Sulawesi profile
Sulawesi White Glove shrimp
Caridina spinata
Sulawesi White Glove shrimp are specialist warm-water Caridina spinata. They need alkaline, stable Sulawesi-style water and a mature rocky aquarium.
Quick verdict
Suitable for: Experienced keepers with a dedicated Sulawesi-style aquarium. Watch especially: keep warm and alkaline.
Quick care card
Use this card as a starting point. Always check whether your aquarium is stable enough for sensitive species.
27 - 30 °C
7.8 - 8.5
5 - 8 °dH
3 - 5 °dH
90 - 180 ppm
From 60 liters
Expert
Peaceful sensitive Sulawesi shrimp that grazes hardscape and biofilm
Biofilm, algae films, microorganisms and tiny fine foods
Can breed in freshwater when warm alkaline conditions are mature and stable
Experienced keepers with a dedicated Sulawesi-style aquarium
Important
Do not use standard Bee shrimp care. Active soil, cool water, young tanks and unstable pH are poor matches for White Glove shrimp.
Care in practice
These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.
Use warm alkaline water around 27-30 degrees Celsius, pH 7.8-8.5 and stable Sulawesi-style remineralized RO water. Keep oxygen high and waste very low.
Use a mature species tank with inert substrate, rockwork, protected filtration and no active soil. Let biofilm develop before stocking.
Feed mostly through natural biofilm. Add tiny amounts of fine shrimp food, algae powder or biofilm support. Avoid large meals because these tanks are sensitive to waste.
White Glove shrimp are peaceful and should be kept in a calm group. Stress and unstable water quickly reduce activity and survival.
A species-only tank is best. Avoid fish, avoid cool-water shrimp and avoid soft acidic setups.
Breeding is freshwater with direct development, but young survival depends on mature biofilm, stable water and a safe filter intake.
Common mistakes are using active substrate, skipping tank maturation, keeping them too cool, feeding too heavily, mixing them with unsuitable fish and changing minerals too quickly.
Background and identification
Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.
Caridina spinata is a Sulawesi shrimp associated with warm alkaline lake habitats. Its aquarium care should follow that environmental direction.
The line is known for darker body tones with contrasting pale or white front legs that create the "white glove" look. Appearance can vary by stress and line.
Compared with Cardinal shrimp, White Glove shrimp share the warm alkaline Sulawesi approach but have a different visual pattern and species identity. Compared with Bee shrimp, they require nearly opposite water chemistry.
Full species profile
The Sulawesi White Glove shrimp, Caridina spinata, is a delicate Sulawesi shrimp known for its contrasting white front legs or "gloves". It needs the same basic direction as other Sulawesi lake shrimp: warm, alkaline, mature and stable water.
Setup
Use a dedicated aquarium with inert substrate, rockwork, high oxygen and no active soil. A practical range is 27-30 degrees Celsius and pH about 7.8-8.5 with Sulawesi-style mineralized RO water. Let the tank mature until surfaces are rich in biofilm before adding shrimp.
Feeding and breeding
They graze biofilm and fine food from surfaces. Feed tiny amounts of fine shrimp food or algae-based food only as support. They can breed in freshwater, but success depends on stability and a calm species setup.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about Sulawesi White Glove shrimp.
Sources and review
Last reviewed: June 12, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.
- WoRMS Photogallery: Caridina spinata
WoRMS-vermelding met Caridina spinata Woltereck, 1937 en koppeling aan de taxonomische controle.
- Raffles Bulletin of Zoology: Systematic revision of Sulawesi Caridina
Systematische revisie door von Rintelen en Cai met taxonomie, Lake Towuti-herkomst, hard-substrate habitat, kleurpatroon en eigegevens van Caridina spinata.
- IUCN Red List 2019: Caridina spinata
Conservatiebron met status Critically Endangered, endemische verspreiding in Lake Towuti en bedreigingen.
- The Shrimp Farm: Sulawesi shrimp care guide
Praktijkbron voor Sulawesi-waarden: 82-86 F, pH 7.8-8.5, GH 6-8, KH 3-5, remineralized RO-water, lage nutrieten en stabiliteit.
- Practical Fishkeeping: The jewels of Sulawesi
Praktijkartikel over Sulawesi-meren met temperaturen boven 27 graden Celsius, alkalisch water, GH 4-8, KH 3-5, rijpe algenfilm en lange rijping.
- The Shrimp Farm: Types of Sulawesi shrimp
Bespreekt Lake Towuti-soorten en waarschuwt dat Caridina spinata, Goldflake, zelfs voor Sulawesi-garnalen moeilijk is door instabiliteit en biofilmtekort.
- The Shrimp Farm: Sulawesi shrimp care guide
Praktische bron voor inrichting, RO-water, rijping, biofilm, rustige stroming, tankgenoten, voeren, acclimatie en probleemdiagnose.
- The Shrimp Farm: Types of Sulawesi shrimp
Specifieke hobbycontext voor Caridina spinata als Goldflake shrimp uit Lake Towuti, met nadruk op rotsgrazen en expertmoeilijkheid.
- Practical Fishkeeping: The jewels of Sulawesi
Ervaringsbron over Sulawesi-huisvesting, transportgevoeligheid, volwassen biofilm, inert substraat, 60 liter setups, druppelsgewijze waterwissels en Caridina spinata als moeilijke soort.
- Sulawesi Keepers: 14 Critically Endangered species of Sulawesi shrimps
Conservatiebron die Caridina spinata als Lake Towuti-endemiet noemt onder namen zoals Yellow Nose en Yellow Stripe.
- IUCN Red List 2019: Caridina spinata
Bron voor Critically Endangered-status en bedreigingen zoals overoogst, mijnbouwvervuiling, eutrofiering en invasieve Flowerhorn-cichliden.