Rare tiny black and white shrimp raised in Taiwan are selling for as much as $830 a piece to collectors in Japan, despite short life spans and problems breeding, officials at an exhibition said on Friday. The black King Kong shrimp, about 2,000 of which are being raised by just four Taiwan breeders armed with technology and reservoirs of patience, sustain interest among buyers because of their novelty in aquariums and the off-chance they will breed. Black King Kong shrimp, centimetre-long critters known for black shells with white spots, live for about 16 months. Once native to southern China but modified by breeders in Japan and finally Taiwan, which is the only source today, the shrimp require pure fresh water at a fixed temperature to shed their shells every few weeks and remain fit enough to breed.
