What kind of shrimp is this?

[authmal]

When I saw them in the ghost shrimp tank I swore they were snowballs so I got them but the only reason as to why I can't be sure now is that most pictures of snowballs I see are really pure white and mine aren't. That and I've never had snowballs before so its hard for me to just say, they're white so that makes them snowballs, you know. But for sure they arent amanos because my amanos look way different and are, like you said, huge compared to these guys. From what I know though, snowballs dont have spots, but once again, never had them so can't be sure XD They look like this today. White body with tannish tips :3

I'm no expert, but the eyes and heads seem to be shaped a little differently than those of ghost shrimp, too. If I had to guess, I'd definitely say some kind of neocaridina heteropoda, the only question is what variation. I'm disappointed that the guy you dealt with at your LFS didn't notice that. IMO, ghost shrimp eyes are much wider and higher set on the heads, and frankly, they're kinda ugly. Send a PM to Msjinkzd. She's the invert pro in these parts, it seems. She's answered all of my questions with apparent ease.

 

[kaurushin]

If I had to guess, I'd definitely say some kind of neocaridina heteropoda, the only question is what variation. I'm disappointed that the guy you dealt with at your LFS didn't notice that. IMO, ghost shrimp eyes are much wider and higher set on the heads, and frankly, they're kinda ugly.

I agree with you. I know they are some sort of dwarf shrimp, neocaridina heteropoda, and I'm pretty sure that I'm caring for them just fine. Its just I was really curious on the variation because it doesnt look like any other shrimp I've seen. At this point I'm going to just say they are wilds but it appears I have a mixed variation seeing as some look a little red/brown and some look really white/slightly yellow. Ghosts also have that angled body that makes them rigid looking. They are kinda ugly compared to all the other shrimp but they are interesting nontheless; very aggressive though .~.

 

[msjinkzd]

They are not snowballs, definitely not amanos, definitely not ghost/grass shrimp. It would be helpful if you could get a picture from the side, to get the shape of hte rostrum (nose) and the topline, as well as the angle of the body.

 

[kaurushin]

These are probably the best I can get with my camera. Its way too old. Hopefully these will help.

 

[msjinkzd]

see, now those look like snowballs


Definitely neocaridina though!

 

[kaurushin]

Heres more pictures, hoping they help.

I am starting to suspect they are something else. I was visiting multiple invert sites and on one I finally found something that seems to match what I was speaking of. The shrimp I had obtained as "ghosts" started to gain color but as they did, I noticed some were pink(they never turned red), yellows, whites, and tannish with white markings. They also seemed to be all female. I think I may have what petshrimp.com calls Indian Whitebanded shrimp/Rainbow shrimp. I have never heard of those names before and he claims that he is "not aware of anyone else keeping and breeding this shrimp" and that is it rare. Of course that doesnt change what they are, it just makes me wonder how they got to be in my tank if that was the case haha. That aside, msjinkzd, judging from the somewhat clearer pictures, what do you think they could be?

 

[msjinkzd]

Caridina babaulti "malaya", Indian white banded, is a possibility. Those last pics are MUCH better. See how the rostrum has a flatter top line and projects a little mroe and the body line is "fatter".

 

[TwoHobbies]

Let me see if I can help some.

I agree that it is likely you own one of these three.
While Malaya, Indian White banded, and Rainbow all look similar in a picture when you see them in person it is much easier to tell them apart. If you own any other Neocaridina species it will help.

First off I will start with Malaya (very rare) and almost no chance they are Malaya. Females are larger than RCS and the ones I have owned are much darker than the ones you have pictured. If they are Malaya all the ones you have pictured are females, as males are much smaller and have four black dots on the underside of the body. The males also tend to look more yellow than that tan. Like I said "very unlikely"

Indian Whie banded shrimp are the color of the ones you have pictured, but are much smaller than RCS. They could be IWB if the size fits, but again I'd say "unlikely"

Of those three, my best guess whould be Rainbow shrimp. They are slightly larger than RCS and as they grow they will look different. There color as they age could be yellow, green, blue, as well as the brownish they are now.

Of course there is also a good chance that they are a mutt of some type.

 

[kaurushin]

Well I'm finding that some have dots, some dont. Then some of them who have dots seem to be female. They might be pale because they are still adjusting. If they really are one of the three I think if I wait and see when they breed, then I will know for sure as they appear very similar but their breeding seems to be different. I'm also reading up that the Indian white banded shrimp have that one random long stripe going down. Is it also present in the Malaya?