Rili Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

FreshwaterShrimp

Care at a glance

Temperature: 59–84°F (15–29°C)
pH: 6.5–8.0
Adult size: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
Minimum tank: 5 gal (20 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Beginner
Breeding: Easy
Rarity: Common
Origin: Taiwan
Family: Atyidae

Overview

Keep them in a group. The more the better, since they feel secure in numbers and you get a stronger colony. They stay on the bottom and across plants, picking at algae, biofilm, and leftover food, with the odd blanched vegetable or shrimp pellet to round things out. They want pH from about 6.5 to 8 and temperatures from the mid teens up to around 29 C, though stable warmth in the low to mid 20s is easiest. They are peaceful and best kept alone or with very small, calm fish that will not eat the babies.

In the wild

Rili shrimp are a selectively bred line of Neocaridina davidi, the same species behind the common cherry shrimp. The wild stock comes from streams and ponds in Taiwan and nearby parts of Asia, sitting on the bottom among plants, leaf litter, and biofilm-covered surfaces. They handle a wide range of conditions, so a small planted tank of about 20 liters or more with moss, some hardscape, and a mature surface for grazing suits them well. Stable water matters more than chasing exact numbers.

Good to know

This is a freshwater dwarf shrimp in the family Atyidae. Adults reach roughly 3 to 4 cm, with females usually larger and rounder than males. They breed readily in freshwater with no larval stage, so females carry eggs under the tail until fully formed shrimplets hatch. Lifespan is typically one to two years.

Did you know

The "rili" pattern is the trait, not the species. Rili shrimp have a clear band across the middle of the body with solid color at the front and back, and that gap can shift or fade from one generation to the next, so colonies need culling to hold the look.