Cherry shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
beginner careOverview
Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are the perfect first invertebrate: cheap, colourful, hardy, endlessly fascinating and useful cleanup crew that graze algae and leftovers. A thriving colony of red (or blue, yellow, green) shrimp in a planted nano is one of the most rewarding easy setups in the hobby.
Tank & water
A 19 litre (5 gallon) nano is plenty to start a colony, and it will happily fill a larger tank. What cherry shrimp really want is stability:
- Stable, cycled water — cycle the tank fully before adding shrimp. They’re sensitive to ammonia and nitrite spikes.
- No copper — copper (in some fish medications and fertilisers) is lethal to shrimp. Check labels.
- A gentle or sponge filter — so shrimplets aren’t sucked in. See our filter picks.
- Plants and cover — moss and easy plants give grazing surfaces and hiding spots for babies.
Feeding
Cherry shrimp are omnivores that graze biofilm and algae, so an established planted tank feeds them much of the time. Supplement a couple of times a week with a quality shrimp food, blanched vegetables or a specialist biofilm booster — only a little, as excess food fouls the water.
Tankmates & breeding
Cherry shrimp are entirely peaceful but small, so choose tankmates carefully — most small peaceful fish will eat shrimplets, and some adults. For maximum breeding, keep them in a species-only tank or with very small, non-predatory fish. In stable conditions a colony breeds continuously, so you’ll soon have shrimp to spare.
See the best shrimp tanks and best substrate for shrimp to set a colony up for success.
Cherry shrimp — frequently asked questions
Are cherry shrimp easy to keep?
Yes — Neocaridina cherry shrimp are one of the hardiest, most beginner-friendly invertebrates. They tolerate a wide range of stable parameters, breed readily, and help clean algae and leftover food. The main rules are: a cycled tank, stable water, and no copper.
Do cherry shrimp need a heater?
Not always — they're comfortable at typical room temperatures (20–26 °C). A small heater helps hold a steady temperature in a cold room; sudden swings are the real enemy, not the exact number.
Will cherry shrimp breed on their own?
Readily, in a stable, cycled tank with food and cover. A healthy colony multiplies steadily with no intervention. Provide plants and moss for shrimplets to hide in, and use a gentle or sponge filter so babies aren't sucked up.
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