Shrimp keeping - Neocaridina

Shrimp keeping - Neocaridina

Shrimp are cute animals, and their behavior makes them very interesting and useful aquarium inhabitants.

Shrimps of the genus Neocaridina  are rather robust. Due to their very good reproduction rate they are also suitable for socialization with fish - provided that these are not too big (everything that fits into the mouth will be eaten!) and not too curious. There are many beautiful variants of Neocaridina davidi, for example Sakura, Orange Sakura, Black Fire, Yellow Fire, Red Fire, Green Jade, Blue Velvet, Chocolate Sakura, ... Neocaridina palmata enchants with the variant "White Pearl". 

Something for every taste

There is something for every taste, and if that is not enough, practically all colors are available in the Rili variety, where the center of the body is transparent. Not all color strokes represent a good mixture, with a multicolored stock the wild-colored animals will pile up in the offspring. They are mostly brownish-transparent. But the colors can be put together with their respective Rili variety without hesitation.

Orange Fire shrimp, Sakura shrimp and the Blue Dream shrimp all belong to the species Neocaridina davidii. 

What does the optimal Neocaridina aquarium look like?

Neocaridina are well suited for nano aquariums of 20 l or more. It should be noted, however, that a larger water volume also runs more stable! A good initial stocking is 10 to 20 animals.
These shrimps get along well with tap water, also very hard water is unproblematic for them. A pH value of 6.5 to 8.5 is recommended, the total hardness (GH) can be 6 to 30 °dH, the carbonate hardness (KH) 3 to 30 °dH. Nitrate is tolerated up to about 35 mg/l, even with small amounts of nitrite Neocaridina have no problem.

Aquarium heating not necessary

At temperatures above 25 °C you should take care of sufficient oxygen, this can be realized well with an aerator or an oxidizer. Also with lower temperatures Neocaridina  as inhabitants of temperate and subtropical zones get along very well, it is even reported of a successful overwintering in the garden pond. If other inhabitants do not need them, aquarium heating is not necessary; these shrimp are comfortable at room temperature.

The Blue Dream shrimp has many German trivial names - it is offered among other things under the names Blue Dream, Blue Velvet shrimp recently also under the names Blue Diamond shrimp. 

Aquarium plants in the Neocaridina aquarium

In nature you will find hardly any plants in many shrimp waters - but this does not mean that you should keep the shrimp in a bare aquarium! Real plants offer the unbeatable advantage of recycling organic waste from the water and producing oxygen, thus significantly improving water quality. You can plant a good 60 to 80% of the bottom area in a shrimp aquarium. Plant fertilizer specifically for aquariums will not harm shrimp, provided you follow the dosage instructions. We recommend the use of InVitro plants, these are free of algae spores and parasites.

Substrate & Filter

Neutral natural gravel/sand is sufficient as substrate or - if you want it colorful - a colored gravel. Special shrimp gravel/sand is resin coated and does not release pollutants into the water, plastic coated gravel can be problematic.
A shrimp-safe filter is recommended.

Water change

Nevertheless, a water change of about 30 to 40% should be done once a week to remove waste products.
Brown autumn leaves are not only decorative, but also provide food and a hiding place for shrimp, so they should not be missing from any invertebrate aquarium.

Neocaridina shrimp are group animals and should be kept in groups of 10 or more.

If the conditions fit, you will soon be able to enjoy small egg balls under the belly of one or the other female. Since Neocaridina are very peaceful among themselves, the rearing of the young animals is possible without problems in the aquarium. If you have baby shrimps in the aquarium, it is recommended to let the water, which was sucked off during the water change, run in a bright bucket and look there for possibly sucked off tiny ones, before you pour it away.

 Pictures : Chris Lukhaup / Crustahunter