TankBud

Variety of Neocaridina shrimp

Orange neocaridina

Neocaridina davidi

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

FreshwaterShrimp

Orange neocaridina (Neocaridina davidi)
Dack9 · CC BY 4.0

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
Common
Family
Atyidae
Origin
Taiwan

Overview

The orange neocaridina is a social, peaceful dwarf shrimp for a planted freshwater tank. It is easy to keep and breeds on its own.

Did you know

Orange neocaridina breed so readily that a small colony can grow into a large one in a few months, with no effort from you.

Caring for the orange neocaridina

Keep orange neocaridina in a colony of at least ten to start. A tank as small as 5 gal (19 L) works if it is cycled and stable. Give them a mature, planted setup with moss, wood and rock to forage on.

They handle a wide range, from 59 to 84°F (15 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Stable water matters more than chasing exact numbers. Avoid copper, which is toxic to them.

Orange neocaridina are peaceful bottom grazers that eat biofilm, algae and leftover food. Add the occasional blanched vegetable or shrimp pellet. They molt as they grow, stay soft for a few hours afterward, and eat the cast shells for their minerals.

Keep them with small, peaceful fish or other dwarf shrimp. Females are larger and rounder than males and carry eggs under the tail until they hatch. The young come out as tiny shrimp, not larvae, so they need no special conditions to grow.

Keep wild-type cousins and other Neocaridina colors out of the tank. They interbreed freely, and within a couple of generations the offspring revert to a drab brown.

Good to know

The orange neocaridina is Neocaridina davidi, a dwarf shrimp in the family Atyidae, selectively bred for its orange color. Adults typically live around one to two years.

In the wild

Wild Neocaridina davidi are native to streams and ponds in eastern Asia, including Taiwan. They live among plants, rocks and leaf litter, grazing on biofilm.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The orange neocaridina 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 an orange neocaridina a different species from the Neocaridina shrimp?

No. An orange neocaridina 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 an orange neocaridina need?

An orange neocaridina needs at least 5 gal (19 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What does an orange neocaridina eat?

An orange neocaridina eats biofilm, algae and leftover food. Give it the occasional blanched vegetable or shrimp pellet as well.

How big does an orange neocaridina get?

An adult orange neocaridina reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How can you tell a male orange neocaridina from a female?

Female orange neocaridina are larger and rounder than males. A female carries her eggs under the tail until they hatch.

How does an orange neocaridina breed?

A female orange neocaridina carries her eggs under her tail until they hatch. The young come out as tiny shrimp, not larvae, so a colony grows with no special conditions.

Related species