Neocaridina davidi 'Blue Dream'
A deep solid-blue Neocaridina line. Care is identical to Red Cherry. Keep separated from other Neocaridina colour morphs to prevent reversion to wild grey.
Blue Dream Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi 'Blue Dream') reaches 2.5–3 cm and needs a minimum tank of 20 L with a colony of 10+. Native to Selectively bred (Neocaridina lineage). Aim for 18–28 °C, pH 6.5–8.0, 6–15 dGH, and 150–250 ppm TDS. Lifespan: 1.5 years. Breeding: very easy, same as red cherries. Diet: omnivore / detritivore, Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets, calcium supplements. Plant-safe: Yes. Tank-mates: Nano fish only, same as Red Cherry.
Care at a glance
A deep solid-blue Neocaridina line. Care is identical to Red Cherry. Keep separated from other Neocaridina colour morphs to prevent reversion to wild grey.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete freshwater shrimp guide.
The parameters that decide whether blue dream shrimp fits in your tank.
10+
Omnivore / detritivore
Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets, calcium supplements.
Very easy, same as Red Cherries
1.5 yrs
Bred from Cherry shrimp, wild kin in Taiwanese streams
Selectively bred (Neocaridina lineage)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Same as Cherry shrimp — best species-only.
Other Neocaridina colour morphs (will revert colour). Same fish exclusions as Cherry.
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Blue Dreams revert to wild brown more easily than Cherry — keep colonies extra-pure. Strong colour requires good nutrition: high-protein shrimp food, spinach, calcium supplements. Display them against light-coloured substrate (sand) for maximum visual pop.
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Same susceptibilities as Cherry shrimp.
1) Mixing with Cherries — fast colour reversion. 2) Confusing with 'Blue Velvet' which is a different colour line and a different gene. 3) Buying from cheap mass producers — colour line stability suffers.
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
Identical to Cherry shrimp. 20 L+, cycled, stable, copper-free, with moss and hides.
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Where it lived before it came home.
Selectively bred Neocaridina davidi — no wild equivalent.
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
Same as Cherry shrimp — females larger and rounder with saddle.
Every 3–6 weeks. Same as all Neocaridina.
Direct freshwater development — same as Cherry shrimp. 20–30 eggs per clutch, ~30 days to hatch.
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Lowest to highest: Blue Velvet (lighter, sky blue, often transparent legs) → Blue Dream (deeper royal blue with opaque legs) → Blue Dream Vivid (deepest, fully solid blue).
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Minimum tank: 20 L with a colony of 10+. Blue Dream Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi 'Blue Dream') reach 2.5–3 cm as adults.
Target 18–28 °C, pH 6.5–8.0, 6–15 dGH, and 150–250 ppm TDS. Mature, cycled, low-nitrate water is non-negotiable.
Tank-mate notes: Nano fish only, same as Red Cherry. Plant safety: Yes.
Breeding: Very easy, same as Red Cherries. In a stable colony of 10+ adults you will see berried females naturally once parameters and food are right.
Diet: omnivore / detritivore, Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets, calcium supplements. Algae-eating rating: 4/5.
Typical lifespan: 1.5 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this shrimp with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
