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Variety of Neocaridina shrimp

Blue dream shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

One of 11 varieties of Neocaridina davidi · See all varieties →

Also known as Blue Dream Neocaridina, Blue Diamond shrimp

FreshwaterShrimp

Blue dream shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
TonyZimbinski · CC BY-SA 4.0

Varieties · Neocaridina davidi

See all 11 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
59–84°F
15–29°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
19 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Egg carrier · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Atyidae
Origin
A captive bred color line of the dwarf shrimp Neocaridina davidi, whose wild form lives in freshwater streams and ponds across eastern China and Taiwan.

Overview

The blue dream shrimp is a hardy, deep blue dwarf shrimp for a planted freshwater tank. Its care is identical to any other Neocaridina color, and it is a good first shrimp.

Did you know

The blue dream shrimp descends from the chocolate line of Neocaridina davidi. Its blue is a selected pigment effect, fixed over many generations.

Caring for the blue dream shrimp

Keep a blue dream colony in at least 5 gal (19 L) of cycled, stable water. A planted tank with moss gives them grazing surfaces and cover for shrimplets. They show best against a dark substrate.

They handle 59 to 84°F (15 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Feed biofilm, algae, blanched vegetables and the occasional prepared shrimp food. They molt as they grow and eat the cast shells for their minerals.

Blue dreams are peaceful, and safe tank mates are small, peaceful fish or other dwarf shrimp. Keep them away from other Neocaridina colors, since crossbreeding quickly dilutes the blue back toward plain wild brown within a couple of generations.

Females grow larger than males. A female carries a clutch of eggs under her tail for three to four weeks, which keepers call being berried. The young hatch fully formed, and breeding is easy.

Good to know

The blue dream is a solid, deep blue line of Neocaridina davidi, darker and more opaque than the paler blue velvet. It is also sold as the blue diamond shrimp.

In the wild

The blue dream is a captive-bred color line. Its wild form lives in freshwater streams and ponds across eastern China and Taiwan.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blue dream shrimp is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Is a blue dream shrimp a different species from the Neocaridina shrimp?

No. A blue dream shrimp is a variety of the Neocaridina shrimp, Neocaridina davidi, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.

What size tank does a blue dream shrimp need?

A blue dream shrimp needs at least 5 gal (19 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What does a blue dream shrimp eat?

A blue dream shrimp grazes biofilm and algae across plants and hardscape. Add blanched vegetables and the occasional prepared shrimp food.

How big does a blue dream shrimp get?

An adult blue dream shrimp reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How can you tell a male blue dream shrimp from a female?

Female blue dream shrimp grow larger than males. A berried female carries her eggs under her tail.

How does a blue dream shrimp breed?

A female blue dream shrimp carries a clutch of eggs under her tail, which keepers call being berried. The young hatch fully formed after three to four weeks, and breeding is easy.

Related species