Well keep in mind that Red Cherry shrimp and Yellow shrimp are actually two different color morphs of the same scientific species, Neocaridina heteropoda. My first guess would be that the person you got your RCS from keeps both types and somehow had some cross-contamination (perhaps this one was clinging to a net that was used first in the Yellow tank and then in the RCS tank, or maybe a plant was pulled out of one and placed in the other with a small yellow shrimp hanging on for dear life, etc.) Or the second possibility is that this shrimp was produced from your RCS through a random genetic morph. If it happened once (as it must have to start the Yellow shrimp line years ago), no reason to think it couldn't happen again.
Either way, you were smart to pull her, as normally when RCS and Yellow shrimp interbreed, they hybridize and produce all natural (drab brown) young.
Since this one is berried, it will be very interesting to see what her babies look like. If they are all brown, you can probably assume the latter situation was the cause. If the babies are all yellow, then it's likely the former option.
The one thing that worries me is your reference to "milky." If the shell is milky, that's okay. But if the shrimp's body itself (the innerds) are milky, that's usually a sign the shrimp is dying. Once they start down that path, there is no saving them, in my experience.
Either way, you were smart to pull her, as normally when RCS and Yellow shrimp interbreed, they hybridize and produce all natural (drab brown) young.
Since this one is berried, it will be very interesting to see what her babies look like. If they are all brown, you can probably assume the latter situation was the cause. If the babies are all yellow, then it's likely the former option.
The one thing that worries me is your reference to "milky." If the shell is milky, that's okay. But if the shrimp's body itself (the innerds) are milky, that's usually a sign the shrimp is dying. Once they start down that path, there is no saving them, in my experience.
