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What are hybrid shrimp
In the hobby Hybrid Shrimp is a generic term that can describe a few types of offspring that occur when different types of shrimp mate. The result is usually an undesirable ugly shrimp with little value. This article is designed to describe the types of hybrid shrimp that can occur and how to avoid them.
The main reasons for avoiding hybrid shrimp is by keeping two shrimp that will  hybridise together you will eventually only be left with the hybrid offspring. If too many people do this there is a chance the distinct varietys could die out. That isn't to say you shouldn't keep any hybrid shrimp you get accidentally but you should not keep them in the same tank as other shrimp you are breeding and selling. A stray hybrid in the wrong tank could ruin somebody elses breeding plans.
How to avoid your shrimp hybridising
Consult our easy to understand chart. Shrimp in green with a N are safe to be kept together, Y in red will hybridise. Note: This chart only takes in to account if the species will hybridise not if the water and tank requirements are compatible.
| Species | C
h
e
r
r
y | C
R
S | B
e
e | B
u
m
b
l
e
b
e
e | T
I
g
e
r | S
r
I
l
a
n
k
a | G
r
e
e
n | B
l
u
e
T
I
g
e
r | S
n
o
w
b
a
l
l | B
l
u
e
P
e
a
r
l | A
m
a
n
o | R
e
d
N
o
s
e |
N
I
n
j
a | M
a
l
a
y
a | S
t
r
I
p
e
s | S
u
l
a
w
e
s
i | Y
e
l
l
o
w | W
i
l
d
C
h
e
r
r
y |
|
N. Heteropoda var Red
|
Cherry
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N |
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y | Y |
|
C. cf. Cantonensis "Crystal Red"
|
CRS
|
N
|
X
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C. cf. Cantonensis "Bee"
|
Bee
|
N
|
Y
|
X
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C.
cf Breviata
|
Bumblebee
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C. cf. Cantonensis "Tiger"
|
Tiger
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C.
Simoni Simoni
|
Sri
Lanka Dwarf
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C. Babulti var “Green”
|
Green
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C. cf. Cantonensis "Blue Tiger"
|
Blue
Tiger
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
N.
cf. Zhangjiajiensis var White
|
Snowball
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y | Y |
|
N.
cf. Zhangjiajiensis var Blue
|
Blue
Pearl
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y | Y |
|
C.
Multidentata
|
Amano
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C. Gracilirostras
|
Red
Nose
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C. Serratirostris
|
Ninja
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C.
Babulti var “malaya”
|
Malayan
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
Y
|
N
|
N | N |
|
C.
Babulti var “stripes”
|
Stripes
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
X
|
N
|
N | N |
|
All Sulawesi Shrimp Species
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X
|
N | N |
|
N. Heteropoda var Yellow
|
Yellow
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N |
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
X | Y |
|
N. Heteropoda
|
Wild Cherry
|
X
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N |
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N |
N |
N |
Y |
X |
There are several Shrimp available that won't hybridise with any shrimp, mostly this is because they need brackish or salt water for the babies to survive so can't breed in freshwater. Species that aren't known to hybridise with other shrimp include Amano Shrimp, Sri Lankan Dwarf Shrimp, All Filter Shrimp species, Ninja shrimp, Manderin shrimp, All Sulawesi shrimp.
Types of hybrid shrimp
A true hybrid occurs when two animal of different (but related) species breed (e.g. Tiger and Lion making a Tigon). In shrimp keeping this occurs when shrimp of closely related species such as Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina Heteropoda var 'Red') and Snowball shrimp (Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis var. white). The result of these breeding will be an ugly brown coloured shrimp rather than a nice pink one.
The second type of hybrid that can occur is when two line bred colour morphs of the same species breed. This is similar to breeding two separate breeds of dog and the unpredictable mutt they produce. In shrimp keeping this occurs when breeding Cherry and Yellow shrimp (Both variations of Neocaridina Heteropoda). In this case the colour is unpredictible but will be closely related to the wild colours of Neocaridina Heteropoda.
The final type of shrimp hybrid occurs only with Crystal Red Shrimp and Bee shrimp. Basically both shrimp are the same species, one that carrys the dominant black gene and one that carries the recessive red gene. If they breed the resulting offspring will look like bee shrimp, but will carry the red gene. If this generation breed some of the babies should be CRS, the rest would be Bee shrimp. This can be used to your advantage to improve the quality of the white stripes (or the genetics in general), but only if you are very careful. If you aren't careful the tank will eventually be all Bee Shrimp.
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marlindude – May 12, 2010, 4:02 pm