cherry red question

[john]

I know that cherry reds are a color variation of the wild form of Neocaridina denticulata sinensis, but how then did they get the red color that is the cherry red? Were two wild colors bred until the red showed up, and if so how was this possible? Forgive me if this is obvious, but I was wondering about it the other day. Thanks,
John

[Robert]

I know that cherry reds are a color variation of the wild form of Neocaridina denticulata sinensis, but how then did they get the red color that is the cherry red? Were two wild colors bred until the red showed up, and if so how was this possible? Forgive me if this is obvious, but I was wondering about it the other day. Thanks,
John

Hi,
the cherry shrimp are said to be a mutation of the normal Neocaridina denticulata sinensis which occurred in Taiwan. It's said that someone found them while catching lifefood and later on he selected the offspring of these red wild-caught shrimps.

I cannot tell you what causes the red coloration but it is no albinism (total lack of melanin -> no black pigments anymore) because cherry shrimp can show darker forms of melanin (black color pigment) too. It could be malfunction in the melanin-syntheses-chain but I cannot say anything for sure because I found no detailed information about it yet.
Some say the red of the cherry shrimps is a fat-soluble color which consists of carotinoids. So the shrimp has to convert the carotens of the food into storeable forms before it can store it in its dermis cells. Then a caroten-rich diet would help them to find enough caroten for their metalbolism to convert it into their own storeable forms. But such a diet won't imporve the coloration that much because the amount of pigments a dermis (skin) cell can store is limted.

Best regards

Robert

[Walter]

Hmm.. This sounds really interesting.. But how about some cases where the shrimps which were less red turned redder? Does this means that shrimp itself can already store more pigments? Just that it didn't show it out? (maybe due to stress) So does all cherries have the same capacity of red pigments or every individual differs? :)

[Robert]

Hi Walter,
most fishes and reptiles and I guess certain crustacea too have chromatophores in their skin. These little pigment cells are connected to tiny muscles. Each pigment cell has a muscles, so they can change the appearance of their coloration of their skin. I guess our small dwarf shrimps can do this too or such color changes like malayan shrimps or cherry shrimps show won't be possible. These chromatophores should be below the exoskeleton in the tissues below it because the exoskeleton is colorless (you can see when the shrimps molt).

Best regards

Robert

[Walter]

Oh I see, thanks for the info.. :)