Black Panda Shrimp

Black Panda Shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis var. ‘Panda’ or ‘Black Panda’, often called Black Panda, Black King Kong Panda, or Shadow Panda in some lines) are a premium, selectively bred Taiwan Bee shrimp variety renowned for their intense black-and-white panda-like patterns. These feature a deep, opaque black base with bold, crisp white bands, stripes, or patches — especially a distinctive white “panda face” marking around the head/eyes, creating a high-contrast, tuxedo-striped or banded appearance that’s more intense and opaque than standard Crystal Black Shrimp.

Key Features & Appearance

• Coloration: Rich, velvety black dominant with sharp white vertical bands, stripes, or patches (often heavy on the body and tail); key panda trait is black face/head with white accents for contrast; high-grade lines show solid black coverage, clean white markings, and minimal translucency for dramatic pop.
• Size: Adults typically 1–1.2 inches (2.5–3 cm); juveniles smaller, developing full pattern with maturity.
• Behavior: Peaceful, somewhat shy grazers that forage on biofilm, algae, detritus, and decaying matter — excellent subtle cleaners. They thrive in groups (10+ for security and breeding) and are active but prefer hiding spots in planted tanks.
• Lifespan: 1–2 years (18–24 months typical) with excellent care.

These sensitive Caridina are more demanding than Neocaridina but offer stunning contrast and colony potential in stable setups.

Care Requirements

• Tank Size: 10+ gallons recommended; larger for better parameter stability.
• Water Parameters (critical):
  • Temperature: 20–26°C (68–79°F); optimal 22–24°C.
  • pH: 5.8–6.8 (acidic; RO water remineralized with bee shrimp salts).
  • GH: 4–6, KH: 0–2 (very soft, low carbonate to support molting).
  • TDS: 120–180 ppm typical for high grades.
• Setup Tips: Active buffering substrate (e.g., ADA Amazonia), dense moss (Java/Christmas), botanicals (Indian almond leaves, alder cones), driftwood, leaf litter for biofilm, hiding, and natural acidity. Low-flow sponge filters protect shrimplets; avoid copper, nitrates, overfeeding, or swings.
• Diet: Biofilm/algae primary; supplement lightly with shrimp-specific foods, blanched veggies, or pellets — lean feeding prevents crashes.
• Compatibility: Shrimp-only or ultra-peaceful nano tanks (small rasboras, otos, snails). Avoid aggressive fish, mixing with other Caridina (cross-breeding risks), or unstable conditions.

Breeding: Females carry turquoise/blue eggs/saddle, hatching 10–30+ shrimplets after 3–5 weeks. Success requires soft/acidic stability, cover, and careful selection for pattern intensity.

At Valley Aquatics, Black Panda Shrimp are a high-end favorite for Abbotsford’s advanced planted-tank keepers