Effect of background color and shelters on female pigmentation in the ornamental red cherry shrimp Neocaridina davidi (Caridea, Atyidae)

Abstract

Neocaridina davidi, the “red cherry” shrimp, is becoming popular in trade markets because of the reddish coloration of females. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of background substrate color, and the presence of shelters on N. davidi female pigmentation and astaxanthin content. In the first experiment juveniles were assigned to one of three treatments: white, red, or black background substrate. After 90 days, females exposed to the black background showed higher astaxanthin content and relative carapace colored area than those exposed to white and red backgrounds. The second experiment evaluated the presence of shelters with white or black backgrounds. Juveniles were assigned to one of four treatments: white background with shelters (WS), white background without shelters (WWS), black background with shelters (BS), and black background without shelters (BWS). After 90 days the presence of shelters did not influence either the color nor total astaxanthin content. Females exposed to BWS and BS had higher astaxanthin content and relative carapace colored area than those exposed to WWS and WS. Growing N. davidi with black substrates could be a low cost and easy method to improve its economic value. Furthermore, this species could be cultivated as a pigment-enriched food source for other aquatic species.