TankBud

One species · 11 varieties

Neocaridina shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Every shrimp on this page is the same species, selectively bred into a different color. The water, tank and tank mates are identical, so the only real decision is which color you want and whether you plan to keep more than one.

Pick a variety

Care, the same for every variety

One setup covers every variety on this page.

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

Why every color is the same shrimp

Wild Neocaridina davidi is a plain, brownish shrimp from streams and ponds in Taiwan and eastern China. Every color here was selected from that stock: a breeder spotted a color mutation, bred it back to its own offspring, and repeated until the line held. The animal underneath never changed, so size, water, diet, behavior and lifespan are identical across every variety on this page.

Keeping colors together

All Neocaridina colors interbreed freely, and crosses do not blend into new colors. Mixed offspring drift back toward the wild brown within a few generations, so an accidental mix slowly erases both lines. Keepers who want a color to last hold one color per tank. A deliberate mixed colony is a fine choice too, as long as you are happy to watch the colors fade over time.

Choosing a color

Color reads differently against different tanks: dark substrate and heavy planting deepen most lines, while pale forms like snowball stand out best against dark backgrounds. Cherry, orange and yellow are the longest-established lines and the easiest to buy well-bred, which makes them good first colonies. Rili patterns need regular culling to keep the banding sharp.

Tank mates

Every variety on this page wants the same water, so one set of picks fits them all. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Can I mix cherry and blue dream shrimp?

They can live together and the water is identical, but all Neocaridina colors interbreed and mixed offspring drift back toward wild brown within a few generations. Keep one color per tank if you want the color to last.

Do the colors need different water?

No. Every variety on this page is the same species and wants the same setup: 5 gal (20 L) or more of stable, cycled water at 59–84°F (15–29°C) and pH 6.5–8.0.

Which variety is best for beginners?

Cherry shrimp. It is the oldest line, starter colonies are cheap and easy to find, and everything you learn keeping it applies to every other color here.

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