A Comprehensive Guide to Breeding Boa Shrimp

A big thank you to everyone who has given me great feedback on the post. I’ll keep writing my thoughts.

Reading online reviews of restaurants is something Ben likes to do. He makes notes on which ones he wants to go to. He called up a restaurant reserving a seat for himself on Friday for one. He told himself for this Christmas day, he will treat himself for once. As the day approaches, Ben was very excited as he knew that the quality will be top notch. The Christmas decoration of the restaurant and the table setting is immaculate. When he walked into the restaurant, he was greeted with a glass of wine. The waiter then brought him the menu.

Ben loves his steak so he browse through the selections and different cuts, all were very tempting. He had to decide between Wagyu beef from Japan or the same cut from a different country. However, the price difference is quite substantial at the higher grade. Eventually he went ahead with the Japan Wagyu selection. Once dinner was over, he asked the waiter to save him a seat next week because he was eager to try a steak from a different country. A few good steak wrapped up his Christmas celebration!.

There are plenty of restaurant in the world like there are plenty of shrimp breeder globally. Some breeders do really well with a certain type of shrimp because they made it, while for others, they use other breeders to make their own line. Take Japan Wagyu as an example. It may cost three to four times as much as beef from other countries, but does the higher price reflect the higher quality? If you ask me, I think it does. Anybody who have tried it will understand. However, everyone have their own budget and it is perfectly fine to work within it. The most important thing is that you enjoy the hobby. When you see your prize shrimp collection, it makes you feel great, like a foodie having a “mouth-gasm.” https://www. urbandictionary. com/define. php?term=mouthgasm.

There isn’t an easy way to be successful, even if you have a colony of high-quality shrimp. Ignorance and short cut only result in the demise of the shrimp hobby. The root cause in my opinion is the sharing of knowledge and information where truth become twisted. Everyone in this great hobby should be honest with each other. If they are, I think it will be even better. There have been times when hobbyists dumped low-quality shrimp on newcomers who were so excited about the hobby that they quit when they found out the truth. This is also caused by dishonest stores that sell shrimp that aren’t really from the place they say they are from. Therefore, the source (a more in-depth explanation in another post) of where the shrimp comes from is much more important than the low price. The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

As i sink in deeper to further understand this the more i learn about where misconception can arise. Boa is a selectively bred shrimp, and anyone can “copy” or make Boa from Stardust. However, it is important to keep in mind that the way breeders choose which shrimp to use as starters, how they kill them, the conditions of their tanks, the food they give them, and other things are all very different. The original shrimp used to make Boa is already different, and even a small change would have a very different result. So, it’s safe to say that if I order a Wagyu A5 steak from another country, I won’t get a delicious Japan Wagyu A5 steak. They may look the same (at least to me), but they are graded, stored, and prepared differently. Even at grade A5, there are a wide band to the quality of wagyu.

Of course, everyone is free to choose how to grade their shrimp, but I personally prefer to use a system that comes from a well-known lineage. If you want to sell your shrimp, it’s better to get advice from a reputable breeder than to spread rumors about how to grade them. If I want to buy a Boa from a reputable breeder, for example, I’ll use their grading as a guide to figure out the different grades. Grading is hard because you have to learn how to do it over time. A point system will help with that. For instance, to get a Grade 2 or Grade 3 shrimp, it has to meet certain standards. If it does, it will be graded as is.

There is, however, a range within a grade that lets the breeder grade two shrimp that may look a little different but are the same grade. This can either be done through descriptive or point system or both. It could mean that a grade will be given if a certain set of criteria is checked off.

S Grade for Golden Boa. Thin facial lines, very few to no body spots, slightly transparent at certain parts. Spider legs.

SS Female Boa. The colors on this might have a bluish tint to them, but at this grade, it’s possible that the colors aren’t fully shown yet. These are young women who will look beautiful as adults (look at their body pattern). In this grade, it’s important that the body have some spots. Having a lot of spots on the body are usually more desirable compared to fewer spots. Facial spots and pattern are big instead of thin lines and rather numerous. Spider legs coloration. This will generalize the grading for SS especially having heavier weightage on body spots.

SS Male Boa, on the other hand, has a smaller body area, so less of the criteria are met at each grade. Within the same grading methodology a SS male will not look as nice as a SS female. The reason is that men’s lower bodies don’t have enough room for a lot of spots. People will pay a lot of money to get their hands on a nice male because they are so hard to find.

A SSS Female Boa. The blue color is on top of the base color fishbone pattern, and it goes around the patterns on the body and face. Body spots are more obvious with abundant sprays of spot throughout the belly area. The facial pattern on this is modest with distinctive differentiation between the base color and face pattern. Spider legs with bluish tinge, swimmerets are colored as well.

