What's in a Taiwan Bee?
We know for sure it's got some CRS/CBS genes, but some people say it could actually have Tiger genes. I disagree seeing as a lot of people with just CRS can very rarely find a WR among them. (Of course, there could have been a tiger shrimp in there, but it's unlikely). Add onto the fact that TB eggs are blue as opposed to regular brown/red CRS eggs, and they take 4-5 days longer, it's really safe to assume they're a CRS mutation.
Here is a list of all the crosses I've found online and have been verified by breeders.
Regular CRS/CBS crosses (the R means dominant gene, the r is recessive; in this, having an RR will make the shrimp a CBS with no CRS genes, while having an Rr means it has CRS genes but is still a CBS, and an rr means it's a CRS)
CRS (rr) x CBS (RR) = 100% CBS (Rr)
CRS (rr) x CRS (rr) = 100% CRS (rr)
CBS (Rr) x CBS (Rr) = 75% CBS (Rr) 25% CRS (rr)
Taiwan Bee crosses: (Measuring a different genotype/phenotype, this Rr isn't the same as with CRS/CBS; an Rr means it possesses TB genes, rr means it's a TB)
TB (rr) x CBS (RR) = 100% CBS (Rr)
CBS (Rr) x CBS (Rr) = 25% CBS (RR) 50% CBS (Rr) 25% TB (rr)
TB (rr) x CBS (Rr) = 50% CBS (Rr) 50% TB (rr)
TB (rr) x TB (rr) = 100% TB (rr)
CBS (RR) x CBS (Rr) = 50% CBS (RR) 50% CBS (Rr)
Very complicated right? ;)
Adam
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Keeping Taiwan bees?
Yep, I'm making the plunge, I'm keeping Taiwan bees. A lot of people wonder, "How do you keep Taiwan Bees? Where are they from? Why are they so expensive & not in the US?"
Well, Taiwan bees require finite conditions, just like CRS, but more so, since they're more specialized. I don't claim to be an expert on TBs but in reading up on how to keep them and talking to experts who know the tricks, I've learned a lot.
TB parameters: ph 6.0-6.8
gH: 5-6
kH: 0
TDS: 150-180, can very a little
Temp: 70-72
And here are my parameters:
ph 6.5
gH: 5
kH: 0
TDS: 150
Temp: 71
THE most important thing I believe is that the shrimp adjust to the water. A friend of mine told me that TBs breed better in 6.0, but most breeders keep them in 6.5 anyway because it's a minuscule difference. It's important to use RO water, or at least know your TDS, while dealing with these shrimps. They're unusually sensitive to them. Temperature can go a little bit lower than 70, but NEVER higher than 74; it should be pretty uniform, and below 68 is bad also. kH of 0 helps them breed better.
Even though they can be kept in them, I wouldn't recommend any tank smaller than 10 gallons; that way the water parameters are more stable and take longer to change. I'm keeping mine in a 10 gallon for that reason ;)
Where are Taiwan Bees from? Taiwan I guess. Just kidding. From what I've read they're from Taiwan all right, and that they're a spontaneous mutation of CRS. You can tell they're a real mutation and not selective breeding because BKK eggs are dark blue vs. regular eggs which are reddish brown, and TB eggs take 4-5 more days to hatch.
Blue bolts were a spontaneous mutation of BKK, and there's something like a .01% chance of getting a BB from a berried BKK.
Why are BKKs so expensive? Because there aren't many of them in the US. It's a case of supply and demand, and there's a very limited supply so there's a big demand. People in the US have them but they're a lot more obtainable in other countries like Japan, Taiwan, etc.
Well, now you know ;) I hope to make more of these info blogs when I get the TB firsthand so I can absolutely tell what they like, what crosses get what, etc.
Adam
Well, Taiwan bees require finite conditions, just like CRS, but more so, since they're more specialized. I don't claim to be an expert on TBs but in reading up on how to keep them and talking to experts who know the tricks, I've learned a lot.
TB parameters: ph 6.0-6.8
gH: 5-6
kH: 0
TDS: 150-180, can very a little
Temp: 70-72
And here are my parameters:
ph 6.5
gH: 5
kH: 0
TDS: 150
Temp: 71
THE most important thing I believe is that the shrimp adjust to the water. A friend of mine told me that TBs breed better in 6.0, but most breeders keep them in 6.5 anyway because it's a minuscule difference. It's important to use RO water, or at least know your TDS, while dealing with these shrimps. They're unusually sensitive to them. Temperature can go a little bit lower than 70, but NEVER higher than 74; it should be pretty uniform, and below 68 is bad also. kH of 0 helps them breed better.
Even though they can be kept in them, I wouldn't recommend any tank smaller than 10 gallons; that way the water parameters are more stable and take longer to change. I'm keeping mine in a 10 gallon for that reason ;)
Where are Taiwan Bees from? Taiwan I guess. Just kidding. From what I've read they're from Taiwan all right, and that they're a spontaneous mutation of CRS. You can tell they're a real mutation and not selective breeding because BKK eggs are dark blue vs. regular eggs which are reddish brown, and TB eggs take 4-5 more days to hatch.
Blue bolts were a spontaneous mutation of BKK, and there's something like a .01% chance of getting a BB from a berried BKK.
Why are BKKs so expensive? Because there aren't many of them in the US. It's a case of supply and demand, and there's a very limited supply so there's a big demand. People in the US have them but they're a lot more obtainable in other countries like Japan, Taiwan, etc.
Well, now you know ;) I hope to make more of these info blogs when I get the TB firsthand so I can absolutely tell what they like, what crosses get what, etc.
Adam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A startup post & Pictures~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi everyone, my name is Adam. This is the blog I'll be selling shrimps off of as well as blogging about care, pictures (I love pictures), availability, and my findings with the Taiwan bee which I'll be getting soon.
Until then, I'll be renovating my shrimp room like crazy. Here are some pictures of my CRS/CBS now.
When these shrimpies were young; I made them pose for a picture as soon as I got them.
An SSS+ with a crown
Two berried females, an SS hino and an S+ V band (but she's an SS hino on the other side, chimera?)
Same shrimp as above hiding in a big fluffy fissidens "couch"
The big fluffy "couch" the whitish blur is a full grown shrimp for reference
Blurry berried cherry pic
A berried hino
Tummy shot!
Wayyy better tummy shot. She's carrying a lot of eggs.
Thanks for reading, I'll be sure to field any questions about shrimp, I do know a little about Taiwan bees and will be getting some next week. ;)
Adam
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