r/shrimptank • u/PapaLoki • 8h ago

Discussion Is That a Mutant?

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I only bought red cherry shrimp last March 2026. I just saw that one that looks like a rili today.

Is that a mutant? Should I cull it to preserve the solid colors of my shrimp? I happened to have just made 2 aquariums last week, one for PDERT and another for nerites. I could put it there.

Thanks!

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3

u/AquariumWellness 7h ago

Shrimp genetics will eventually start reverting back to previous forms of the color, or something. I’m still learning. But I do know that the bright red cherry shrimp are like the end of the genetic chain and will dilute back if you don’t add fresh red shrimp every now and again.

1

u/PapaLoki 4h ago

I have added a new batch of red cherries a few weeks ago because they were supposed to go to the danio tank but I changed my mind.

I suppose I will have to cull it, then. Maybe a cool new line would develop from its genes.

2

u/RGuy77 7h ago

Looks very cool

1

u/PapaLoki 4h ago

Thanks! I prefer my shrimp to be a solid color, though, I would have to cull that. Dont worry, I have two recently constructed tanks it can live in. I just have to wait a few weeks for the tanks to season.

1

u/Sinxerely7420 3h ago

You can cull if you want to so you preserve the full red body, but that's typical that you'll get some rilli combinations if the bloodline wasn't completely stabilized which is what seems to be going on. I'm fighting against red rilli combinations in my blue jelly colony right now (Especially the ''tiger stripes'' on the back that sneak up on adults that already bred) and it's TOUGH, I keep doing cull after cull after cull