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What are Rili shrimp? They’re called Rili’s because their rili pattern features a colored head and tail with a translucent midsection, making Rili Shrimp a standout variety of Neocaridina. These dwarf freshwater shrimp, native to Taiwan, thrive in planted tanks with plenty of shelter and hiding spots. They are peaceful and friendly, making them great additions to just about any tank.
Carbon Rili shrimp hold special significance for Flip Aquatics as they were one of the first dwarf shrimp bred by our founder, Robert Lupton. The Carbon Rili shrimp, known for its distinctive black body with a typically clear midsection, is a unique and less common variety of shrimp. They are often displaying spots of black and blue. The Carbon Rili line still has variability in breeding, with offspring ranging from solid black to clear and Carbon Rili patterns. While they don't always produce the typical rili pattern, their hardiness makes them an excellent alternative to cherry shrimp for beginners. Carbons are one of the hardiest shrimp and do well in many conditions.
The Red Rili shrimp is a color variant of the cherry shrimp, developed and stabilized around 2010. They thrive under the same conditions as cherry shrimp and other Neocaridina species. Despite their origins in cherry shrimp, selective breeding has made Red Rili shrimp slightly more sensitive to tank parameters and fluctuations. However, they are still considered beginner-friendly and relatively easy to care for. Our Red Rili shrimp are healthy and near breeding age, making them a vibrant and manageable addition to any aquarium.
Orange Rili Neocaridina shrimp are a striking variation, known for their bright orange carapace, clear midsection, and vibrant orange tail. Developed from the Orange Pumpkin Neocaridina, these shrimp are highly sought after for their stunning coloration and unique patterns, which add a brilliant pop of color to any aquarium. They stand out due to their distinctive color morph. The combination of their bold orange segments and the clear, almost translucent midsection creates a captivating visual contrast that will draw attention making them a favorite among aquarists looking to add variety and beauty to their shrimp tanks.
For feeding Neocaridina shrimp-like Rili shrimp, we suggest offering a varied diet for optimal health. We've received great feedback from our customers about the benefits of Northfin Foods. Based on this, we created a blend using Northfin food to meet our shrimp's nutritional needs. You can make the same blend we use for our neocaridina usingNorthfin Veggie,Northfin Community,NorthfinBug Pro, and Kelp Wafers. We simply put the four kinds of food in a coffee grinder and blend it. When blending the food you’ll notice some pieces are smaller and some are bigger chunks, this is okay and ensures shrimp of various sizes all get fed rather than fighting over larger pieces. This combination ensures that your shrimp receives a balanced and nutritious diet.
For our livestock, we use reverse osmosis (RO) water. This process involves removing impurities from the water, and then remineralizing it to suit the specific needs of the livestock. If you are unable to obtain RO water, we recommend using distilled water, which you can then remineralize for your aquarium.
For Neocaridina shrimp, we specifically use our Shrimple GH and KH to remineralize the water. These products are designed to be extremely user-friendly, with convenient pumps that allow for precise measurements. Typically, we suggest a remineralization ratio of 2:1, meaning the General Hardness (GH) should be twice the level of the Carbonate Hardness (KH). For example, start with a GH of 10 and a KH of 5. This balance ensures an optimal environment for the shrimp.
Here are the water parameters we maintain for our rili shrimp:
pH: 6.5-7.5
Temperature: 72-78°F (22-25°C)
General Hardness (GH): 8-12
Carbonate Hardness (KH): 4-6
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 200-300 ppm
Maintaining these parameters helps to ensure the health and well-being of your shrimp, providing them with the essential minerals they need. By following these guidelines, you can create a stable and thriving environment for your aquatic pets.
When asked, "What's the most essential part of a successful shrimp tank?" our answer is always the same: moss, leaf matter, and a piece of driftwood. Among these three key elements, moss is the most crucial.
Moss: Moss offers numerous advantages for an aquarium, particularly regarding keeping shrimp. It transforms an aquarium into a thriving ecosystem. It helps reduce ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites, but its primary benefit is enhancing baby shrimp survival rates. It provides excellent refuge for young shrimp and increases the surface area available for them to graze. Additionally, moss serves as a breeding ground for microorganisms essential to baby shrimp survival.
Beyond its many benefits, many mosses like java moss are incredibly easy to maintain and propagate. Although it can be a slow grower, it becomes hardy once established, making it perfect for those who may not have a green thumb.
Driftwood: Driftwood is essential for shrimp tanks for several reasons. It plays a crucial role in shrimp breeding by creating additional surface area for biofilm and beneficial bacteria to grow. Driftwood also releases beneficial tannins into the water, simulating the shrimp's natural habitat and providing antifungal and antibacterial properties. Moreover, it offers ample hiding places for shrimp, ensuring they feel secure. Lastly, driftwood serves as a natural feeding ground for shrimp of all types, making it an indispensable component of a healthy and thriving shrimp tank.
First, Malaysian driftwood sinks immediately due to its density. Unlike other types of wood, there’s no need to wait for it to become waterlogged, no need for anchoring, and no hassle. Second, it significantly increases the surface area in the tank. Shrimp need places to hide, graze, and rest, and adding driftwood can more than double the available surface area. Additionally, Malaysian driftwood's dark color helps conceal algae growth, which we typically dislike. This hidden algae provides a natural and unobtrusive food source for the shrimp.
Finally, Malaysian driftwood releases beneficial tannins into the water, offering antifungal and antibacterial properties. While many people prefer clear aquarium water, at Flip Aquatics, we believe the slight discoloration adds character to the tank and makes the shrimp feel more comfortable.
Leaf matter: When it comes to leaf matter, there are many options, but we have exclusively used Indian Almond Leaves in our tanks since 2010. We've witnessed their numerous benefits, including antibacterial and antifungal properties, additional hiding places, and most importantly, a constant food source for shrimplets.
Many hobbyists use Indian Almond Leavesto create black water conditions, mimicking the natural environment of specific shrimp or fish. IALs help lower the pH in aquariums by releasing humic acid and tannins into the water, which also changes the water color. These tannins help combat and sometimes treat bacterial and fungal issues in the aquarium. Additionally, IALs are considered a good source of calcium and may enhance the fertility of shrimp and fish.
Given these benefits, we continue to use Indian Almond Leaves as an essential component in breeding shrimp. It's worth noting that Indian Almond Leaves are also known by many other names, including Ketapang Leaves, Tropical Almond Leaves, Sweet Almond Leaves, Wild Almond Leaves, Sea Almond Leaves, and Catappa Leaves.
