- HubPages»
- Pets and Animals»
- Tropical Fish & Aquariums»
- Freshwater Aquarium Animals
Black King Kong Shrimp
In May 2009 a pair of Black King Kong Shrimp were sold for US$ 8,500 at auction. Why so high? Simply a case of supply and demand. Presently breeders of this attractive little decapod crustacean can only breed fewer than 100 or so a month and the survival rate is less than 10%. Whilst the demand exceeds availability then the price will remain high. The Red King Kong Shrimp was already popular and is both more common and, naturally cheaper than its darker cousin.
The shrimp hobbyists are very keen to acquire something which is just that little bit different and outside of auctions a price of US$ 1,500 are not unusual. Prices for pregnant females are much higher in spite of the risks and extra work involved. The aim of course is to breed successfully, to hit on the formula for success. The normal lifespan for this small, in the region of 2 centimetre shrimp, is less than two years.
There is no argument that such creatures are attractive and have a special and interesting beauty. However they are not natural. They have been created by selective breeding to produce something which is rare and different. It is not unlike the production of white tigers or the numerous colour morphs in birds and reptiles. Undoubtedly very clever and whilst feeding a demand they are doing nothing at all for conservation.
It would be far better if the the unarguable skills and expertise of breeders were utilised to the breeding of natural marine and aquatic life so that we will be in a position to re-stock the wild once we have repaired the damage we have done.
Other Articles of Interest
- I Make Money on HubPages
I make money on HubPages. In fact I have been making money on hubpages from the very first week I joined up. I previously had an Adsense account so sorting that was a doddle. Amazon was quick and easy to... - Is the Fish Spa a Con or a Cure?
Over the past few years cleansing of the skin in a Fish Spa has become a popular and increasingly fashionable treatment. Fish Spas can now be found in beauty parlors, as separate entities or attached to... - The Zoo Hubs
This Hub has been created to make it a touch easier for myself and others to find my Zoo Related Hubs. Zoos are my main interest and the subject I have written most about. I observe, am critical and voice... - Zoo Misconceptions
This is an all too common but rather a stupid statement. It is exactly the same as saying all hotels are bad, all peanuts are bad or all apples are bad. There are bad hotels, bad peanuts and bad apples but... - The Perfect Zoo Enclosure
The Perfect Zoo Enclosure would surely have to be an exact replica of the territory the animal lived in in the wild. Visitors to the zoo could wait for the animal to appear...and wait...and wait...and wait....
Freshwater Shrimps
Freshwater Shrimps within an aquarium are a beneficial asset to the biosystem provided it is compatible with the other occupants. As natural scavengers they seek out, recover and consume even the smallest of waste food particles. The shrimps make active and fascinating tank residents.
The Freshwater Shrimps are always an interesting challenge to keep with some species being much easier to maintain than others. Breeding is possible but not easy. The greatest difficult is feeding the young. It is hard to find enough micro food to feed them.
Black King Kong
Freshwater Aquarium with Bumblebee Shrimps
If you have enjoyed reading this article you should check out my HubPage Profile and look at some of my other Hubs. Please also check out my blog Zoo News Digest.
WHY NOT WRITE YOUR OWN HUB PAGE? It is free to join and sign up. Write about what you know and start earning money. Free money, for you, forever. Learn how by visiting THE QUICK GUIDE TO HUB CONSTRUCTION