Caridina profile
Pinocchio shrimp
Caridina gracilirostris
Pinocchio shrimp represent a brackish/coastal Caridina group rather than a standard Bee shrimp or Neocaridina colony. Keep them only in very stable, oxygen-rich water.
Review Reviewed against species-specific sources, hands-on experience and known water-parameter ranges.
Quick verdict
Suitable for: Experienced keepers who understand brackish-water context. Watch especially: adjust KH, GH and TDS slowly.
Quick care card
Use this card as a starting point. Always check whether your aquarium is stable enough for sensitive species.
22 - 28 °C
6.8 - 8.2
6 - 15 °dH
2 - 10 °dH
180 - 400 ppm
From 60 liters
Difficult
Slender Red Nose shrimp that swims, grazes and needs stability
Algae, biofilm, fine food and plant-based supplements
Larvae do not develop reliably in normal freshwater
Experienced keepers who understand brackish-water context
Important
Do not treat Pinocchio shrimp as easy freshwater breeders. Adults may be kept in freshwater by some keepers, but larvae do not develop like Neocaridina shrimplets.
Care in practice
These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.
Careful range: 22-28 degrees Celsius, pH 6.8-8.2, GH 6-15, KH 2-10 and TDS around 180-400 ppm.
Use 60 liters or more with plants, open swimming space, oxygen, biofilm and a secure lid.
Feed lightly with algae-based and fine sinking foods. They are helpers, not a fix for an unbalanced algae problem.
They are active and swim more than many dwarf shrimp. Keep a group and avoid aggressive fish.
Combine only with calm animals that tolerate similar warm, mineral-rich and clean water.
Breeding is specialist and normally needs a separate brackish or saltwater larval setup.
Common mistakes are buying them as easy freshwater colony shrimp, using tiny new tanks, rushing acclimation and ignoring oxygen.
Background and identification
Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.
Caridina gracilirostris is linked to coastal, mangrove and estuarine habitats rather than closed freshwater colonies.
Long rostrum, transparent body and red nose area make the species recognizable.
More specialist than Amano, clearer long-nose identity than ghost shrimp, and different from Bee-Caridina care.
Full species profile
Pinocchio shrimp (Caridina gracilirostris) are slender Red Nose shrimp with a long rostrum. They are interesting algae grazers, but not simple beginner colony shrimp.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about Pinocchio shrimp.
Sources and review
Last reviewed: June 16, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.
- The Shrimp Farm: Pinocchio shrimp care
Praktijkbron die onduidelijkheid rond zoet/brak en minimumvolume benoemt.
- Practical Fishkeeping: Rednose shrimp
Bron die Red Nose shrimp in brakwatercontext en larvale ontwikkeling bespreekt.
- The Shrimp Farm: Pinocchio shrimp care
Bron voor aquariumvereisten en onzekerheid in hobbyadvies.
- Practical Fishkeeping: Rednose shrimp
Bron voor brakwateradvies en de beperking van zoetwater voor larven.
- The Shrimp Farm: Pinocchio shrimp care
Praktische bron over verzorging en handelsnaam Pinocchio shrimp.
- Practical Fishkeeping: Rednose shrimp
Praktische bron over brakwater, voeding van larven en zoetwaterbeperkingen.