TankBud

Okinawa cleaner shrimp

Neocaridina denticulata

Also known as Caridina denticulata, Okinawa algae shrimp

FreshwaterShrimp

Okinawa cleaner shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata)
t.ohashi · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–79°F
18–26°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg carrier · Easy
Rarity
Rare
Family
Atyidae
Origin
Streams of the Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan

Overview

The Okinawa cleaner shrimp is a hardy, peaceful dwarf shrimp that works as a cleanup crew. It is a plain, translucent cousin of the red cherry shrimp, and it is easy to keep.

Did you know

For years, the shrimp sold as Neocaridina denticulata were actually cherry shrimp, a separate species. The true denticulata is this plain Japanese native. It mostly stayed home while its painted relative took over the hobby.

Caring for the Okinawa cleaner shrimp

Keep Okinawa cleaner shrimp in a group, in a nano or planted community tank of 5 gal (20 L) or larger. Build the scape from rock, wood and plants that grow a good film of algae. They graze algae and biofilm across all of it, all day.

They do not need heat, since 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C) suits them and an unheated room often works. They tolerate cooler rooms better than most tropical shrimp. Keep the water clean and well oxygenated, close to neutral at a pH of 6.5 to 7.8.

In a mature tank, feed almost nothing at first. Then supplement with a quality shrimp food, blanched vegetables and a pinch of frozen food.

Pair them only with small, calm fish that will not eat shrimp. Females carry their eggs under the tail and release fully formed miniature shrimp that stay in fresh water. Okinawa cleaner shrimp are direct developers with no marine larval stage, so breeding is easy. With stable conditions and enough shrimp, a colony builds steadily on its own.

Good to know

The Okinawa cleaner shrimp is Neocaridina denticulata, a member of Atyidae, the dwarf shrimp family. It is also sold as Caridina denticulata or the Okinawa algae shrimp.

In the wild

The Okinawa cleaner shrimp comes from cool, clear streams in the Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan. There it grazes algae from stones in flowing subtropical water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Okinawa cleaner 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

What size tank does an Okinawa cleaner shrimp need?

An Okinawa cleaner shrimp needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an Okinawa cleaner shrimp need?

An Okinawa cleaner shrimp is comfortable at 64–79°F (18–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does an Okinawa cleaner shrimp eat?

An Okinawa cleaner shrimp grazes algae and biofilm across rock, plants and wood all day. In a mature tank it needs almost nothing at first, then a quality shrimp food, blanched vegetables and a pinch of frozen food.

How big does an Okinawa cleaner shrimp get?

An adult Okinawa cleaner shrimp reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does an Okinawa cleaner shrimp breed?

A female Okinawa cleaner shrimp carries her eggs under her tail and releases fully formed miniature shrimp. There is no marine larval stage, so breeding is easy and a colony builds on its own in fresh water.

Related species