The Black Stardust shrimp is a highly coveted, high-grade designer variant of the freshwater Caridina genus, specifically bred from the Galaxy Pinto lineage. They are famous for their deep black body coloration and a striking, asymmetrical display of fine white metallic spots across their head and shell that resemble a starry night sky.

Key Characteristics & Visual Traits:

• Patterns: High-grade specimens feature a perfect fishbone pattern along the tail and uniform white dots.
• Spider Legs: The legs have clean, alternating black/blue and white stripes.
• Selective Breeding: Cultivating this species requires strict culling (removing individuals with broken patterns or pale legs) to maintain genetic quality and prevent overpopulation aggression.

Core Traits & Grading:

• The “Stardust” Sparkle: Unlike standard Galaxy shrimp which have larger dots, high-grade Stardust shrimp must have fine, numerous, and dense metallic spots covering their cheeks and body.
• Body Patterns: Premium specimens often present a symmetrical “fishbone” stripe pattern along their spine and a distinctive “cape” pattern covering more than 50% of the back.
• Sub-variants: Hobbyists actively seek variants like the Black Zebra Stardust (featuring clean, vertical tiger-like skirting stripes) and White Line variants.
• Evolutionary Colors: As juveniles mature into adults, their coloration intensifies, and high-grade specimens frequently develop a strong, deep blue or greenish metallic hue under specific lighting.

Aquarium Care Requirements:

• Water Type: RO (Reverse Osmosis) water remineralised with GH+ buffer
• pH: 5.6 – 6.4 (requires an active buffering soil)
• gH (General Hardness): 4 – 6 dGH
• kH (Carbonate Hardness): 0 – 1dKH
• Temperature: 20°C – 23°C
• TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 110 – 140 ppm

Breeding & Care Requirements:

• Water Type: Strictly requires remineralised Reverse Osmosis (RO) water.
• Substrate: Active buffering soil to maintain an acidic pH environment.
• Diet: Thrives on specialized shrimp foods.