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Beavertail Fairy Shrimp

Male Fairy Shrimp Female Fairy Shrimp

There are only two beavertail fairy shrimp species found in USA. They are usually 20 - 35 mm long and bigger than other fairy shrimp species. They have 22 oar type legs and female shrimps have long oar type antennas near the mouth, unlikely other shrimps. Usually male fairy shrimps keep the antennas folded near their mouth, and stretch those out only in mating to grasp female shrimp. The typical body color is white and the tail is red, the body color can be changed to red or dark red by the environment, and sometimes all white from the head to the tail. When the beavertail fairy shrimps stay alive longer than 10 weeks, then grow up to 50mm. Their life span is about 14 weeks.

Size comparison of fairy shrimps

Beavertail fairy shrimps are fastest growing species among fairy shrimps, when compared by the weight. But, they are slow at the reproducing because they have to grow up at least 20 mm to reproduce, and it takes about 2 weeks. They hatch out in 20 hours after submerged, and they grow up almost the double length every day in the first 4 days, maintaining the body size twice fatter than other fairy shrimps. After the first 4 days, they grow up slightly slower until a few days before start reproducing. The growth stops a few days before start reproducing, then they grow up faster and reach to 25 mm long, and start to reproduce. Picture on the right shows the approximate size of beavertail fairy shrimp and others.

One female shrimp produces about 250 eggs per week. The eggs are developed inside female shrimp's body like other shrimps, and they move to the brood sack before developed well. The eggs become bigger and get thick membrane in the brood sack before being released. Eggs are 200-250 micrometer in diameter, which is slightly smaller than Triops's eggs. Hatching rate is 40% - 70% depends on the water temperature, and the rate becomes lower if the temperature drops below 65F degrees.

A male beavertail fairy shrimp in aquarium A couple of beavertail fairy shrimps in aquarium
A male beavertail fairy shrimp in aquarium A couple of beavertail fairy shrimp in aquarium
Beavertail fairy shrimp's eggs Female beavertail fairy shrimp
Beavertail fairy shrimp's eggs Female beavertail fairy shrimp

Beavertail fairy shrimps in aquarium

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Last update of this page - January 8, 2017
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