Cherry Shrimp Introduction

Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi, also sold historically as Neocaridina heteropoda) are a popular, low-maintenance addition to a freshwater aquarium. They're brightly colored, active during the day, and double as a cleanup crew that grazes algae and leftover food off plants and hardscape.

Water Conditions

Cherry shrimp are hardy and tolerate a range of water parameters, but do best in a pH of 6.0–7.5 and a temperature of 68–82°F. Regular partial water changes and a dechlorinator keep conditions stable, which matters more to shrimp than any single parameter being perfect.

Lighting

Shrimp don't need bright light and often prefer it dimmer, but moderate lighting supports the plant growth and biofilm they graze on throughout the day.

Substrate and Plants

A soft, nutrient-rich substrate gives shrimp a safe surface to forage on without damaging their delicate legs. A planted tank is genuinely the easiest environment to keep shrimp in — moss and broad-leaved plants build up biofilm for grazing, and dense plant cover gives molting or berried shrimp somewhere to hide.

Feeding

Cherry shrimp are omnivores that will graze on algae and biofilm constantly, supplemented with a quality shrimp food a few times a week. Blanched vegetables like spinach or zucchini make a good occasional addition.

Breeding

Cherry shrimp breed readily in a stable, well-planted tank without any special intervention. Females carry eggs under their tail for a few weeks before releasing miniature, fully-formed shrimp.

Tank Mates

Keep cherry shrimp with peaceful fish and avoid anything large or predatory enough to see them as food. Other peaceful shrimp and snails make good tankmates.

Common Issues and Fixes

Sudden shrimp deaths after a water change usually point to a chemistry swing that was too fast — acclimate slowly and avoid dumping in large volumes of very different water at once. Copper is toxic to shrimp even in trace amounts, so avoid fertilizers or medications that contain it in a shrimp tank.

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