Mary Allen
A new trend is emerging in aquaristics: dwarf shrimp. Zurich resident Jonas Frey is fascinated by the tiny crustaceans. He can hardly get enough of their magnificent colors and their exciting behavior.
It’s warm, a little damp, the lights are dimmed. We are in Jonas Frey’s so-called shrimp room – on the ground floor of a block of flats in the middle of Zurich Höngg. Aquariums are lined up along the walls and water basins of different sizes are also stacked in the middle of the small room. It smells a bit strong – like dried seaweed, as Frey says. He turns on the visitor light.
Prawns, shrimps, shrimps – these adaptable animals, which belong to the group of free-swimming crabs, are becoming increasingly popular in aquaristics. In particular, tiny freshwater shrimp are experiencing a boom. Because they are easy to keep and brightly colored, dwarf shrimp are a popular alternative to fish in the aquarium. Frey is also committed to them.
The best-known freshwater shrimp in aquarists are the tiger and bee shrimp from the Caridina genus. They grow up to 25 millimeters long, with the females being larger than the males. The colors and the black or white stripes have given these animals their names. Breeding is all about color intensity, pigmentation, and its distribution. “The hype really started with the crystal red dwarf shrimp ‘Crystal Red’,” says Jonas Frey. “Especially in Japan, attempts are being made to breed dwarf shrimp. A little animal with the perfect pigmentation can cost 10,000 francs.” In Switzerland, dwarf shrimp are available for CHF 3 to 25.
Undemanding Omnivores
“First I have to feed the shrimp a bit,” says Frey, throwing a small piece of dried seaweed into each tank. In no time a knot of hungry shrimp forms. The animals skillfully divide their food. The behavior of the dwarf shrimp fascinates Frey again and again. “They fight over the food,” he says, “the big ones sit on top and the little ones have to wait outside until they get something. Luckily, the shrimp shed small particles when they eat, so everyone gets their share.” In another tank, some of the colorful shrimp take it a little slower. “Shrimp only need to be fed every two to three days. Even if you go on holiday for a week, the shrimp can easily be left unattended.” Dwarf shrimp are omnivores. “The little animals are easy to keep. They turn over the stones and always find something to nibble on.”
The most important and at the same time most delicate factor when keeping dwarf shrimp is the water quality. Freshwater shrimp like a clean and unpolluted environment. That’s why Jonas Frey’s tip for anyone who wants to have a tank with freshwater shrimp: don’t rush things and proceed slowly. First, a suitable basis for life must be established in the aquarium. This process, which breeders call “running in the tank”, takes five to six weeks. Water levels need to be adjusted. The bio-flora and -fauna must form. This is the only way for the shrimp to feel comfortable and survive. Only when the tank is no longer “biologically sterile” can the animals move into the new tank.
Frey tells how he became a dwarf shrimp breeder. «A few years ago I was given an aquarium. Unfortunately, the poor fish all died,” he says with a smile. «I came across the mini shrimp through a friend and have stuck with it.» At first, he only had a small pool. Over time, more and more aquariums would have piled up in his living room. Until he finally rented a room: the shrimp room.
“Anyone who has had dwarf shrimp will stick with it.” The colorful little animals would have interesting behavior. “You can watch for hours and always discover something new. The small aquarium is an oasis of calm.»