Cherry Shrimp Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Feeding & Breeding

Cherry Shrimp are small freshwater dwarf shrimp prized for their bright red colour and useful habit of grazing across the aquarium. Selective-bred strains range from translucent red to deep, almost opaque scarlet, with colour intensity influenced by genetics, age, sex and condition. Their delicate legs, fan-like feeding appendages and constantly moving antennae make them fascinating to watch at close range.

These peaceful invertebrates spend much of their time exploring leaves, wood, rocks and the aquarium glass in search of algae and microscopic organisms. They are active throughout the day, although they may become more cautious when housed with larger or predatory tankmates. A thriving colony can provide a constantly changing display of adults, juveniles and tiny newly hatched shrimp.

In nature, Neocaridina davidi inhabits shallow freshwater environments with plenty of vegetation, submerged surfaces and organic material to graze upon. The species is adaptable and occurs in a range of water conditions, which has helped make it one of the most popular freshwater shrimp in the aquarium hobby.

Cherry Shrimp are not a single wild colour variety but a domestic colour form developed from wild Neocaridina davidi. Their relatively small size, peaceful nature and uncomplicated breeding make them especially popular in planted nano aquariums and community setups containing suitably small, non-predatory fish.

Cherry Shrimp are selectively bred colour forms of Neocaridina davidi, a species native to freshwater streams and rivers in Taiwan and parts of mainland China in Asia. The wild species is usually brownish or translucent, while the vivid red aquarium varieties have been developed through captive breeding.

A small colony can be housed in an established aquarium of at least 20 litres, with a footprint around 30 by 25 cm or larger; a longer tank is preferable to provide more grazing area. Use a mature biological filter with a sponge-covered intake or a sponge filter so young shrimp are not drawn in. Include mosses, fine-leaved plants, driftwood, rocks and other textured surfaces that collect biofilm, and choose smooth or fine inert substrate that will not damage their delicate appendages. Stable, clean water and an aquarium free from copper-based treatments are essential.

Females reach a maximum of about 3 cm (1.2 inches), while males are usually smaller at approximately 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1 inch).

Cherry Shrimp graze naturally on algae, biofilm, microorganisms and decaying plant matter. Supplement this with a quality shrimp food or sinking pellet, offering only small portions, along with occasional blanched vegetables such as spinach, courgette or cucumber. Calcium-rich foods and mineral availability support healthy moulting and shell development, while uneaten food should be removed promptly.

Cherry Shrimp are best kept with peaceful, small tankmates such as Otocinclus, pygmy Corydoras, small rasboras, ember tetras, endler livebearers and freshwater snails. Adult shrimp may coexist with calm community fish, but eggs and shrimplets can be eaten by almost any fish large enough to swallow them. Avoid bettas, larger tetras, cichlids, gouramis, loaches, crayfish and other active or predatory species if you want the colony to grow.

Cherry Shrimp readily breed in a mature, stable freshwater aquarium. Females carry batches of eggs beneath their abdomen, where the eggs develop for around three to four weeks before hatching as fully formed miniature shrimp. Provide plenty of plant growth, moss and biofilm for the young to graze on, and avoid fish that may eat newborn shrimp. No separate brackish or larval stage is required.

Females are larger and more robust, with a broader, rounded abdomen and often stronger colouration. Males are slimmer, paler and more streamlined, with a narrower abdomen; mature females may also show an ovarian saddle behind the head before carrying eggs.