Care at a glance
High-visibility colour, pops against dark substrate and green plants. Same easy care as Red Cherry.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete freshwater shrimp guide.
Shrimp
Yellow Neocaridina
Neocaridina davidi 'Yellow'
Selectively bred (Neocaridina lineage)Beginner
TL;DR, Yellow Neocaridina
High-visibility colour, pops against dark substrate and green plants. Same easy care as Red Cherry.
Yellow Neocaridina (Neocaridina davidi 'Yellow') 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. Diet: omnivore / detritivore, Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets. Plant-safe: Yes. Tank-mates: Nano fish only.
Tank fit
The parameters that decide whether yellow neocaridina 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.
Clean-up crew
Strong
Breeding
Very easy
Lifespan
1.5 yrs
Habitat
Bred from Cherry shrimp, wild kin in Taiwanese streams
Selectively bred (Neocaridina lineage)
Who it lives with
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Good tank mates
Same as Cherry shrimp.
Avoid
Other Neocaridina colour morphs.
Pro tips
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Visually striking against green plants and dark wood. Bright tanks make them less visible — pair with dark substrate.
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
Same as Cherry shrimp.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes
Same mixing issues as Blue Dreams and Cherries.
How to care for it
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
Tank setup
Identical to Cherry shrimp.
Background
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
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In the wild
Where it lived before it came home.
Origin · Selectively bred (Neocaridina lineage)
Selectively bred Neocaridina davidi.
Behavior & breeding
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
- Stage 1
Telling them apart Sexing
Same as all Neocaridina.
- Stage 2
Molting cycle Molting
Same as all Neocaridina.
- Stage 3
Life stages Lifecycle
Direct freshwater development.
Variants & identification
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Color grades / variants
Standard Yellow → 'Golden Back' (yellow with metallic stripe) → 'Neon Yellow' (intense fluorescent).
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
What tank size do Yellow Neocaridina need?
Minimum tank: 20 L with a colony of 10+. Yellow Neocaridina (Neocaridina davidi 'Yellow') reach 2.5–3 cm as adults.
What water parameters do Yellow Neocaridina 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 Yellow Neocaridina safe with fish?
Tank-mate notes: Nano fish only. Plant safety: Yes.
How do Yellow Neocaridina breed?
Breeding: Very easy. In a stable colony of 10+ adults you will see berried females naturally once parameters and food are right.
What do Yellow Neocaridina eat?
Diet: omnivore / detritivore, Biofilm, algae, blanched veg, sinking pellets. Algae-eating rating: 4/5.
How long do Yellow Neocaridina 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.