A SSS (Competition grade) Female Boa. Color on this is uncontested where the colors illuminate the pattern on the shrimp. The golden hue mix with the metallic blue accentuate the overall shrimp coloration. The numerous body spots sprays across the mid section of the shrimp with high intense coverage. There is a sense of contrast between the black base color and the face pattern because the face pattern is big but not too big. Here the facial pattern has to balance between big patterns but not covering the entire face. The legs are fully colored in the spider leg fashion. The back black line helps trace the shrimp framing itself into a beauty of it’s own.

Here is a picture where the Boa are grazing on the Lubao (Microorganism ball). To help with the breeding program, it’s important to have a grazing material (please read microorganism ball post here).

Boas change color many times during their lives. If they are happy, with good water conditions and not too much food or grazing, they will keep breeding and look better with each molt. The picture at the top shows the female Boa a month after I got it, and the picture at the bottom shows it in its third month. The colors as you can clearly see intensifies to a darker shade of blue. Yes you are right both of the time when i took the picture she is berried.

People often ask me what i do to be successful in shrimp breeding? Keep it simple. No magic powder, nothing. If you want to keep your aquarium simple, like me, I change the water often and don’t feed the fish too much. There isn’t a magic formula; the less I do, the better they breed, and all I do every day is feed them with the Hwa version 1 food pad once or twice and give them the microorganism ball to help them graze. That’s all. simple yet very effective. I believe there are too many “bells What it does is help is certainly confusing hobbyist and pulls them further away from success.

I said at the beginning of this post that I enjoy the hobby. For me, it’s all about telling my friends about my journey of keeping and breeding shrimp. Sharing the information, knowledge and the shrimps with everyone. More importantly, I always think that everyone should be able to enjoy the hobby, and I like to share the fun with my close family.

I hope this post helped you understand more about Boa grading. Stay safe wherever you are, and have a great 2021!

Boa shrimp have become one of the most popular and sought-after varieties of freshwater aquarium shrimp. Characterized by their unique patterns and vibrant colors, these ornate shrimp are a true marvel of selective breeding. However, propagating quality boa shrimp takes dedication and care. In this guide, I’ll share tips and best practices to help you successfully breed these captivating shrimp.

Origin and Background

First emerging in the late 2010s, boa shrimp descend from a mix of different caridina shrimp including Galaxy Pinto Stardust, Galaxy Tigers, Galaxy Snowflakes, and more. Each of these shrimp varieties contributed desirable traits that were refined through meticulous breeding to create the boa shrimp.

Key traits passed on include:

Intricate spotted patterns from Galaxy Pinto Stardust
Bold stripes from Galaxy Tigers
Delicate snowflake markings from Galaxy Snowflakes

By combining the best attributes of their predecessor shrimp, boa shrimp feature stunning colors, distinctive markings, and unmistakable appeal

Housing and Care

Providing proper housing and care is essential to keep your boa shrimp healthy and ready for successful breeding, Here are some key tips

Tank Size – A 10 gallon or larger tank is recommended. This allows you to maintain stable water parameters.
Planted Tank – Live plants help process waste and provide grazing surfaces. Include moss, ferns, anubias, buce, etc.
Stable Water Parameters – Maintain a GH of 4-8, KH of 0-2, pH of 6.4-7.4, and temperature of 68-74°F.
Filtration – Use a gentle filter like a sponge filter to avoid harming baby shrimp.
Diet – Feed a varied diet including shrimp pellets, blanched veggies, algae wafers, and calcium-rich foods.

Keeping parameters, nutrition, and tank conditions optimal will promote shrimp health, longevity, and breeding capability. Perform regular water changes and tank maintenance too.

Selecting Boa Shrimp for Breeding

When acquiring boa shrimp, hand-pick the highest quality specimens you can find as breeding stock. Carefully examine color intensity, pattern quality, overall harmony, and genetic potential.

Vibrant colors – Metallic, intense hues are ideal
Well-defined patterns – Clear, bold back and head markings
Minimal flaws – No disruptive spots or blemishes
Healthy appearance – Robust size and full bellies
Reputable source – Obtain shrimp with known lineage and traits

Selectively breeding only the best shrimp gives you a strong genetic foundation. Continuing to cull lower quality offspring preserves desirable traits over generations.

Sexing Boa Shrimp

Being able to differentiate male and female boa shrimp is key for breeding purposes. Here’s how to tell them apart:

Females – Larger size, fuller curved underbelly, brighter coloration
Males – Smaller size, slimmer straighter underbelly, paler coloration
Saddle – Females develop a yellow/green saddle which holds eggs beneath tail

When possible, select young females with strong coloration to reach their peak quality as adults. Having multiple high-grade females and fewer males is ideal.

