About the species

Metallic Blue Boa is one of the most exclusive Taiwan Bee lines in the hobby, with a metallic blue-shimmering body and a fine, snake-like dotted marking that gave it the Boa name. These individuals are sold as young shrimp that are not yet fully coloured.

Facts

• Latin name: Caridina cantonensis
• Common name: Metallic Blue Boa
• Size: Up to 3 cm
• Lifespan: 1.5–2 years

Behavior

Metallic Blue Boa is peaceful but reserved and only settles in a well-established group. It grazes calmly over soil, moss and leaf litter and shows its colour best in a stable species tank.

Reproduction

• Females usually carry 15–25 eggs under the tail
• The eggs hatch after about 30 days as fully developed shrimplets
• Breeding depends entirely on low KH, low TDS and a stable temperature

Feeding

Metallic Blue Boa is an omnivore but eats small amounts and feeds mainly on:

• Biofilm
• Algae
• Decaying leaves and plant matter

Feel free to supplement with:

• A low-protein Caridina food in small amounts
• Catappa or mulberry leaves
• A mineral supplement for moulting

Aquarium

• Minimum aquarium size: 30 litres
• Substrate: Active soil (we use Environment Soil)

Difficulty level

🔴 Advanced

Recommendation

Young Metallic Blue Boa develop their metallic blue colour gradually over the first months, which makes them an affordable way into the line. Keep the values very stable during growth: KH near zero, TDS around 110–140 µS and a constant temperature.