No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Caridina Babaulti
Caridina babaulti
Animalia›Arthropoda›Malacostraca›Atyidae
📍 South Asia
Caridina babaulti is a colourful Indian dwarf shrimp available in green, blue, yellow, and striped colour forms, all sharing the same species identity. It occupies an interesting middle ground between the hardy Neocaridina and the demanding Caridina cantonensis, preferring moderately soft, slightly acidic water but tolerating a broader range than bee shrimp. Active and personable, it is an excellent choice for intermediate shrimp keepers wanting more colour variety.
Care Guide
Diet
Caridina babaulti are omnivores that primarily graze on biofilm and algae in the aquarium, supplemented with high-quality shrimp pellets 2-3 times weekly. Offer blanched vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and cucumber weekly to ensure balanced nutrition and prevent algae overgrowth dependency. Occasional frozen foods such as bloodworms or daphnia provide protein variety.
Behavior
These shrimp are active foragers that spend most of their time exploring the substrate and plants for food, making them engaging to observe. They are peaceful and social, thriving in groups of 6 or more where they exhibit natural schooling behavior and reduced stress. Males may display minor competitive posturing but rarely cause harm to tank mates.
Breeding
Caridina babaulti breed readily in freshwater without requiring a brackish larval stage, making them moderately easy to breed in established tanks. Females produce small clutches of 20-30 shrimplets every 4-6 weeks when water parameters are stable and food is abundant. Survival rates improve significantly with dense plant cover and minimal predation from fish.
Tank Mates
Similar water requirements and peaceful temperament; excellent algae control companions
Compatible water parameters and non-aggressive; can be housed together without conflict
Peaceful bottom-dweller that shares similar soft water preferences and algae-grazing habits
Small, peaceful fish that won't predate on adult shrimp; prefers similar warm, slightly acidic water
Generally peaceful but may occasionally nip at shrimp; monitor behavior closely
Hardy plant that provides shelter and grazing surfaces without being uprooted by shrimp activity
Common Diseases
Bacterial Infection
Discoloration, lethargy, white patches on body or appendages, molting difficulties
Perform 25% water changes every 2-3 days, maintain pristine water quality, remove affected individuals to quarantine if severe
Fungal Infection
White or gray fuzzy growth on body or antennae, reduced activity, difficulty molting
Increase water circulation, reduce organic waste, perform frequent partial water changes; consider adding Indian almond leaves for tannins
Molting Problems
Inability to shed exoskeleton, lethargy, death shortly after molting attempt
Ensure adequate calcium and minerals through quality food and mineral supplements; maintain stable pH and GH; avoid sudden parameter changes
Parasitic Infection
Excessive scratching, visible parasites on body, lethargy, loss of appetite
Quarantine affected shrimp, perform daily water changes in main tank, maintain optimal water parameters; avoid copper-based treatments
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with Caridina Babaulti to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – biofilm, algae, shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables
- breeding
- Moderate; breeds in freshwater without brackish larval stage
- lifespan
- 1.5–2 years
- max size
- 3 cm (1.2 in)
- tank size
- 5 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <15 ppm
- hardness
- 3–12 dGH
- temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)