Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
The Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) is a peaceful shrimp that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 20 litres (5 US gallons), water held at 59-84°F, and a pH of 6.5-8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Captive-bred from wild Neocaridina of Taiwan and eastern China.
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Cherry Shrimp Tank Setup
A tank of 20 litres (5 US gallons) or more with rock-steady water suits them best - keep it at 59-84°F with a pH around 6.5-8. Stable conditions matter most, as shrimp struggle to moult and breed when parameters bounce around.
What Do Cherry Shrimp Eat?
They're bottom feeders, so give them sinking wafers, tablets, or frozen treats like bloodworm once the lights go down. Flakes that never reach the bottom leave them hungry even when the tank looks well-fed.
Cherry Shrimp Tank Mates
Sensitive to copper and some medications. The Cherry Shrimp is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Cherry Shrimp Good for Beginners?
Reasonable early choice after cycling. Buy after the tank has stable ammonia and nitrite readings, not the same weekend you fill it.
Cherry Shrimp - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Cherry Shrimp need?
Cherry Shrimp need a tank of at least 20 litres (5 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Cherry Shrimp need?
Keep them at 59-84°F with a pH of 6.5-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Cherry Shrimp eat?
Cherry Shrimp are bottom feeders. Give them sinking wafers, tablets, and frozen foods that settle on the substrate, ideally after the lights go off. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Cherry Shrimp good for beginners?
Yes - Cherry Shrimp are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.
Guides that pair with this fish
- Cherry shrimp care guide - Parameters, foods, and breeding.
- Beginner shrimp beauty and ease - Layout ideas that simplify keeping.
- Betta with shrimp - Predation odds in real rooms, not forums.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Cherry Shrimp
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- AxolotlPredator - Axolotl will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
