Bumblebee Eggs! (Hybrid mom??)

[Kaylee Skylyn]

I found one of my Bumblebee shrimp with eggs this week! I am so happy!

Or at least I thought she was bumblebee untill I posted the pics (in another forum) and a few people thought she was a tiger. Did a little browsing and it looks like she could be a hybrid of bumblebee and tiger??!?

What do you guys think?

They were sold to me as Bumblebees so I asumed they were pure...but this one does have funny colouring... If she is hybrid I may remove her from the breeding tank(and give her a good home in another small tetra tank). Makes me sad but I don't want to breed hybrids.

http://www.silentecho.org/aquaria/photos/Bumblebeeshrimpwitheggs-05Dec15%20067W.jpg

http://www.silentecho.org/aquaria/photos/Bumblebeeshrimpwitheggs-05Dec15%20007W.jpg

http://www.silentecho.org/aquaria/photos/Bumblebeeshrimpwitheggs-05Dec15%20046W.jpg

[gr81]

hmm, realy looks like hybrid of BB and tyger.
I also bought so caled "blue babaulty" and they "hatched" to tigers :)

[Pconnieae]

Hi all,

Kaylee Skylyn, are you sure that your shrimps are Caridina sp. bumble bee? The one of the pic really looks like a Caridina sp. bee "wild form" for me.

Here is a pic of one my pregnant female Caridina sp. bee "wild form":

http://furcata.free.fr/divers/bee_shrimp_sn.jpg

And here is a pic of a pregnant Caridina sp. bumble bee:

http://furcata.free.fr/divers/Caridina_sp_bumble_bee_grainee_sn.jpg

[GunmetalBlue]

Kaylee, when seen in person, does your female have an orangish rostrum and tail at all? Both Tiger and Bee have that; also, I've seen a pic of a hybrid Tiger/Bee combo - their rostrum and tail is still orangish since they both carry that color anyway.

If it does not have an orangish rostrum and tail, I would tend to lean toward her being a Bumblebee, with the small possibility of hybridization with either Tiger or Bee. Some say BB can hybridize with Tiger or Bee; some say only a small possibility..... I personally have not seen that combo yet, that's why I'm very unsure in that regard (though it's still recommended to keep each respective species apart, as you've noted).

Those skinny white lines on her back do look strangely suspicious if she's supposed to be a Bumblebee...

-GB

[rully_lukita]

I found one of my Bumblebee shrimp with eggs this week! I am so happy!

Or at least I thought she was bumblebee untill I posted the pics (in another forum) and a few people thought she was a tiger. Did a little browsing and it looks like she could be a hybrid of bumblebee and tiger??!?

What do you guys think?

They were sold to me as Bumblebees so I asumed they were pure...but this one does have funny colouring... If she is hybrid I may remove her from the breeding tank(and give her a good home in another small tetra tank). Makes me sad but I don't want to breed hybrids.


Kaylee, water parameter ph,gh,kh in your AQ....pls :):)

[retardo]

Tigers and Bee Shrimp cross-breed. You may have a hybrid, with stronger traits exhibiting the "bee".

**EDIT** Actually, I take that back... I think it may simply be a Bee, without stronger solid lines.

[Kaylee Skylyn]

Well the rest of the batch she came with looked very 'bumblebee'.

Heres a few others:

http://www.silentecho.org/aquaria/photos/BumbleBeeShrimp-caridinaSp-05Nov01%20059w.jpg

http://www.silentecho.org/aquaria/photos/BumbleBeeShrimp-caridinaSp2-05Nov01%20017W.jpg

So far she is the only one with eggs...hopefully more will come soon!

[Kaylee Skylyn]

Whoa, ninja posts!

PH 7.2
KH...uhh..not tested. Low tho as its rain water.
Lights on 10 hours a day, tones of java moss, riccia and some Vals
Sponge filter and 2 airstones.

GB> Ah thanks for the info! That was going to be my next question...if you can tell hybrids from pures.

I suspected they were wild caught due to the colour variations ( I had the staff try and catch me ones with nice colours) but really don't know...

PS: her tail does not seem to have any redish brown tint that I have noticed...

PSS: Pic of her befor eggs. Shows her lines well.

http://www.silentecho.org/aquaria/photos/BumbleBeeShrimp-caridinaSp2-05Nov01%20032w.jpg

[GunmetalBlue]

GB> Ah thanks for the info! That was going to be my next question...if you can tell hybrids from pures.

Hi Kaylee, the extra pics really help; it's great that you have such nice clear photos of them. :)

I asked who I consider a trusted source and their opinion was that the shrimp in question definitely looks like a hybrid between a Bumblebee and a Bee. But to be sure if it is so, one would have to deliberately cross a Bumblebee with a Bee in an isolated tank and see if they look similar to your shrimp.

That's the part I don't have - I haven't yet seen a reliable source who have conducted this experiment with picture proof - so we can only speculate that your shrimp is a hybrid at this time, though I do think your shrimp strongly suggests it.

My personal opinion is that the head area looks like a Bumblebee (no orange rostrom, correct area of light stripe), but the tail area does not (I haven't yet seen a BB with multiple white striping similar to what yours has).

-GB

[GunmetalBlue]

Hi Kaylee, I tried to message you but your PM function is turned off - so I hope you won't mind my asking a question here, though a bit off topic. :anxious: :blush:

From what I can see, I notice that your Bumblebees get a blue-ish tint on their undersides like mine do. Of course it's hard to relay the exact color through pictures and everyone's moniters are calibrated different, but I recognize that particular "inky blue" color. I had been trying to determine some causes for Bumblebee shrimp displaying a temporary blue tint; not the kind that someone might have tinted on purpose, but rather, as a result of water parameter changes.


http://www.silentecho.org/aquaria/photos/BumbleBeeShrimp-caridinaSp-05Nov01%20059w.jpg

My BB's occasionally take on a blue tint toward the bottom half of their body, just under their head and around the area where their legs come out. They display it most, I think, when the pH or possibly other water parameter changes a bit. So I was wondering if you've noticed this phenomenon too? And if so, have you been able to determine what might cause it? If you've made any observations in this regard, I would be very interested to know!

Thanks for any info! :)

-GB

[Kaylee Skylyn]

Hmms, noI had not noticed this yet. I do often take photos after a waterchange tho because they seem to be more active for a while after the waterchange and I can get better shots (otherwise they are prity hiden). I use pure rain water in their tank but don't test ever time so it is posible it fluctuates in PH and quality from time to time.

I've only had them for a few months now but I'll keep an eye out for any colour changes like you mentioned.

Sorry I can't help much....

Kaylee

PS. I'm not sure how to turn on PMs...I dont see it as an option in my control panel options.

[Robert]

Hi Brenda,
you need 20 posts ++ to send personal messages. So please wait a bit longer and write more posts. Every new member is not allowed to write or get PMs at first.

BTW, I took a look on your website and I'm fascinated by this beautiful pictures. Some of the plants remember me on our own local species and all in all it bring a short moment of spring and summer into my dark winter world. Thank you! I also like the insect pictures, especially the butterflies.

best regards
Robert

[Kaylee Skylyn]

Ah, ok. Thanks for the info Robert.

Thanks!
I really enjoy taking photos. Really glad you liked them! Its nice to have a bit of summer in the midst of winter. The insects are the most chalanging but also the most rewarding. Thanks! :D