The Highly Popular Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp from Hong Kong

If you are into fishkeeping, you have probably heard of the highly popular Crystal Red and Crystal Black shrimp. Despite their small size—measuring just 2.5 to 3.5 cm (1 to 1.4 inches) in length—these tiny shrimps stand out due to their vibrant red-and-white or black-and-white patterns.

What you may not know, however, is that their wild ancestor is endemic to Hong Kong and the Guangdong province in southern China. In fact, its scientific name, Caridina cf. cantonensis, directly references its region of origin. The specific epithet cantonensis derives from Canton, the historical name for Guangzhou, which is the capital of Guangdong province and located just 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Hong Kong.

However, even though the ancestral line originates from this region, you will never see a true Crystal Red or Crystal Black shrimp in the wild. The "cf." in the scientific name stands for confer (meaning "compare to"). This notation indicates that the aquarium shrimp is a selectively bred color morph of the much less spectacular wild Caridina cantonensis, which only occurs in a few restricted natural localities.

Unlike its ornamental descendants, the wild Caridina cantonensis displays a predominantly dull, translucent, or sandy-beige body. It features faint, broken patterns of reddish-brown or black dots and dashes. This camouflage helps it blend into its natural background and effectively escape predators.