Can Ghost Shrimp Breed With Cherry Shrimp?

As an aquarium hobbyist, I’m always curious about what interesting crosses I can create between different aquatic species. One popular question many shrimp keepers ponder is: can ghost shrimp interbreed with cherry shrimp?

While the idea of combining the clear bodies of ghost shrimp with the bright colors of cherry shrimp sounds exciting it unfortunately isn’t possible. Read on to understand the major barriers to creating ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp hybrids.

Why Ghost Shrimp and Cherry Shrimp Won’t Interbreed

There are a few key biological reasons why ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp won’t produce offspring when mated

• They are different species Ghost shrimp belong to the genus Palaemonetes while cherry shrimp are Neocaridina davidi Different genus and species typically cannot interbreed,

• Reproductive incompatibility: The reproductive anatomy and behaviors of the two species are too different to allow successful mating.

• Offspring infertility: Even if mating occurs and eggs are produced, the offspring would likely be infertile and unable to reproduce further.

• Larval development needs: Ghost shrimp larvae require brackish water to mature, while cherry shrimp need freshwater. The conflicting conditions make it impossible to raise hybrid larvae.

So despite looking somewhat similar, ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp are biologically too far apart to hybridize. But why is this exactly? Let’s look at some of the biology limiting their interbreeding.

Comparing the Reproductive Systems

A major barrier is the significant differences between the reproductive systems of ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp:

• Mating position: Ghost shrimp mate belly-to-belly while cherry shrimp mate in a belly-to-back arrangement. The mismatch makes it difficult for the male to properly fertilize the female’s eggs.

• Egg carrying: Female ghost shrimp carry eggs on pleopods (swimming legs) under their tails. Cherry shrimp keep eggs inside an enclosed brood pouch. The eggs wouldn’t be properly secured in a hybrid.

• Fertilization: Ghost shrimp mate shortly after the female molts when her new shell is still soft, allowing male sperm transfer. Cherry shrimp mate anytime as the female’s shell remains hard. Timing is incompatible.

• Genes: Ghost shrimp have 48 chromosomes while cherry shrimp have around 140. The huge genetic mismatch makes viable offspring improbable.

These reproductive barriers effectively block hybridization from occurring naturally. But what if we use artificial means?

Artificial Hybridization Attempts

Aquarium keepers have tried to artificially crossbreed ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp using tactics like:

• Inducing molting in cherry shrimp via temperature changes to allow mating with ghost shrimp.

• In vitro fertilization by manually combining eggs and sperm from the two species in a laboratory culture.

• Cutting the female shrimp’s shell to insert sperm inside to access eggs.

• Inserting genetic material from one species into newly fertilized eggs of the other via microinjection.

So far, these invasive methods to force hybridization have had little success. Even if eggs are fertilized, they rarely hatch and perish quickly. The few larva that hatched did not survive past early stages.

The challenges of hybrid development are simply too great to overcome. But what exactly happens when two different species mate?

Outcomes of Inter-Species Mating

On rare occasions when different species do successfully mate, there are a few potential outcomes:

• Infertile offspring – Unable to reproduce after mating with their own kind or others. Mules created by crossing horses and donkeys are a common example.

• Fertile females, infertile males – Males are sterile but females can breed to produce more hybrids. This is seen in ligers (lion x tiger).

• Breakdown after generations – If hybrids keep breeding, distinct characteristics are lost after a few generations as the species segregates.

• Extinction – The hybrid line dies off as members are unable to reproduce effectively.

• New stable species – Very rarely, interbreeding creates a new species that can consistently reproduce. But this is highly uncommon.

So while hybridization can occasionally occur, the outcomes are limited for long term survival. The offspring are usually infertile dead-ends or the hybrid traits diminish quickly.

Requirements for Successful Hybrids

For two species to hybridize and establish a new stable lineage, some key conditions must be met:

• Genetic compatibility allowing healthy development.

• Anatomical match-up of reproductive systems for mating and fertilization.

• Similar courtship behaviors to ensure natural breeding.

• Shared habitat preferences and requirements.

• Fertile offspring that can reproduce future generations.

Unfortunately, ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp fail to fulfill most of these requirements. Their genetic disconnect is too vast and habitats too different.

But this raises a new question – what other shrimp can hybridize?

Shrimp Species That Can Interbreed

While ghost and cherry shrimp remain incompatible, there are some other shrimp species and varieties that can successfully interbreed:

• Different color morphs and grades of the same shrimp type like red and blue velvet neocaridina or various tiger shrimp breeds.

• Closely related shrimp within the same genus like crystal red and black king kong shrimp which are both caridina species.

• Wild shrimp populations and their domesticated cousins such as wild green neo shrimp and standard green neo shrimp.

• Different tiger shrimp species like taiwan bees and orange eyed tigers which can produceinteresting offspring like shadow pandas and blue bolts.

So there is definitely still scope for creative hybridization within shrimp groups of the same genus and species. Selective crossbreeding has allowed the creation of many new color variants.

But between utterly unrelated species like ghost and cherry shrimp, hybridization remains impossible both naturally and artificially.

Reasons Shrimp Keepers Want Hybrids

With the challenges involved, why do aquarists still ponder ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp hybridization? Some key reasons are:

• Novelty – Inter-species crosses result in unique looking offspring that stand out. The novelty factor makes them interesting to breed and own.

• Profit – Successful hybrids can be rare and highly desirable. Breeders can charge steep prices for such exclusive shrimp.

• Selective breeding – Crossing two species allows combining select traits from both into one offspring through selective breeding over generations.

• Genetic diversity – Outcrossing related species can improve the gene pool and avoid inbreeding defects seen in highly line-bred species.

So while hybridization has definite benefits, it only works between compatible species. Unfortunately ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp remain too far apart biologically.

Can Ghost Shrimp Live With Cherry Shrimp?

While they can’t crossbreed, ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp can certainly coexist peacefully in a tank together. Some key points:

• Potential aggression – Ghost shrimp may occasionally bother smaller cherry shrimp but severe attacks are uncommon. Having plenty of hiding spots reduces conflict.

• Water parameters – Both species share similar water condition preferences like moderate temperature and pH.

• Tank size – A spacious tank allows the two communities to establish separate territories if needed. Start with at least 10 gallons.

• Decor – Aquascaping the tank with moss, driftwood, rocks and plants provides visual barriers and hiding areas to reduce aggression and stress.

• Food – Ensure the shrimp get a nutritious omnivorous diet with vegetables, proteins and supplements. This prevents any food aggression.

• Numbers – Having larger groups of each shrimp dilutes any bullying. Aim for 10-15 of each as a starting point.

So while interbreeding is impossible, ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp can cohabitate rather harmoniously as tankmates.

Artificial hybridization efforts have also failed to produce any viable offspring so far. Inter-species breeding only succeeds under very specific conditions that these two shrimp species simply don’t meet.

That said, they can live together as peaceful tankmates under the right circumstances. So while we can’t breed unique ghost cherry shrimp, we can certainly enjoy their contrasting looks together in the same aquarium!