Identity and origin
- Origin
- Lake Towuti, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Identity
- Lake Towuti endemic; distinct from C. spongicola
A longer rostrum and stronger red-brown and white pattern distinguish the typical appearance from C. spongicola. Identification still requires morphological comparison.
Habitat and care
Hard substrates, from stones to deeper boulders. Habitat and identity reference
Use a mature, species-dedicated system with stable water chemistry, strong oxygenation and suitable grazing surfaces. Follow documented breeder parameters for the exact species and colony; do not transfer a soft-water bee-shrimp recipe to an ancient-lake species.
Explore the habitat
Hard substrates, from stones to deeper boulders.
Illustrative habitat reconstructionFROM THE SIGNATURE COLLECTIONS
Look closely
Contrasting brown-red and pale patches create the harlequin-like pattern. The arrangement is more useful to study than a seller’s colour name alone.
A detail worth knowing
This Lake Towuti rock dweller should be distinguished from the sponge-associated C. spongicola, which also receives the name “Harlequin” in aquarium trade.
Source review: 22 September 2026. Educational notes, not a stock or breeding-success claim.
Plan before choosing
- Habitat
- Ancient lakes
- Size and measurement
- A source-checked adult total length has not yet been added to this profile. Confirm it before choosing aquarium dimensions.
- Planning context
- A distinct Lake Towuti species. Colour alone is insufficient to separate similar trade animals: check rostrum, diagnostic characters and provenance against the taxonomic description.
von Rintelen & Cai (2009) · Malili revision
Source check: . Independent husbandry review pending.
Before choosing this species
Care-planning notes. Confirm exact requirements for the species and source population.
- Confirm the adult size and social behaviour of the exact species before planning its aquarium.
- Establish biological filtration and stable water conditions before introducing animals.
- Ask for locality, captive history and the actual animal’s feeding record; a catalogue image cannot provide these.
Varieties and trade names
Harlequin / Celebes Beauty
Common namesOften confused in trade with the distinct sponge-associated C. spongicola. Source
Evidence record
Conservation record: Critically Endangered (CR); assessment year 2018. Conservation source record. This retained reference is an index or secondary record; the direct assessment and date require verification. Check for a newer assessment before making conservation or sourcing decisions.
Identity and locality source check: . Editorial source check; independent taxonomic review pending. Research profile; availability is not open.
Catalogue inclusion confirms a research record, not current stock, legal export, or destination-country import permission.
- von Rintelen & Cai (2009), systematic revision.
- von Rintelen, K. & Cai, Y. (2009). Systematic revision of Caridina from the ancient lakes of Sulawesi. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 57(2): 343–452.
- Klotz, W., von Rintelen, T., Wowor, D., Lukhaup, C. & von Rintelen, K. (2021). Lake Poso’s shrimp fauna revisited. ZooKeys 1009: 81–122.
- Sun, J. (2025). Sulawesi shrimp hobby in China. Sulawesi Keepers. First-hand aquarium names and breeding observations, not a taxonomic revision.
- Rejlková, M. & Sun, J. (2025). Crossbreeding Sulawesi shrimps. Sulawesi Keepers. Keeper-reported crosses; not controlled genetic verification.
