Variety of Neocaridina shrimp

Green jade shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

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

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; 19 L

Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Beginner
Breeding: Egg carrier · Easy
Rarity: Very common
Family: Atyidae
Origin: Taiwan

Overview

The green jade shrimp is a peaceful, social dwarf shrimp for a planted freshwater tank. It is easy to keep and a good first shrimp.

Did you know

The green jade shrimp breeds true to color, so a stable colony keeps producing green offspring generation after generation. Mix two color forms of Neocaridina, though, and the babies tend to revert toward the plain wild brown over a few generations.

Caring for the green jade shrimp

Keep green jade shrimp in a colony of ten or more, in 5 gal (19 L) or larger. A planted tank with moss and biofilm suits them. They live on the bottom and on plants, grazing algae and biofilm all day.

They adapt well to temperature, anywhere from 59 to 84°F (15 to 29°C), at a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Stable water matters more than exact numbers, so stay in that range and avoid swings. Skip copper-based medications, which are toxic to shrimp.

Feed sparingly with shrimp pellets and blanched vegetables, on top of the biofilm in a mature tank. Green jade shrimp molt as they grow and stay soft for a few hours afterward. They eat the cast shells for their minerals.

Keep them away from fish big enough to eat the babies, and choose small, peaceful fish or other dwarf shrimp. Females grow larger than males and carry 20 to 40 eggs under the tail for three to four weeks. The eggs hatch into fully formed miniature shrimp, with no free-swimming larval stage, so a colony breeds steadily in fresh water. Keep a single color line in the tank to hold the green.

Good to know

The green jade shrimp is a selectively bred color form of Neocaridina davidi, a dwarf shrimp in the family Atyidae. The jade green is a line-bred trait, not a wild pattern.

In the wild

Wild Neocaridina davidi come from streams and ponds in Taiwan and nearby. They live among plants, leaf litter and rocks in slightly hard, near-neutral water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The green jade 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 green jade shrimp a different species from the Neocaridina shrimp?

No. A green jade 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 green jade shrimp need?

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

What does a green jade shrimp eat?

A green jade shrimp grazes algae and biofilm all day. Feed it sparingly with shrimp pellets and blanched vegetables.

How big does a green jade shrimp get?

An adult green jade shrimp reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How can you tell a male green jade shrimp from a female?

Female green jade shrimp grow larger than males. A female with eggs carries them under her tail.

How does a green jade shrimp breed?

A female green jade shrimp carries 20 to 40 eggs under her tail for three to four weeks. The eggs hatch into fully formed shrimp with no larval stage, so a colony breeds steadily in fresh water.