Overview
Cherry shrimp are a colourful, hardy dwarf shrimp bred from the wild Neocaridina davidi. They spend all day grazing biofilm and algae off plants, wood and glass, and a healthy colony is a constant, mesmerising bustle of activity in a nano tank.
They are peaceful, undemanding invertebrates that breed readily in stable water, making them ideal for beginners and cleanup crews , as long as they are not housed with fish big enough to eat them.
| Care level | Beginner |
| Adult size | 1-1.5 in (2.5-4 cm) |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Min. tank | 5 gal (19 L) |
| Temperature | 65-80°F (18-27°C) |
| pH | 6.5-8.0 |
| Hardness | 6-15 dGH |
| Diet | Omnivore / grazer |
| Schooling | Colony , the more the merrier |
Water & tank conditions
Neocaridina are tolerant of a wide range , pH 6.5-8.0, moderate hardness, and 65-80°F, even at room temperature in many homes. Stability matters more than exact numbers; avoid copper (toxic to invertebrates) in medications and fertilisers.
Aquascape & setup
A mature, planted tank with mosses, plenty of surface area and some biofilm is a shrimp paradise. A sponge filter protects tiny shrimplets from being sucked in. Botanicals and leaf litter provide grazing and cover.
Diet & feeding
Grazers that mostly feed themselves on algae and biofilm. Supplement lightly with blanched vegetables, a quality shrimp food and the occasional protein. Overfeeding fouls a small tank fast , feed sparingly.
Tankmates & temperament
Best kept in a species tank or with tiny, peaceful fish (small rasboras, otocinclus) and snails. Most fish will eat baby shrimp, and some will hunt adults, so choose tankmates carefully or keep them alone for a booming colony.
Breeding
Cherry shrimp breed almost on their own in stable, mature water. Berried females carry eggs under the tail until fully-formed miniature shrimp hatch , no larval stage , so the colony grows quickly with no intervention.
Fun facts
- Cherry shrimp are graded by colour intensity, from pale 'cherry' up to deep, opaque 'painted fire red.'
- Copper is toxic to shrimp , always check fish medications and plant fertilisers before dosing a shrimp tank.
- Females carry their eggs (they are 'berried') under the tail until tiny shrimp hatch, with no larval stage.
- They graze biofilm and algae all day, acting as a living cleanup crew.
- A stable, mature tank is all a colony needs to multiply on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Are cherry shrimp easy to keep?
Yes , they are one of the hardiest invertebrates in the hobby, tolerating a wide range of stable water and even room-temperature tanks. The main rules are avoid copper and don't house them with fish that eat them.
Can cherry shrimp live with fish?
They can live with tiny, peaceful fish, but most fish eat baby shrimp and some hunt adults. For a thriving, breeding colony, a species-only tank or very small, calm tankmates are best.
Do cherry shrimp clean the tank?
They graze algae and biofilm off surfaces all day, which helps keep a tank tidy, but they are a supplement to , not a replacement for , regular maintenance.
How fast do cherry shrimp breed?
Very fast in stable, mature water. Females carry eggs under the tail and produce fully-formed shrimplets, so a small starter group can grow into a large colony within months.
What do cherry shrimp eat?
They are grazing omnivores that eat algae and biofilm, supplemented with blanched vegetables, a quality shrimp food and occasional protein , fed sparingly.
