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Hi All I am not an expert, but I will shed a little light on the subject for all. I will also try to down load some of the line drawings I have. Shrimp cross breeding between different species is just about impossible, Why? because of the males reproduction organs, when you see some photos taken under a microscope you can see the astounding differences. Some have clubs, some have different hairs and hooks and some have spikes to name just a few. Then there is the front sets of feet they grip the female with, they are very different to. It is a question I get asked a lot about natives and it is a very good question. Shrimp like Rileys, cherries, yellow cherries, chocs and the rest are all the same shrimp, just man made variations on one and another so they can all breed with each other. Cherry and Crystals No, I have not seen there reproduction organs under a scope, But I imagine they are way different. Also there is the issue of compatible sperm to. Natives No, not ever Zebras and false Zebras (confusa) as they are vastly different shrimp. How ever in saying al of that, it would be good if they did as the variations would be fantastic. Also saying all that it is not beyond the realms of possibility, as Mother nature finds a way it just not easily done Bob

You do realise you guys are asking to see pictures of penises? ;) Thats interesting Bob, didn't know that about shrimp. Fertilisation is actually a hard thing to achieve. Even within the same species, eggs and sperm from different individuals have slightly different proteins that will or wont bind together, which can hinder or help fertilisation. Think of them like locks and keys, certain proteins only go with other certain proteins. These proteins act as another mechanism to prevent hybridisation. Even at the level of DNA, pieces of DNA from different species often wont bind together to form chromosomes, which also prevents a fertile embryo forming even if sperm make it into the egg. Even then, if a fertile embryo does occur the resulting individual is often sterile (e.g. Horse x donkey). In short, there are lots of mechanisms that prevent hybridisation, however holding lots of shrimp in confines like aquariums increases the chances of it occurring. Should it occur, should the shrimp hobby welcome it? Hybridisation hasn't necessarily helped for fish. Food for thought.....

Good to hear and good luck, the Riffles are a chalange but well worth it, they do predate there young so lots of small shelters for them and mulm in the tank helps the survival rate big time. Bob

Sound advice Bob. Feeding the parents well also helps prevent the parents eating too many young.