The Red King Kong shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis) is a rare, premium, high-grade variety of freshwater dwarf shrimp highly prized by aquarium hobbyists for its intense coloration. They belong to the Taiwan Bee genetic lineage, which resulted from unique selective breeding mutations originally developed in Taiwan.

Appearance and Grading:

• Coloration: They features a deep, solid, vibrant ruby-red body.
• The “Extreme” Grade: High-grade specimens—often sold as Extreme Red King Kongs—boast completely solid red shells with minimal to no white markings, usually limited to a signature white tip on the tail.
• Lower Grades / Patterns: Standard or lower-grade variations may display lighter red tones, blackish-red patches, or white stripes across the head and body. Variants with broader red-and-white striping are frequently referred to as Wine Red or Red Panda shrimp.
• Unique Morphs: A rare variant known as the Orange Eye Red Devil (or Orange Eye Red King Kong) pairs the deep red body with striking, glowing orange eyes.

Water Parameter Requirements:

• Water Source: Use pure Reverse Osmosis (RO) water remineralised with specialized GH+ minerals.
• pH Range: 5.5 to 6.5 (requires an active buffering soil to keep pH acidic).
• General Hardness (gH): 4 to 6.
• Carbonate Hardness (kH): 0 to 1 (essential for preventing pH spikes).
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 120 to 140 ppm.
• Temperature: 20°C to 24°C (requires a cooler to avoid heat stress in summer).

Tank Setup & Diet:

• Substrate: Active buffering soil (like Shrimp King or Nature Soil) is mandatory to stabilize the acidic pH.
• Aquascaping: Pack the tank with Java moss, driftwoods, and Cholla wood to promote the growth of natural biofilm, which is their primary food source.
• Diet: Feed them high-quality powdered or pellet shrimp foods.