Care at a glance
The perfect beginner shrimp. Stable parameters matter more than perfect numbers. Calcium for moulting (cuttlebone, GH+, mineral stones) is essential.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 2 min read
Part of our complete freshwater shrimp guide.
Shrimp
Red Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Taiwan (selectively bred)Beginner
TL;DR, Red Cherry Shrimp
The perfect beginner shrimp. Stable parameters matter more than perfect numbers. Calcium for moulting (cuttlebone, GH+, mineral stones) is essential.
Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) reaches 2.5–3 cm and needs a minimum tank of 20 L with a colony of 10+. Native to Taiwan (selectively bred). 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, colony breeds without intervention. Diet: omnivore / detritivore, Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets, calcium-rich food for shell. Plant-safe: Yes. Tank-mates: Nano fish only, chili rasbora, ember tetra, otocinclus.
- Colony10+
- Plant-safeYes
- Tank-mate safeNano fish only, chili rasbora, ember tetra, otocinclus
Tank fit
The parameters that decide whether red cherry shrimp fits in your tank.
Parameters
15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C
4.05.06.07.08.0
0 dGH5 dGH10 dGH15 dGH20 dGH25 dGH
035810
50 ppm150 ppm250 ppm350 ppm500 ppm
Still
Low
Medium
High
V. high
Profile
Colony minimum
10+
Diet
Omnivore / detritivore
Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets, calcium-rich food for shell.
Clean-up crew
Strong
Breeding
Very easy, colony breeds without intervention
Lifespan
1.5 yrs
Habitat
Cool weedy streams of Taiwan and southern China
Taiwan (selectively bred)
Who it lives with
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Good tank mates
Best species-only. With caution: chili rasboras, ember tetras, otocinclus, sparkling gouramis — these may eat tiny shrimplets but adults survive.
Avoid
ALL cichlids, all loaches, all bettas, larger tetras, anything carnivorous over 3 cm. Bigger Neocaridina colour morphs (will crossbreed and revert to wild).
Pro tips
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Drip-acclimate over 2 hours minimum — shrimp die from rapid parameter shifts. NEVER use any copper-based medication in the tank — even residual copper from medicated fish foods kills shrimp. Cuttlebone in the tank slowly dissolves to provide calcium. Keep colonies pure (one colour morph per tank) — mixed Neocaridina lose colour within generations.
Things to watch for
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Things to watch for
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Health
Diseases
Vorticella (white fuzz at the rostrum tip) — treated with salt baths or commercial parasite treatments. Bacterial infections (cloudy white body) — usually fatal. Most issues come from copper poisoning (medications), pesticides, or unstable parameters.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes
1) Adding to an uncycled tank — ammonia kills them fast. 2) Copper in fish food or medications. 3) Skimping on hiding spots for shrimplets — they get eaten or stressed. 4) Mixing colour morphs and losing the colour line.
How to care for it
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
Tank setup
20 L+. Stable parameters matter more than perfect numbers. Cycle the tank fully (8+ weeks) before adding. Inert substrate (sand, gravel) or active soil — both work. Lots of moss for shrimplet hiding. Indian almond leaves provide biofilm and tannins. Sponge filter — never an intake without a guard or shrimplets get sucked in.
Background
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Show backgroundHide background
In the wild
Where it lived before it came home.
Native rangeTaiwan
Origin · Taiwan (selectively bred)
Originally Taiwan/Vietnam, but the red-cherry strain is purely selectively bred. Wild Neocaridina davidi are mottled brown.
Behavior & breeding
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
- Stage 1
Telling them apart Sexing
Females are larger (up to 3 cm), deeper coloured, with a 'saddle' (yellow eggs visible through the carapace behind the head) and a curved underside (visible 'belly' for carrying eggs). Males are smaller, slimmer, paler.
- Stage 2
Molting cycle Molting
Every 3–6 weeks. Discarded exoskeletons (clear, intact) are normal — leave them in the tank for shrimp to eat (recovers calcium). Failed molts (stuck half-out) usually indicate calcium deficiency or stress.
- Stage 3
Life stages Lifecycle
Eggs (~20–30) carried by female under tail for 30 days. Tiny shrimplets emerge ready-to-go (no larval stage). Mature at 3 months. Average lifespan 1.5 years; with excellent care up to 2 years.
Variants & identification
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Color grades / variants
Lowest to highest: Wild → Cherry (light red, transparent) → Sakura (deeper red, some transparency) → Fire Red (solid red body, clear legs) → Painted Fire Red (PFR — solid red including legs and antennae). Higher grades are more expensive and breed truer.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
What tank size do Red Cherry Shrimp need?
Minimum tank: 20 L with a colony of 10+. Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) reach 2.5–3 cm as adults.
What water parameters do Red Cherry Shrimp need?
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.
Are Red Cherry Shrimp safe with fish?
Tank-mate notes: Nano fish only, chili rasbora, ember tetra, otocinclus. Plant safety: Yes.
How do Red Cherry Shrimp breed?
Breeding: Very easy, colony breeds without intervention. In a stable colony of 10+ adults you will see berried females naturally once parameters and food are right.
What do Red Cherry Shrimp eat?
Diet: omnivore / detritivore, Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets, calcium-rich food for shell. Algae-eating rating: 4/5.
How long do Red Cherry Shrimp live?
Typical lifespan: 1.5 years.
Sources & further reading
More shrimp
See all shrimpAdjacent specimens in the catalogue.
Cross-references
Build the rest of the tank.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this shrimp with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
