Neocaridina Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Tiny cleaning crews in candy colours. A happy colony breeds non-stop – as long as nothing bigger eats them.

A peaceful freshwater shrimp that grows to 2.5 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 18–27 °C, pH 6.5–8.0 and an aquarium of at least 10 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

18–27 °C (64–81 °F)

pH

6.5–8.0

Adult size

2.5 cm (1.0 in)

Aquarium

10 L or bigger (3 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Taiwan & China

Good to know

• Algae eater. Keeps algae under control.
• Bottom crawler. Walks along the substrate.
• Livebearer. Gives birth to live fry – easy to breed.

Tank mates

Good company: Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Dwarf Gourami, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Fancy Guppy, Glowlight Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Honey Gourami, Neon Tetra.

Eaten by: Angelfish, Asian Arowana, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Clown Loach, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish and 17 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Discus, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra and 19 more.

It gets along with every other species that doesn't eat it.

Colours and breeding

• Red Cherry common
• Blue Dream common
• Yellow Goldenback common
• Orange Sunkist common
• Green Jade uncommon
• Chocolate uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.2 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Some pairs give a colour neither parent has:

• Red Cherry × Yellow Goldenback can give Orange Sunkist
• Blue Dream × Yellow Goldenback can give Green Jade
• Red Cherry × Green Jade can give Chocolate

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.