A captive bred Taiwan Bee line of Caridina cantonensis, line bred from bee shrimp whose wild form lives in soft, acidic streams in southern China.
Overview
The King Kong shrimp is a high-grade Taiwan Bee, a dense, solid black shrimp with heavy white or bluish markings. It is for keepers with some soft-water experience.
Did you know
Breeding two King Kong shrimp can produce blue bolts and pandas. All three are different visible outcomes of the same Taiwan Bee genes.
Caring for the King Kong shrimp
Keep King Kong shrimp in a stable, cycled tank of at least 5 gal (19 L), ideally one that holds only their own kind. Active buffering soil helps hold the low pH they need. Moss and biofilm give them grazing surfaces and hiding places.
Taiwan Bees such as the King Kong are more demanding than crystal shrimp, wanting soft, acidic water with a lower pH and TDS. Use RO water remineralized for Caridina, at a pH of 5.2 to 6.2 and TDS around 100 to 130. Keep it at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C).
King Kongs tolerate no sudden changes, so acclimate them slowly and keep water quality high. They are also sensitive to copper.
Feed biofilm, botanicals and shrimp-specific foods. They are peaceful, social shrimp that graze constantly along the bottom and on plants.
A female carries her eggs under the tail and fans them until they hatch. The young are fully formed miniature shrimp, with no free-swimming larval stage. Breeding King Kongs is a moderate challenge.
Good to know
The King Kong is a Taiwan Bee line bred from the bee shrimp, Caridina logemanni, which is also sold as Caridina cantonensis. It carries a recessive trait for solid, heavy coloration. It also goes by the names King Kong Bee shrimp and black King Kong shrimp.
In the wild
The King Kong shrimp is a line bred in captivity from the bee shrimp. Wild bee shrimp live in soft, acidic streams in southern China.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The King Kong shrimp is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Is a King Kong shrimp a different species from the bee shrimp?
No. A King Kong shrimp is a variety of the bee shrimp, Caridina logemanni. It is kept the same way apart from difficulty and pH.
What size tank does a King Kong shrimp need?
A King Kong shrimp needs at least 5 gal (19 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What does a King Kong shrimp eat?
A King Kong shrimp grazes biofilm along the bottom and on plants. Give it botanicals and shrimp-specific foods too.
How big does a King Kong shrimp get?
An adult King Kong shrimp reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).
How does a King Kong shrimp breed?
A female King Kong shrimp carries her eggs under her tail, fanning them until they hatch as fully formed miniature shrimp. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.
1.6 in (4 cm)7 gal (25 L)64–73°F (18–23°C)
1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
2 in (5 cm)8 gal (30 L)59–81°F (15–27°C)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)5 gal (20 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)