Is your tank ready for Sulawesi shrimp?
Only if it's already holding warm, alkaline water and the rock carries visible biofilm. Every Sulawesi lake species we sell wants the same numbers, whatever the color:
- Temperature 79-86°F (26-30°C)
- pH 7.5-8.5
- GH 4-8 dGH and KH 3-6 dKH
- TDS 150-250 ppm
- Nitrate kept under 10 ppm
Test water taken from the tank, not the figures on a mineral label. A tank that has only just finished cycling isn't ready yet. These shrimp graze the film on the hardscape all day, and prepared food can't make up for a young system. Still building one? A Sulawesi shrimp tank for beginners needs that grazing growth on inert rock before the first shrimp go in.
Which Sulawesi line should you pick first?
None of these lines is a beginner shrimp, so pick the one you'll enjoy looking at once your water is stable. If this is your first Sulawesi tank, we'd start with a Lake Matano or Lake Poso line, such as White Sock or Blue Leg Poso, before a Lake Towuti species such as Red Line.
Many of the names here are color lines, not separate animals. White Sock, Oiran, White Ghost and the Orange Eyes lines are all listed as Caridina dennerli. By contrast, Harlequin (Caridina woltereckae), Mini Blue (Caridina loehae) and Six Banded (Caridina holthuisi) are species of their own. Knowing the types of Sulawesi shrimp apart helps most when you're deciding whether two lines should share a tank.
Can Sulawesi shrimp share a tank with fish or other shrimp?
Usually not. Most fish will eat shrimplets, peaceful ones included. Bee and Crystal Caridina need different water altogether, and a breeding Neocaridina colony competes with your Sulawesi shrimp for the same grazing surface. If you want company for the colony, the tank mates that suit Sulawesi shrimp are mostly snails, not fish.
How shipping from Vietnam changes your Sulawesi shrimp order
Every order ships from Vietnam for one flat charge under our shipping policy for live shrimp. You'll pay it once if you put all the lines you want into a single order. Check your country's rules on importing live invertebrates before you buy.
When the box arrives, follow the instructions packed with the shrimp and film the unboxing from the sealed outer box onward. The live arrival guarantee needs that video and a report within 2 hours of delivery.