Rudolph Shrimp
Gracidina gracilirostris
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3–4.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 45 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Species profile
Red Nose Shrimp
Gracidina gracilirostris
Common names: Red Nose Shrimp, Pinocchio Shrimp, Rudolph Shrimp
Recognized speciesOther Shrimp
Adult size
Up to 4.5 cm
Typical adult length 3–4.5 cm.
Up to 4.5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Advanced shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A slim, clear shrimp with a long, red, pointed rostrum, which gives it the name Pinocchio Shrimp.
Appearance and Identification
A slim, clear shrimp with a long, red, pointed rostrum, which gives it the name Pinocchio Shrimp.
Formerly known as Caridina gracilirostris, a name still widely used in shops.
Females are usually slightly larger, with a fuller underside, particularly when carrying eggs. Males are slimmer, although the differences can be subtle.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 200–250 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 50 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 cm
- Minimum group size
- 6
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Use a mature aquarium of 20 litres or more with plants, wood, and plenty of biofilm. Keep filter intakes guarded, and avoid sudden changes.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Peaceful and active, spending most of the day grazing on biofilm.
Maintain with conspecifics or peaceful shrimp-safe tankmates where ecological requirements overlap.
Not normally territorial.
Suits calm, small fish and other peaceful shrimp with similar water needs. Large fish may eat adults, and most fish will eat young shrimp.
Water Parameters
Neutral to slightly alkaline, moderately hard water suits this shrimp. Keep it clean and well oxygenated.
Parameter caveat
Stable, mature conditions are essential; do not chase exact numbers through abrupt corrections.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Aufwuchs Grazer, Detritivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Mature biofilmCore natural grazing resource.
- Fine complete shrimp foodFeed sparingly and remove excess.
Omnivorous grazer and fine-particle feeder. Offer mature biofilm, algae, detritus, and varied small prepared foods.
Monitor body condition and avoid overfeeding or unstable organic waste accumulation.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Larval Development
- Breeding difficulty
- Very difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 25 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7.25
- Brood or egg count
- Not well documented
- Incubation
- 28 days
- Parental care
- Maternal care
- Baby foods
- Microscopic natural food and mature biofilmExact juvenile or larval requirements depend on the species.
Produces larvae rather than miniature benthic juveniles. Amphidromous or estuarine life-history requirements make captive rearing difficult.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Asia, Australia, India, Indo-Pacific, Indonesia, Madagascar, Palau, Philippines, Thailand
- Natural habitat
- Estuary, Freshwater Stream
- Aquarium contexts
- Shrimp Tank, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Gracidina
- Family
- Atyidae
- Species group
- Other Shrimp
- Previous scientific names
- Caridina gracilirostris, Former combination retained for aquarium-trade recognition.
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- Adult size
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- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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