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InvertebrateFreshwaterHard

Curated catalog

Taiwan Bee Shrimp (King Kong / Panda)

Caridina cantonensis var. Taiwan Bee

The *Caridina* Taiwan Bee (King Kong and Panda variants) represents one of the absolute pinnacles of selective breeding. Compared to Crystals, they possess a solid, dense color that looks painted in enamel. This extreme beauty has a price: due to intense inbreeding, Taiwan Bees are significantly more fragile and reproduce with enormous difficulty. They require fanatic maintenance: constant TDS at 110-130, absolute KH 0, pH below 6.0 and maniacal hygiene. A minimal thermal or chemical shock causes sudden death.

Family
Atyidae
Origin
Incrocio complesso (selezionato a Taiwan) derivato da Crystal Red, Crystal Black e Golden Bee, nato per stabilizzare una mutazione genetica che intensifica enormemente la densità dei pigmenti.
Tank use
Used in 0 tanks
Temperature

18 °C - 23 °C

pH

5.5 - 6.2

Water type

Freshwater

Ecological role

Pascolatore di biofilm di altissima selezione

Copper

Estrema (Mortalità fulminea al 100%)

Description

The Osmotic Agony and the Ritual Drip (The Water Change That Kills Futile Deaf):

With Taiwan Bee, FORGET the jug. When you do the weekly 10% water change, the new water (perfectly remineralized) MUST BE ADDED BY DRIP ACCLIMATION. Use an airline tubing with a valve and let it fall into the tank at the rate of 1 drop per second. Pouring half a liter of water all at once will cause a microscopic osmotic shock, sufficient to block molting and exterminate the colony within a week. Patience is not a virtue here, it is the only way not to kill them.

Care and observations

The Curse of Inbreeding (The Invisible Hunger and the Inept Cub Futile Blind):

Taiwan Bees are genetically weak. The survival rate of the babies is DRAMATICALLY low. Unlike the CRS, the newborn King Kong ARE INEPT AND STATIC. They do not move to look for food: if they do not find biofilm (bacteria) EXACTLY in the millimeter in which they are born, they will die of starvation in 3 days. It is MANDATORY to dose bacterial powders (like Bacter AE) so that they are distributed on every grain of soil. Furthermore, growth is very slow: they take twice as long as a Crystal to reach adulthood.

Invertebrate profile

Type
Gamberetto Nano Estremo (Acqua Tenera)
Diet
Onnivoro specializzato / Biofilm / Integratori in polvere batterica obbligatori per i cuccioli
Ecological role
Pascolatore di biofilm di altissima selezione
Minimum group
10
Adult size
2.2 cm
GH
4 dGH - 5 dGH
KH
0 dKH - 0 dKH
TDS
110 ppm - 130 ppm
Copper
Estrema (Mortalità fulminea al 100%)
Shock sensitivity
Massima (Uccise istantaneamente da sbalzi termici o chimici minimi)
Calcium and minerals
Medio (Tollerano poco il GH alto, bilanciamento chimico complesso)
Molting
Crescita estremamente lenta. Problemi di muta frequenti se l'alimentazione manca di minerali traccia o il TDS supera i 150.
Reproduction
Basso tasso di sopravvivenza giovanile. La femmina rilascia meno uova rispetto alle CRS e i cuccioli sono statici e inetti per i primi giorni.
Compatibility
Monospecifico assoluto. Possono essere incrociate con le CRS/CBS (creando ibridi 'Mischling' o 'Taitibee'), ma farlo rovinerebbe la purezza della linea King Kong/Panda.

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.