{"product_id":"pinocchio-shrimp","title":"Pinocchio Shrimp","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"shrimp-desc\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\n  .shrimp-desc { font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:15px;\n    line-height:1.75; color:#1a1a2e; max-width:860px; margin:0 auto; }\n  .shrimp-desc p { margin-bottom:14px; }\n  h2.shrimp-title { font-family:Georgia,serif; font-size:1.7em; font-weight:bold;\n    color:#8b1a1a; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:0.03em;\n    border-bottom:2px solid #c0392b; padding-bottom:8px; margin-bottom:18px; }\n  .tip-box { background:#fdf0f0; border-left:4px solid #c0392b; border-radius:4px;\n    padding:12px 16px; margin:18px 0; font-size:0.95em; }\n  .tip-box strong { color:#8b1a1a; }\n  .warn-box { background:#fff3e0; border-left:4px solid #e67e22; border-radius:4px;\n    padding:12px 16px; margin:18px 0; font-size:0.95em; }\n  .warn-box strong { color:#b94600; }\n  .spec-table { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin:20px 0; font-size:0.92em; }\n  .spec-table th { background:#c0392b; color:#fff; text-align:left; padding:8px 12px;\n    font-family:Georgia,serif; font-weight:bold; text-transform:uppercase;\n    letter-spacing:0.04em; font-size:0.85em; }\n  .spec-table td { padding:7px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #f5d5d5; vertical-align:top; }\n  .spec-table tr:nth-child(odd) td { background:#fdf0f0; }\n  .spec-table tr:nth-child(even) td { background:#ffffff; }\n  .spec-table td:first-child { font-weight:bold; color:#8b1a1a;\n    white-space:nowrap; width:38%; }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"shrimp-title\"\u003ePinocchio Shrimp\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"shrimp-body\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePinocchio Shrimp\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eCaridina gracilirostris\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the most unusual-looking shrimp in the hobby — a nearly transparent body traced with fine red and yellow striping, topped off by a long, needle-like red rostrum extending out past the head. That exaggerated \"nose\" is exactly where the common name comes from, and it's also sold under the names Pinokio Shrimp, Red Nose Shrimp, Rudolph Shrimp, and Rhino Shrimp. The rostrum can regenerate if broken, and males tend to run larger and more colorful than females — the reverse of most shrimp species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"warn-box\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e⚠ Copper Warning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Copper is \u003cstrong\u003efatal\u003c\/strong\u003e to all shrimp — even trace amounts. Never use copper-based medications or treatments in any aquarium housing shrimp. Check all fish medications carefully before use.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"warn-box\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e⚠ Brackish Water Required:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e a freshwater shrimp, despite frequently being sold as one. Pinocchio Shrimp are native to brackish estuaries and coastal streams and need salt added to the aquarium to thrive long-term — a specific gravity around 1.005–1.010 (roughly one tablespoon of marine salt mix per gallon as a starting point, adjusted to hit that target with a hydrometer or refractometer). Shrimp kept in plain freshwater may survive short-term but will decline over time. When topping off evaporation, always add plain fresh water, never brackish water — salt does not evaporate, so topping off with saltwater will steadily raise the tank's salinity over time.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePinocchio Shrimp come from estuaries, coastal streams, and slightly saline freshwater rivers across the Indo-Pacific, including Thailand, the Philippines, and parts of India — environments where fresh and salt water mix. In the wild they graze constantly over submerged vegetation, picking biofilm and algae off every surface. In the aquarium they're surprisingly active swimmers for a shrimp, darting through the water column while feeding rather than just walking along surfaces the way most dwarf shrimp do — one of the more entertaining behaviors to watch in a nano tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 10-gallon or larger brackish aquarium is a safe starting point, with plenty of cover in the form of shrimp flats, driftwood, and decorations. Live plants are more limited in a brackish setup — Java Fern (\u003cem\u003eMicrosorum pteropus\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the few true aquatic plants that tolerates low-end brackish conditions well. Keep the tank cycled and stable; ammonia and nitrite are just as dangerous in brackish water as in freshwater, and nitrate should be kept low with regular water changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"warn-box\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e⚠ Breeding Is Difficult:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pinocchio Shrimp pass through a free-swimming larval stage, similar to Amano Shrimp, rather than hatching as miniature adults. The larvae need brackish water and a steady supply of microscopic food to survive — something a typical home aquarium doesn't naturally provide. Hobbyists attempting to breed them usually raise larvae in \"green water\" cultures or dose commercial larval foods. This is not a shrimp that will casually multiply in a community tank the way Neocaridina do — treat any breeding success as a bonus, not an expectation.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tip-box\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding \u0026amp; Care Tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pinocchio Shrimp are unfussy omnivores that graze biofilm and algae throughout the day, but that grazing alone won't sustain them — supplement with \u003cstrong\u003eGlasGarten Shrimp Dinner 2\u003c\/strong\u003e as a staple, plus occasional frozen foods (baby brine shrimp, daphnia) and blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach for variety. \u003cstrong\u003eGlasGarten Bacter AE\u003c\/strong\u003e sprinkled lightly on the surface helps maintain the biofilm layer they rely on between feedings.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTankmate options are limited by the brackish requirement — most freshwater fish and invertebrates simply won't tolerate the salinity. Stick to other brackish-tolerant species: Clithon-genus Nerite snails handle low-end brackish water well, as do some brackish-adapted ghost shrimp. The tiny Bumblebee Goby is sometimes kept alongside them, but use caution — it's a small predator and given the chance may pick off very young shrimp. Avoid any fish large enough to see a 1.5–2 inch shrimp as a meal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMolting is the most vulnerable period in a shrimp's life — for 12–24 hours after molting, the new shell is soft and the shrimp is essentially defenseless. Do not remove molted shells from the aquarium; shrimp will consume them to reclaim the minerals they contain. Stable salinity and temperature are especially important around molting — fluctuations are a common cause of failed molts in brackish species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"spec-table\"\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\u003cth colspan=\"2\"\u003ePinocchio Shrimp\u003c\/th\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate — brackish water requirement, not a beginner freshwater shrimp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful, active — safe with brackish-tolerant tankmates only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdult Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm) — males larger and more colorful than females\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGroup Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 minimum — more encouraged; social and most visible in numbers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 gallons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIdeal Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e72–80°F (22–27°C)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIdeal pH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrackish — specific gravity 1.005–1.010 (do not keep in plain freshwater long-term)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStaple Food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGlasGarten Shrimp Dinner 2; biofilm\/algae grazing; GlasGarten Bacter AE\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTreat \/ Supplement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrozen baby brine shrimp; frozen daphnia; blanched zucchini or spinach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific brackish estuaries and coastal streams (Thailand, Philippines, India)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNotes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCopper:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fatal — never use copper medications in shrimp tanks\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity:\u003c\/strong\u003e True brackish requirement, not optional — top off with fresh water only, never brackish\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Passes through a free-swimming larval stage requiring brackish water and microscopic food — difficult in a home aquarium\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Most aquatic plants won't tolerate brackish conditions — Java Fern is a reliable option\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTankmates:\u003c\/strong\u003e Limited to brackish-tolerant species only; avoid predatory fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"Cuboid Nature Aquarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52696329879863,"sku":"Caridina gracilirostris","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/cuboidstore.com\/products\/pinocchio-shrimp","provider":"Cuboid Aquatics LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}