Sulawesi shrimp (Caridina spp.), farm-bred in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — not wild-caught. Wholesale boxes from USD 500, shipped weekly worldwide, with a live arrival warranty.
Why “captive-bred” matters more than most listings tell you
Sulawesi shrimp aren’t farmed everywhere the way Neocaridina are — they’re endemic to two lake systems in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia: Lake Poso and the Malili lakes. Lake Poso alone is home to 11 described Caridina species found nowhere else on the planet, and several have been assessed as Vulnerable under IUCN criteria, with researchers citing habitat loss, invasive species, and hydropower development on the lake as ongoing pressures.
That means two very different products get sold under the same name “Sulawesi shrimp”:
- Wild-caught stock, collected directly from Lake Poso or the Malili lakes and shipped out of Indonesia
- Captive-bred stock, raised in tanks/ponds outside Indonesia from established breeding lines
Our Sulawesi shrimp are the second kind — bred here in Vietnam, not collected from the lakes. That’s not just a sourcing detail: captive-bred stock is generally hardier for international shipping (already adapted to tank water rather than lake water), and it doesn’t carry the same supply-risk exposure as a source population under conservation pressure. Ask any supplier directly which one you’re being quoted — the price difference isn’t always disclosed upfront, and it should be.
Lines available
Commercially available Sulawesi lines typically include colour/pattern morphs such as Cardinal, Red Line, Yellow, White Orchid, and banded varieties, depending on current breeding stock. Check current availability in our gallery → before ordering, since Sulawesi stock is smaller-batch than Neocaridina and turns over faster.
How it works
- Confirm species/line and quantity with us directly — Sulawesi availability is tighter than Neocaridina, so check before assuming a line is in stock.
- Box size and price confirmed — minimum order 1 box, pricing from USD 500 depending on line and grade.
- Grading and quarantine before packing.
- Packed and air-freighted, weekly shipment cadence.
- Live arrival warranty applies on arrival — documented claim window if anything goes wrong.
What it costs to land Sulawesi shrimp internationally
A quick fact most listings skip: live ornamental shrimp (Sulawesi included) is classified under US HTS 0301.19.00.00 (“other live ornamental fish”) for customs purposes — a completely different category from frozen food shrimp. That means the anti-dumping duties you may have seen in shrimp-industry news (which run 4–25%+ on Vietnamese frozen shrimp) do not apply here. Vietnam-origin ornamental shrimp currently carries the standard US–Vietnam reciprocal tariff (20%, under the July 2025 trade agreement) on top of freight — not a food-shrimp anti-dumping rate. Ask us for a landed-cost estimate for your destination →
What buyers usually ask
Are these wild-caught?
No — farm-bred in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, not collected from Lake Poso or the Malili lakes.
Why is Sulawesi shrimp more expensive than Neocaridina?
Smaller breeding populations, slower reproduction, and tighter supply than the much more widely farmed Neocaridina — pricing reflects that, not a shipping markup.
What’s the minimum order?
One box, starting from USD 500, depending on line and grade.
Do you guarantee live arrival for Sulawesi specifically?
Yes — the same live arrival warranty applies to Sulawesi boxes as Neocaridina. Confirm terms before ordering →
Can you ship to my country?
Worldwide, weekly. Message us with your destination to confirm.
