Blueberry shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

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

Also known as Blueberry Neocaridina

FreshwaterShrimp

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 (20 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Beginner
Breeding: Easy
Rarity: Common
Origin: Selectively bred; wild type from Taiwan and eastern China
Family: Atyidae

Overview

One of the easiest invertebrates to keep and a good first shrimp. A colony of ten or more will hold a 20 liter planted tank, graze biofilm off every surface and breed without any intervention. The one rule that matters is not mixing color lines: blueberry crossed with any other Neocaridina reverts to wild-type brown within a couple of generations. Feed sparingly, and never dose copper-based treatments.

In the wild

Neocaridina davidi is a selectively bred color line; the wild type comes from streams and ponds in Taiwan and eastern China, where the water is cool to warm and moderately hard. Keep it anywhere from 15 to 29 degrees Celsius at pH 6.5 to 8.0. It is genuinely tolerant, but stable parameters matter more than any particular number.

Good to know

Neocaridina davidi reaches about 4 centimeters. Females carry eggs under the tail for around a month and release fully formed miniature shrimp, with no larval stage, which is why the colony sustains itself in fresh water. Molting is the vulnerable moment: a shrimp that has just molted hides until the new shell hardens.