Breeding Setup

Your breeding tank setup can impact breeding success. Follow these recommendations:

Species only – Keep only boa shrimp in the breeding tank
Lower population – 10-15 shrimp max to reduce competition
Natural decor – Driftwood, leaves, alder cones for grazing and hiding spots
Moss – Java moss provides excellent egg-holding surfaces
Stable water – Maintain excellent and very stable parameters
Natural cycles – Allow daylight and seasonal temperature fluctuations to promote natural breeding cues

Optimizing the tank conditions will encourage shrimp to breed successfully. Now let’s look at the breeding process itself.

The Boa Shrimp Breeding Process

Under ideal conditions, boa shrimp will breed fairly readily. Here is what to expect:

Courtship – Males actively chase and flick females to encourage mating
Spawning – Females release pheromones when ready, males fertilize eggs as they are laid
Saddle development – About 3 weeks after mating, female saddles fill with green eggs
Hatching – Approximately 4 weeks after mating, females hatch 30-40 larvae
Baby development – Larvae cling to the female for 2-3 days, then become free-swimming

The females can store sperm to continue having multiple broods. Providing safe areas for the tiny babies to grow is vital.

Caring for Baby Boa Shrimp

Newly hatched boa shrimp larvae are extremely delicate and require special care:

Leave with mother – Allow babies to stay with female until free-swimming stage
Fine mesh covering – Protect intakes to prevent larvae from getting sucked in
Infusoria feeding – Offer microorganisms, finely crushed high protein foods
Dense planting – Ensure dense moss and plants for grazing and hiding
Avoid water changes – Prevent disrupting fragile babies during early weeks

With diligent care, survival rates can be excellent. Growth rate varies based on tank conditions and genetics. It takes 3-5 months for babies to reach juvenile size and 6+ months to mature.

Selective Culling

As offspring grow, continue selectively culling lower quality shrimp to further improve the lines.

Remove weak/deformed shrimp – Don’t let these reproduce
Assess color/pattern at 2 months – Colors start stabilizing, compare to parents
Cull based on grading standards – Eliminate those lacking desired traits
Isolate best shrimp – Move top 10-20% to separate “breeding” tank

Be selective but avoid bottlenecks by maintaining some genetic diversity. Only the cream of the crop should continue breeding.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

Boa shrimp breeding presents some unique challenges. Here are some common issues and how to address them:

Lower than expected offspring quality – Cull rigorously, acquire new high-grade shrimp, improve tank conditions
Baby shrimp disappearing – Ensure safe spaces, use mesh covers, remove predators
Shrimp not breeding – Review parameters, diet, population density, perform water change
Unstable water parameters – Increase water changes, reduce feeding, test KH/GH, buffer if needed

Persistence is key – don’t get discouraged! Adjust your approach until you achieve success.

Enjoying the Rewards

With dedicated care and management, you can successfully breed top-tier boa shrimp generation after generation. The enjoyment of watching a colony of vibrant, high-grade shrimp thrive and propagate is extremely fulfilling and rewarding for any aquarist. Share your accomplishment by selling or trading the offspring, knowing others will appreciate these captivating shrimp as much as you do!

Frequency of Entities:
Boa shrimp: 28
Breed: 16
Shrimp: 38
Tank: 14
Water: 10

how to breed boa shrimp

Breeding Shrimp – I Finally Decided To Breed Boa Shrimp

FAQ

What makes a boa shrimp?

The golden hue mix with the metallic blue accentuate the overall shrimp coloration. The numerous body spots sprays across the mid section of the shrimp with high intense coverage. The facial pattern large but not overpowering giving it a sense of contrast between the black base color and face pattern.

How do I get my shrimp to breed?

Inducing breeding can be done by keeping the water conditions stable. Shrimp need a regular food source, with higher protein foods (Repashy, Shrimp Cuisine, Fish poo, etc.) fed regularly, but at a small amount.

How many shrimp do you need to start breeding?

If you plan on starting a breeding colony, get at least 10 Neocaridina shrimp. This number should guarantee you have both males and females. That being said, do not only pick the biggest, most colorful shrimp at the store because they might all be females or might be too old to breed for much longer.

What conditions do shrimp need to breed?

The pH of the aquarium water should be with in 6.5-8.0. The temperature should be kept between 70-80°F. Water hardness is not important as long as it is not at either extreme, soft or hard. When breeding, the shrimp need a consistent food source.