Cherry Shrimp Care Guide
Neocaridina davidi · Easy care · 5 gallon minimum
Brilliant red nano cleanup crew that breeds readily in stable, no-copper planted tanks. Great starter invert.
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How big does a cherry shrimp get?
A cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) reaches about 1.5 inches as an adult. Plan tank size and tank mates around the adult size, not the small fish you buy at the store.
Tank size & setup
Give a cherry shrimp a minimum of 5 gallons, with water at 65–80°F and a pH of 6.5–8. Keep them in groups of at least 5 — they are shoaling fish and become stressed and washed-out alone. As a easy-care, omnivore species, a stable, cycled tank with the right diet keeps them healthiest.
Good tank mates
Pair a cherry shrimp with peaceful species that share its temperature and pH range. Compatible options include:
- Neon Tetra — 1.5", 10g min
- Guppy — 2.0", 10g min
- Molly — 4.0", 20g min
- Platy — 2.5", 10g min
- Zebra Danio — 2.0", 10g min
About the cherry shrimp
Neocaridina davidi, also known as the cherry shrimp, is a freshwater shrimp native to Taiwan, east of China, the Korean Peninsula, and Vietnam, that is sold globally in the aquatic pet trade. They are omnivores, and their natural habitat in these regions include inland water bodies such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. N. davidi is also able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, and as a result of this is also becoming invasive in thermally polluted waterways of Japan, the United States, Poland, and Germany. It is thought that the release of captive shrimp has led to their presence in these environments. Their natural coloration, or wild type, is a mottled brown, but N. davidi has been selectively bred to produce a diverse array of color morphs including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, white, clear, and more. The popularity of the red morph has led to N. davidi also being known as "cherry shrimp". N. davidi do not have a distinct larval stage, reach maturity in 30 days, and may live 1–2 years. At maturity, the shrimp are approximately 3–4 cm in length.
Recommended gear for cherry shrimps
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