Rainbow, Malayan Shrimp
Caridina cf. Babaulti var. Malayan

The Malaysian or Rainbow Shrimp gains its name for 2 reasons; it originates from Malaysia, and secondly its ability to darken and change colors to match its surroundings. It usually becomes transparent like the Ghost Shrimp when drifting among plants but changes to brown or deep red when resting on driftwood. When in darker colors, a tan stripe down its back is evident. This species has also been spotted in bright blue, green and yellow coloration.

Growing to about 2.5~3 cm maximum, this shrimp is becoming very popular with aquarists for obvious reasons. It is relatively inexpensive and its life span is much longer than Ghost shrimp which typically survives a few months in tank. Besides feeding on leftover fish food, it is also known to combat green hair algae and bush algae. The Malaysian Shrimp thrives in a wide range of water parameters, be it water temperature or pH, and is adaptive in a suitably stocked community tank.