimp is cooked, this complex is destabilized and light can penetrate the exoskeleton and show off the pink color of astaxanthin.
This same chemical process also causes a cooked shrimp to lose its translucence and become white. The shape of the shrimp also changes when it’s fully cooked, becoming more curved than the straighter body of a raw shrimp. If you’re cooking shrimp, the best way to tell when they are ready is by using a thermometer or looking for the rosy hue that signifies their color transformation has been completed.
In the case of a bumblebee shrimp, a rusty trait is caused by astaxanthin in the shell and if it isn’t exposed to sunlight or other bright lights, it may appear rusted on the back. This does not impact the grade and a rusty bumblebee shrimp can still be high-grade. The same is true for other splotchy color traits like purple or deep red on blue dream shrimp. These do not affect grading but can be a beautiful feature to have in your tank.
Stress
Shrimp can be extremely stressed by changes to their water conditions. This can include a sudden change in temperature, a move from one aquarium to another, a new substrate, or even a big water change. When this occurs, they often start to lose their color. They may also have trouble eating because they are so stressed.
Usually, shrimp are able to regain their color once they are in the proper tank conditions. This means that the water needs to be at the right temperature, they need enough food, and they need hiding places where they can feel safe. Often, this will only take a few days for them to get back their original colors.
If you notice your shrimp are a little more gray or less orange than normal, this could be a sign that they are stressed out. It’s important to monitor their behavior and make sure they are not suffering from anything like muscular necrosis, which can lead to a rapid death.
When you see your shrimp huddled together in the corner of the tank, this can be a good indicator that they are not feeling well. They might be stressed out because they don’t have enough space to eat or they may be fighting with other shrimp. If they are just swimming around their tanks, this is a good sign that they are fine and healthy.
Occasionally, you might find your shrimp just sitting still for hours. This is a sign that they are trying to molt. You can tell if they are in the process of molting because you will see small pieces of their old skin all over their bodies. You might also notice that they have a broad light band across their head carapace or that the gill covers are sticking out.
Age
Shrimp are very sensitive to environmental changes and a sudden change in water parameters can cause them to lose their color. This is particularly true if the water is too warm or cold. This is why it is important to provide your shrimp with a stable environment and keep the water quality in good condition.
Another factor that can influence the intensity of shrimp color is age. Young shrimp tend to have less intense colors than adult shrimp. However, their color will usually intensify over time. Just be patient and give your shrimp time to mature.
In the shrimp hobby, intense color is one of the main factors that determines the trade value of a shrimp. This is why many aquarists prefer selective breeding of vividly coloured morphs over the collection of wild specimens.
The type and amount of food a shrimp eats can also influence its colouration. Some foods will enhance a shrimp’s colouration, while others may reduce it. If you want your shrimp to have an intense colouration, feed them a diet that is rich in proteins.
Besides food, other factors that can affect shrimp colour include age, stress, molting, and sickness. However, the good news is that most of these causes are easily preventable. All you have to do is maintain a healthy environment, make sure your shrimp are fed enough special shrimp food, and use a dark background and substrate in your shrimp tank. In addition, be patient and wait for your shrimp to fully mature before you start culling them. In this way, you will avoid making hasty decisions that might lead to the loss of your beloved pets’ intense colours.
Molting
A shrimp that is molting will have an opaque shell. This is a very normal part of the process and doesn’t mean that the shrimp is unhealthy or dying. They are simply molting to grow.
It’s important to keep in mind that this process can take a while and it takes some time for the new exoskeleton to be completely formed. This is also why it’s always good to do frequent water changes and have stable water parameters. This will help speed up the molting process and allow the shrimp to be more colorful after a molt.
Another thing to note about this is that if a shrimp’s molting is not going well it can lead to something known as the White Ring of Death. This is where the shrimp’s exoskeleton develops a white ring around it and starts to detach from the body. This can be very dangerous for the shrimp as it will make it extremely difficult for them to escape the shell. If this happens the shrimp will be highly stressed and can die within a couple days.
To avoid this from happening, be sure to provide a proper habitat for the shrimp to molt in. This means providing a dark substrate such as crushed lava, aquarium soil or even Akadama soil. This will ensure that the molt is being completed properly. It’s also important to not overfeed the shrimp during this time as this can lead to a premature molt and cause the shrimp to be less colorful than usual.
A shrimp keeper can also improve their shrimp’s coloration by adding Chlorella powder, Bee Pollen and Astaxanthin to their tank. Astaxanthin is a great source of the carotenoid family which helps to give a shrimp its yellow, orange and red colors.
