Blue Leg Poso Sulawesi Shrimp
Caridina caerulea
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 2–3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 30 litres
- Temperature
- 27–30 °C
Species profile
Dwarf Orange Crayfish
Cambarellus patzcuarensis
Common names: Dwarf Orange Crayfish, CPO Crayfish, Mexican Dwarf Orange Crayfish, Cambarellus patzcuarensis Orange
Colour varietyDwarf Crayfish
Adult size
Up to 5 cm
Typical adult length 3–5 cm.
Up to 5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Intermediate shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
- Breeding colonies
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- You want to preserve another Cambarellus colour line
- Water conditions change frequently
A selectively bred orange colour form of the small Mexican crayfish Cambarellus patzcuarensis.
Appearance and Identification
Bright orange to reddish-orange body colour, often with darker marbling, stripes, or mottling across the carapace and abdomen.
The accepted species is Cambarellus patzcuarensis. “Orange” or “var. Orange” is an aquarium-trade colour form and should not be included as a formal scientific variety name.
Mature males have modified first swimmerets used in mating; females have a broader abdomen for carrying eggs.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 120–150 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 25–50 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 30 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 3
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Provide many caves, leaf litter, plants, and visual barriers. Use a secure lid and sponge-protected filter intakes.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Active dwarf crayfish that explores plants, substrate, and hardscape and may defend small shelters.
Can sometimes be maintained in a group when the aquarium has many separated shelters, but aggression and limb loss remain possible.
Moderately territorial, especially during moulting and around caves.
More community-compatible than large crayfish, but small shrimp, slow fish, snails, eggs, and moulting animals remain at risk.
Water Parameters
Provide mineralized, well-filtered water, multiple shelters, and a secure lid. Stable hardness is especially important during moulting.
Parameter caveat
Stability is more important than chasing an exact number.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Omnivore, Predator, Scavenger
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Complete dwarf-crayfish foodUse as the dietary base.
- Leaf litter and vegetablesProvides fibre and grazing material.
- Small animal-based foodOffer in moderate portions.
Omnivorous scavenger. Feed complete crustacean food, vegetables, leaf litter, and moderate animal protein.
Feed in several places when keeping a group, and provide mineral availability for moulting.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Direct Developer, Egg Brooder
- Breeding difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding temperature
- 22 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7.4
- Brood or egg count
- Approximately 20–60 eggs
- Incubation
- 28 days
- Parental care
- Maternal care
- Baby foods
- Fine complete crustacean food and biofilmProvide moss, leaf litter, and many small shelters.
Females carry eggs and hatchlings beneath the abdomen. Juveniles develop directly but require dense shelter to reduce predation and cannibalism.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Lake Pátzcuaro, Mexico
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater Wetland, Lake, Vegetated Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Freshwater Community, Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Colour variety
- Genus
- Cambarellus
- Family
- Cambaridae
- Species group
- Dwarf Crayfish
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