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
Keep pandas in a stable, cycled tank of at least 20 L with RO water remineralized for Caridina, a pH of 5.2 to 6.2, TDS about 100 to 130, and 18 to 24 C. Active soil helps hold the acidic pH they need, and parameters must stay steady. Keep them with other Taiwan Bees or alone. Feed biofilm, botanicals, blanched vegetables and shrimp specific foods.
In the wild
The panda is a Taiwan Bee line of Caridina cantonensis with sharp, solid black and white banding that gives it a panda look. It shares the demanding care of other Taiwan Bees, needing soft, acidic, low TDS water. It is kept on active buffering soil with remineralized RO water and very stable conditions. Weaker pandas show muddy or broken color, so grade matters.
Good to know
The panda is a Taiwan Bee form of Caridina cantonensis, carrying the same recessive genetics as king kong and blue bolt. It wants lower pH and TDS than crystal shrimp, around a pH of 5.2 to 6.0. Its bold black and white pattern is a selected, line bred trait.
Did you know
Panda shrimp are among the harder Taiwan Bees to breed true, since clutches often include lower grade young with incomplete black and white banding.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Panda 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.
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)