TankBud

Variety of Neocaridina shrimp

Yellow neocaridina

Neocaridina davidi

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

FreshwaterShrimp

Yellow neocaridina (Neocaridina davidi)
DirkBlankenhaus · CC BY-SA 3.0

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
Very common
Family
Atyidae
Origin
Taiwan

Overview

The yellow neocaridina is a small, peaceful dwarf shrimp for the bottom of a planted tank. It is hardy and an easy starter shrimp.

Did you know

Yellow neocaridina breed without any special trigger. With stable water and no fish to eat the babies, a healthy group just keeps producing young. A small starter group can become a full colony in a few months.

Caring for the yellow neocaridina

Keep yellow neocaridina in a group, and the bigger the better, since a colony is more active and visible. A 5 gal (19 L) tank is plenty for a starter colony. Give them a planted tank with hiding spots, and they will graze constantly over plants, wood and substrate on the bottom.

They tolerate a wide range of conditions, from 59 to 84°F (15 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Cool room temperature is fine, as long as the water stays stable.

They eat algae, biofilm and leftover food, with the occasional blanched vegetable or shrimp pellet to fill gaps. Yellow neocaridina molt as they grow and stay soft for a few hours afterward. They eat the cast shells for the minerals.

They are peaceful and tiny, so house them only with small, gentle tank mates, or keep them in a species tank where the fry survive. Females grow larger than males. They carry their eggs under the tail and fan them until they hatch into tiny but fully formed shrimp, with no free-swimming larval stage. Breeding is easy in fresh water.

Good to know

The yellow neocaridina is a selectively bred color form of Neocaridina davidi, a dwarf shrimp in the family Atyidae. The yellow is a tank-bred line, not a wild pattern. Adults typically live a year or two.

In the wild

Wild Neocaridina davidi come from Taiwan and nearby East Asia. They live in streams and ponds among plants and leaf litter.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The yellow 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 a yellow neocaridina a different species from the Neocaridina shrimp?

No. A yellow 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 a yellow neocaridina need?

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

What does a yellow neocaridina eat?

A yellow neocaridina eats algae, biofilm and leftover food. Fill the gaps with the occasional blanched vegetable or shrimp pellet.

How big does a yellow neocaridina get?

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

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

Female yellow neocaridina grow larger than males. A female carries her eggs under the tail and fans them until they hatch.

How does a yellow neocaridina breed?

A female yellow neocaridina carries her eggs under the tail and fans them until they hatch. The young come out as fully formed shrimp with no larval stage, so breeding is easy in fresh water.

Related species