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
- 20 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Very common
- Family
- Atyidae
- Origin
- Taiwan
Overview
Keep them in a group. They are social, and a colony of ten or more does best and breeds steadily. They are peaceful and live on the bottom and on plants, constantly grazing algae and biofilm. Stable water matters more than exact numbers, so keep it in the listed range and avoid swings, and skip copper-based medications, which are toxic to shrimp. Feed sparingly with shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables, and the biofilm in a mature tank. Keep them away from fish big enough to eat the babies.
In the wild
Green jade shrimp are a selectively bred color form of Neocaridina davidi, a shrimp from streams and ponds in Taiwan and nearby. Wild Neocaridina live among plants, leaf litter, and rocks in slightly hard, near-neutral water. They are very adaptable on temperature, fine from around 15 up to 29 C, and do well in pH from 6.5 to 8. A planted tank with moss and biofilm suits them.
Good to know
This is a dwarf shrimp in the family Atyidae. Adults reach about 4 cm. The jade green color is a line-bred trait, not a wild pattern. Females carry fertilized eggs under the tail until they hatch into fully formed miniature shrimp, with no free-swimming larval stage in fresh water, which is why they breed so readily.
Did you know
Because they breed true to color, a stable colony keeps throwing green offspring generation after generation. Mix two different color forms of Neocaridina, though, and the babies tend to revert toward the plain wild brown over a few generations.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
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.
Zebra nerite
Vittina natalensis
FreshwaterBrackish1 in (2.5 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)66–84°F (19–29°C)
Micro bumblebee goby
Brachygobius nunus
FreshwaterBrackish1 in (2.5 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Dwarf livebearer
Neoheterandria elegans
Freshwater1 in (2.5 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Bee shrimp
Caridina logemanni
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Pagoda snail
Brotia pagodula
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Mini bumblebee goby
Brachygobius xanthomelas
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
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 (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
How big does a Green jade shrimp get?
An adult Green jade shrimp reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Related species
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Neocaridina denticulata
1.2 in (3 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)
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Caridina gracilirostris
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1.6 in (4 cm)7 gal (25 L)64–73°F (18–23°C)Tiger shrimp
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Caridina longirostris
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