Scientific name:
Caridina woltereckae¹
Official common name: (accepted by ESA)
Harlequin shrimp
Unofficial synonyms:
–
Etymology:
–
Origin:
C. woltereckae is a lacustrine species endemic to Lake Towuti, Sulawesi, Indonesia; where it is widely distributed.¹
The image below show the distribution of the species within the lake.¹
Habitat:
C. woltereckae is found on hard substrate, specifically small rocks in shallow water. It can also be found in deeper water, however, where it hides between large rocks.¹
Size:
– (20 – 25mm)
Appearance:
–
Behaviour:
–
Difficulty:
Due to the delicate nature of these shrimp, I recommend only experienced and skilled aquarists attempt to keep this species.
Feeding:
–
Sexing:
–
Reproduction:
Reproduction takes place entirely in freshwater, and offspring immediately assume a benthic lifestyle.
Notes:
C. woltereckae is often confused with C. spongicola, a superficially similar species which forms a symbiosis with a freshwater sponge. Within the hobby today, exporters and hobbyists call this shrimp ‘spongicola’ erroneously. I have written a page on how to differentiate between the two species, but I am confident hobbyist will never see the true C. spongicola for sale.
Sources
- von Rintelen, K. & Cai, Y., (2009). Radiation of endemic species flocks in ancient lakes: systematic revision of the freshwater shrimp Caridina H. Milne Edwards, 1837 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) from the ancient lakes Of Sulawesi, Indonesia, with the description of eight new species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 57(2).
Images
Chris Lukhaup
“equator.web.fc2.com”:
Atyidae 