Pure Red Line Crystal Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis var. “Crystal Red” – PRL)

Pure Red Line Crystal Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis var. “Crystal Red” – PRL)

The Pure Red Line (PRL) Crystal Shrimp is a selectively bred strain of Crystal Red Shrimp that has been kept within dedicated PRL bloodlines for generations. Unlike standard CRS, which may have Golden Bee or other genes mixed in, PRL shrimp are guaranteed to produce only Pure Red Line offspring. This makes them highly prized by serious shrimp breeders and collectors.

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Caridina cantonensis var. “Crystal Red” (PRL)

Origin: Selectively bred lines from Japan and Taiwan

Size: 2–3 cm

Lifespan: 1.5–2 years

Difficulty: Advanced – requires stable, soft, acidic water

Tank Requirements

Minimum Tank Size: 20 litres

Water Temperature: 20–23 °C

pH: 5.5–6.5

GH: 4–6

KH: 0–1

TDS: 100–160 ppm

Substrate: Active buffering substrate is essential (e.g., ADA Amazonia, SL Aqua, etc.)

Care & Notes

Best kept in species-only tanks for purity and stability.

Require remineralised RO water for long-term success.

Thrive in planted setups with mosses, driftwood, and natural biofilm.

Sensitive to parameter swings – stable conditions are more important than chasing numbers.

Feed high-quality shrimp foods, blanched greens, and allow biofilm/algae to grow naturally.

✅ Perfect for: Dedicated shrimp breeders and collectors who want to maintain or improve Pure Red Line genetics.

⚠️ Note: PRL are not the same as “high grade CRS” – all PRL are CRS, but not all CRS are PRL. PRL will always produce PRL offspring, while regular CRS may throw Golden Bee genetics or revert in pattern.