TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Shrimp / Babaulti shrimp
★New · no ratings yetIllustration

Variations

3 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Babaulti shrimp

Caridina babaulti · Green babaulti, Bee shrimp (babaulti), Indian babaulti, Babaulti

Peaceful; fine in small groups in planted tanks.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
4 cmAdult size ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–7.5pH ✓
20 LSmallest tank ✓
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Tinfoil barb eats animals up to about 5 cm. Babaulti shrimp only grows to 4 cm.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Betta eats animals up to about 2.5 cm. Babaulti shrimp only grows to 4 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Congo tetra will eat baby babaulti shrimp. Add lots of moss and plants so some survive.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

155 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓8–22 dGH
Group size ?10 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Bottom
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ✓1.5–2 years
Size in shops 1.5–2.5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful; fine in small groups in planted tanks.

Food

Biofilm, algae wafers and blanched vegetables.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males stay smaller and less bulky than females.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Berried livebearer-style (free-swimming shrimplets) · Easy

Breeds in fresh water. Females carry eggs about four weeks; Garnelio says very small larvae hatch and turn into miniature shrimp after a few days without needing brackish water, so a larva-proof (sponge) filter helps. Breeding is slower than in Neocaridina.

Pairing

Keep a group of 15-20 and let them pair up; females moult and then mate within a day or two.

Setup

20-40 L tank with active buffered soil, RO or remineralised soft water (GH 4-6, KH 0-2, pH 5.8-6.8), moss and a sponge filter.

What starts it

Stable soft water and a small cool water change with RO water often triggers moulting and mating.

Eggs

50-80 small eggs, carried about four weeks (larvae hatch after four to six weeks).

Raising the fry

Shrimplets look like tiny adults and graze biofilm; give powdered food and moss and avoid strong flow.

Common mistakes
  • Using hard tap water
  • Big swings in temperature or TDS
  • Adding copper-containing foods or medicines
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouth Asia – India and nearby areas
Rivers and lakesRivers and streams of India
HabitatVegetated streams and ponds
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the babaulti shrimp

A small, colourful Caridina from India, sold in green, brown, yellow, red and zebra-striped forms; hardy and suitable for beginners.

French zoologist Eugène Bouvier described this shrimp in 1918. It lives in India and nearby areas. Green and striped forms are common in the aquarium trade.

First described by Eugène L. Bouvier in 1918. Named for Named after French explorer Guy Babault.

  • Its colour varies from green to striped.
  • It is easy to keep.
  • It is often imported from India.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources