Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi is a dwarf shrimp originally from Taiwan and eastern Asia, selectively bred into the vivid red "cherry" form and many other colours. Adults are tiny, around 2.5–4 cm (1–1.5 in), and spend the day grazing biofilm and soft algae from plants and surfaces.

Tank & water. A small colony is comfortable in a 19 litre (5 US gallon) nano tank or larger, ideally well planted. They are adaptable but prefer stable, moderately hard water around pH 6.5–8.0 and temperatures of 18–28 °C (64–82 °F). Stability matters more than exact numbers; sudden changes are the main killer.

Temperament. Cherry shrimp are entirely peaceful and are usually kept in a species tank or with very small, non-predatory fish — most fish will eat shrimp or their young, so tankmates must be chosen carefully. In a shrimp-safe tank they breed readily, and a healthy colony sustains itself.

Diet & care. They are grazers and scavengers that clear soft algae and leftover food but still benefit from occasional dedicated shrimp pellets, algae wafers or blanched vegetables such as courgette and spinach. The critical hazard is copper, which is toxic to invertebrates — many fish medications, algae treatments and some tap-water additives contain it, so always read the label before dosing anything in a shrimp tank. Because they are crustaceans that grow by moulting, they need enough dissolved minerals — chiefly calcium, reflected in general hardness (GH) — to build a new shell each time; a failed moult is often fatal. The vivid "cherry" colour is strongest in females and in higher grades, and it deepens on a dark substrate among plants. Given stable water, a copper-free tank and no fish large enough to eat them, a colony is self-sustaining and needs very little intervention.