Chameleon Shrimp - Patterns and Genes

[JohnH]

I understand that Chameleon Shrimp change colours depending on their environment, stress etc. While watching mine, I noticed that the striped ones are always striped and the red/brown ones are always red/brown.

They live in the same tank so their environment and stress levels are the same. Has anyone had a striped one that goes red/brown? Perhaps some of the patterns are genetic and they could be selectively breed?

Are are two of my girls. One striped and the other the red/brown colour.

[Steph2692]

I have what I think are chameleon shrimp, but I only have the stripey ones an no red/brown ones like what you've got there... But with my stripey ones half of them are blue and the other half are a redish/brown... If that makes any sense?

They just had babies over night too =) so it will be interesting to see what they turn out to be =)

[northboy]

Line breeding ? I think if it were possible it would have been done OS as they are all through our neighbouring Islands, how ever it is not out of the question as ours are slightly genetically different to the OS ones?

When you catch them in the wild and usually when I hit a patch of them it can be hundreds in one push of the net, there is all patterns and colours in the them. After a couple of days in captivity they all generally show roughly the patterns you are showing in your photos.

In the NT I believe they are in leaf litter, here in NQ they are in Vall beds, tree root zones and grass overhangs, very occasionally they will be in the open on rocks.

Also in captivity the Males generally tend to show the pattern of the one on the Right and the Females generally tend to show the pattern of the one on the Left especially when they have eggs. In the wild though it is all patterns at all stages, I will now start to keep a bit of a record when I collect some breeders again.

Bob

[Baccus]

While taking photos of my other shrimp one of my chameleons decided to make a half hearted appearance.