Shrimp colony grading and records

Purpose

Maintain a defined colour or pattern goal

Core requirement

Clear selection standard

Record unit

Colony and generation

Welfare rule

No neglect of lower-grade shrimp

Difficulty

Intermediate

Write the standard before selecting

Define colour coverage, opacity, pattern, body shape and health. Without a written standard, grading drifts toward whatever looks impressive on the day. Include faults that exclude a shrimp from breeding.

Grade under repeatable conditions

Use the same light, background and viewing container. Colour shifts with stress, substrate and lighting. Do not make permanent decisions from a newly shipped or freshly moulted shrimp.

Use humane colony destinations

Lower-grade healthy shrimp still require proper care. Move them to a separate colony, sell them accurately described or rehome them. Never use “cull” as an excuse for poor housing or disposal.

Keep traceable records

Assign colony IDs and record source, generation, breeder selection, colour outcomes, health issues and crosses. Photos should be dated and taken under similar conditions.

Common mistakes

• Selecting colour while ignoring weak body shape or fertility.
• Mixing lines without recording the cross.
• Grading under changing light and substrate.
• Keeping lower-grade shrimp in neglected conditions.
• Making the colony too genetically narrow without monitoring vigour.