Name: Galaxy Cardinal (Caridina dennerli)
Brand: Jack Shrimp

Sulawesi Shrimp · Lake Matano

Caridina dennerli

Galaxy (Cardinal)

The star of Lake Matano: a wine-red body scattered with white spots like a galaxy, on brilliant white legs. The most famous wild species in the group and the emblem of Sulawesi shrimp as a whole.

Lake Matano endemicWhite star spotsThree grades S/SS/SSS

A great strain isn't one beautiful shrimp — it's the whole colony looking the same.

— Jack Shrimp Farm

VIDEO

Watch Galaxy Cardinal colour up

ORIGIN

An ancient cradle

DISTRIBUTION MAP

An ancient cradle

Sulawesi shrimp are endemic to a handful of ancient tectonic lakes — 1–4 million years old, among the oldest freshwater lakes on earth.

Lake MatanoHome of Cardinal & White Sock (C. dennerli)

Lake PosoHome of White Orchid, Blue Legs (C. “Poso”)

Towuti · MahalonaThe Malili lake system, linked by rivers

IDENTIFICATION

How to identify a Galaxy Cardinal

🌌White star spotsBlue-rimmed white spots across a wine-red body — more spots and rounder spots means a higher grade.

🦵Bright white legsLegs and antennae are pure white, cutting hard against the red body.

📈Three gradesS, SS and SSS are sorted by depth of the red base and density of the star spots.

🏆The Sulawesi iconDescribed scientifically in 2007 and immediately the face of the ancient-lake shrimp.

WATER

Ideal keeping conditions

27–30°

Temp C

7.8–8.5

150–250

TDS ppm

6–8

3–6

The golden rule: stability beats perfect numbers. A swinging parameter does more damage than one that sits slightly off but never moves. Use a Sula Sand substrate and a dedicated bacteria culture to keep the buffer rock-solid.

STRAIN DATA

Galaxy Cardinal profile

Strain data

Strain code: GX-01
Grade: S / SS / SSS
Home lake: Matano
Scientific name: Caridina dennerli
Adult size: 2–2.5cm

Wild species — natural profile

Galaxy (Cardinal) is a true wild endemic found naturally only in Lake Matano — it is not a farm mutation.

Home lake: Matano — the deepest tectonic lake in Southeast Asia, roughly 1–4 million years old.

Natural habitat: Clinging to submerged limestone walls and rocky shorelines with gentle flow and clear water.

Behaviour: Active all day, constantly grazing biofilm off rock; lives in large groups around rock clusters.

Conservation: An extremely narrow natural range under pressure from mining and invasive species. Captive-bred stock takes pressure off the wild population.

Keeping note: Wants stacked rock for caves and moderate light so biofilm grows; avoid strong flow.

FOOD & SET-UP

The matching set-up

FEEDING

Omnivorous, but mostly grazing on biofilm and algae growing on rock. Add the White Powder + Yellow Powder pair for colour and steady breeding, and set the tank on Sula Sand to hold an alkaline pH long-term.