Care guide · Freshwater shrimp

Cherry shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Red cultivated form of Neocaridina davidi. Photo: DirkBlankenhaus · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0Resized and compressed; no cropping or colour changes.

The cherry shrimp is a small freshwater grazer that is constantly exploring plants and other surfaces. Its familiar red colour is a cultivated form of Neocaridina davidi, a species also kept in many other colours. Choose it as an animal with its own needs, not as a substitute for maintenance. A mature aquarium, natural growth and stable water matter more than a collection of additives. A species aquarium is the clearest choice for a visible breeding colony. In a community aquarium, adults may survive while almost every newborn is eaten. The compatibility cards explicitly distinguish these risks.

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At a glance

Temperature: 20–24 °C
pH: 6.5–7.5
GH: 6–15 °dGH
KH: 4–10 °dKH
Difficulty: Easy
Diet: Omnivore
Plant safety: Yes
Minimum aquarium volume: At least 30 L
Adult size: Approximately 2–3 cm
Group size: At least 10 individuals
Swimming zone: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Cover: Suitable plants, Wood

Figures are cautious husbandry guidance, not a full stocking calculation. Missing values are insufficiently supported. Read layout, water and pairing conditions together.

About this species

Adults usually measure around two to three centimetres. Females tend to be larger and more strongly coloured, although colour alone does not identify sex. A saddle behind the head and later eggs underneath the abdomen are normal reproductive features. Red Cherry, Sakura and Fire Red describe commercial colour selections, not separate species. Neocaridina heteropoda is an older name still found on labels and photographs. The photograph shows a red cultivated form; an unidentified red shrimp cannot be identified from colour alone.

Natural habitat

The species originates in East Asia and has also established populations elsewhere. The bright red aquarium form does not represent a separate natural habitat. The useful practical approach is to provide planted surfaces, small refuges and continuous opportunities to graze. A bare tank with only a feeding dish lacks these functions. Wood, moss and older plant leaves offer different grazing surfaces. Never release aquarium animals into ponds, streams or other outdoor waters.

Aquarium and layout

Prefer a tank of at least 30 litres and a starting group of about ten. This is a practical choice for shrimp and water stability, not permission to add a school of fish. Protect filter intakes or use a sponge filter. Leave an accessible feeding area rather than covering the entire substrate with moss. Secure wood and allow room for maintenance. A fitted lid reduces escape opportunities. Check that new plants are suitable for shrimp; a brief rinse does not establish safety after an unknown treatment.

Water conditions

Around 20–24 °C provides a useful moderate starting point. This species generally tolerates more mineral content than bee shrimp, but that is no reason to allow fluctuations. Measure pH, GH and KH in both tank and replacement water, and ask about the breeder’s conditions. Use the overview as a maintenance range. Do not chase an exact TDS figure: conductivity cannot identify the dissolved substances. Match replacement water carefully and investigate the cause of changes before adding several corrective products.

Behaviour and group size

A group grazes across plants, wood and substrate rather than schooling together. Hiding after a move may reflect adjustment, but also check whether fish are hunting or blocking food. Colonies can expand quickly with abundant feeding. Assess numbers, grazing area and biological load together. Handle maintenance materials carefully: tiny shrimp hide in moss, sponges and cut stems. Check siphoned water before discarding it.

Feeding

Biofilm includes more than visible algae and supplies an important part of the grazing diet. Supplement with small portions of suitable complete shrimp food instead of waiting until every surface looks bare. Distribute food so one large animal cannot monopolise it. Suitable pesticide-free dried leaves provide additional grazing surfaces, but are neither complete food nor an obligatory water treatment. Remove uneaten supplements before they impair water quality. Adjust feeding to the colony and natural food availability, not solely to a fixed package schedule.

Breeding

After mating, the female carries eggs beneath her abdomen. Development takes several weeks and depends partly on temperature; neither a fixed date nor a guaranteed number of offspring is justified. The young emerge as small, independently grazing shrimp and need no saltwater phase. Fine refuges, protected filter intakes and accessible growth are important. Mix colour selections only if preserving the colour line does not matter: offspring will not necessarily retain both parents’ colour quality.

Keeping with fish

Small tetras may leave adult cherry shrimp alone yet pick off newborns. Small bottom-dwelling fish do not automatically make a tank safe for young either. Bettas and larger cichlids may also threaten adults. Decide whether the priority is a mixed display or a breeding colony. Moss reduces encounters but cannot guarantee protection from predation. End a combination if shrimp continually disappear or cannot feed peacefully; matching temperature and pH alone is insufficient.

Keeping with other invertebrates

Peaceful snails may be suitable if their water requirements overlap and both receive enough food. Amano shrimp can carry food away, so spread feeding points and watch the smallest animals. Dwarf crayfish are not an obvious partner: claws and vulnerable moults create risks. Different Neocaridina colour forms belong to the same species and may interbreed. Soft-water Caridina also require an actual assessment of water conditions rather than a compromise unsuitable for both species.

Exoskeleton, shell and minerals

Moulting exposes a new, temporarily soft exoskeleton. An empty translucent shell is therefore not necessarily a dead shrimp. Leave the animal undisturbed among plants or wood while it hardens. Minerals are obtained through water and food; do not add calcium simply because one moult failed. Investigate changes in GH, temperature, water quality and maintenance first. Never pull at a trapped exoskeleton. Repeated losses or abnormal behaviour call for knowledgeable assessment.

Possible problems

Sudden agitation after a water change, several animals near the surface or deaths require prompt checks of water quality and oxygen supply. Investigate the cause and seek knowledgeable help if problems persist. Before using medication, algae treatments or other additives, check their suitability for shrimp; copper-containing treatments can be particularly problematic. Label colour does not establish a safe dose. This guide does not diagnose disease or prescribe treatment.