Description
The Princess Bee was introduced from Vietnam by Andreas Karge and is becoming increasingly popular in Germany.
The pH should be between 6 and 7, carbonate hardness between 0 and 3, and total hardness no more than 9. The temperature should never exceed 26°C, as breeding is said to stop above this temperature. The tank should under no circumstances be smaller than 12 l, otherwise a biological imbalance could develop very quickly. There is no obstacle to keeping them with peaceful fish and shrimp.
Reproduction proceeds similarly to that of bee shrimp. If the water quality is good and the water parameters are correct, sexually mature females develop a saddle behind the head. At the next moult, the male attaches a sperm packet to the female, which then attempts to press the eggs previously developed in the saddle into the brood pouch beneath her abdomen. Normally, there should be approximately 30 eggs. Inexperienced females often lose some of the eggs, and sometimes all of them. After approximately 4 weeks, the female releases the juveniles, which immediately hide in the moss. There they graze for microorganisms and constantly search for food. At this still very young age, they moult relatively frequently. However, this steadily decreases with age. The animals reach sexual maturity at approximately 3–3½ months. The juveniles hide deep in the moss, precisely where oxygen-poor zones are unfortunately often found. The moss should therefore be trimmed regularly or sufficient water flow should be ensured.