Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) care guide

Group

Shrimp

Other names

Red cherry shrimp, Neocaridina heteropoda, Neocaridina denticulata sinensis, Caridina davidi, Sakura shrimp, Blue velvet shrimp, Yellow shrimp, Chocolate shrimp, Fire red shrimp

Family

Atyidae

Origin

Taiwan, eastern China, Korea and Vietnam; introduced in warm waters in Japan, the USA, Poland and Germany

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

4 cm

Temperature

16–27°C

pH

6.6–7.6

Hardness

dKH 3–10; GH about 6–12 dGH (general guidance)

Minimum tank

19 litres

Care level

beginner

Temperament

peaceful

Lifespan

1–2 years

Care

The cherry shrimp is the most popular freshwater aquarium shrimp. It is a small dwarf shrimp from East Asia whose wild form is a mottled greenish brown; years of selective breeding have produced red (cherry, sakura, fire red, painted), orange, yellow, green, blue (blue velvet, blue dream), violet, black, chocolate, white and clear forms. All these colour forms are one species. The names Neocaridina heteropoda and N. denticulata sinensis, still used by many shops (LiveAquaria lists it as N. denticulata sinensis), are older synonyms of Neocaridina davidi. Adults reach 3–4 cm; females are the larger. Keep a group of at least ten in a tank of 19 litres or more; a planted tank with moss, leaf litter and a sponge filter or a guarded filter intake suits them best because babies are easily sucked into filters. They tolerate a broad range: roughly 16–27 °C, pH about 6.6–7.6 and moderately hard water. What matters most is stability and a mature tank with plenty of biofilm. Drip-acclimatise new shrimp slowly. New arrivals often look pale until they settle and colour up. Cherry shrimp are timid, non-aggressive scavengers that spend the day picking at surfaces. They moult regularly (young more often than adults); leave the old shell in the tank, as they eat it to recover minerals. They are useful as a gentle clean-up crew, eating soft algae, biofilm and leftover food, but they will not clear established algae problems on their own. Keep only one colour form per tank if you want the line to stay true: mixed colours interbreed and the young drift back towards wild brown. Do not keep them with other Neocaridina species for the same reason. They do not cross with Caridina species. Copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most invertebrates, so check the label before dosing anything into a shrimp tank. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/red-cherry-shrimp); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neocaridinadavidi). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivorous grazer that picks biofilm, soft algae and detritus off plants, wood and glass, so a mature planted tank feeds it best; it does not eat healthy plants. Add small amounts of shrimp pellets, algae wafers, flake, blanched vegetables (spinach, courgette, nettle) and dried almond or oak leaves. Carotenoid-rich foods help red forms keep their colour. Feed only what is eaten in a couple of hours, as overfeeding fouls the water.

Breeding

Very easy and the reason the species is so widespread. Females are larger, more colourful and have a deeper, wider tail; a yellow or green 'saddle' of developing eggs is often visible behind the head. Shrimp mature at about two months old. After a moult the female releases a scent that sends males searching; once mated she carries 20–30 eggs under her tail, fanning them constantly. The eggs hatch after about three to four weeks into miniature copies of the adults, about 1 mm long, with no larval stage, so they can be raised in plain fresh water. Young females sometimes drop their first brood or drop eggs when stressed. All you need is a sexed group, stable water, a sponge filter and plenty of biofilm; the population will grow steadily on its own.

Compatibility and tank mates

Best with other small, peaceful animals: small rasboras, otocinclus, pygmy corydoras, nerite and other small snails, and other shrimp of different genera such as Amano or Caridina. Most fish will eat baby shrimp, and loaches, puffers, cichlids, larger barbs, gouramis and other carnivores will eat adults too. A heavily planted tank with moss gives the young somewhere to hide. Do not mix with other Neocaridina species or colour forms if you want to keep pure lines.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.