Red Cherry Shrimp
Red Cherry Shrimp
These popular, hardy Red Cherry Shrimp are great for people wanting to start out keeping and breeding shrimp. They are bright so look great in a planted aquarium. They love to live in grass or moss so we recommend having a planted tropical aquarium. Cherry shrimp, Neocaridina davidi, have many common names including cherry red shrimp, fire cherry shrimp, fire shrimp and red shrimps. Colouration varies from a deep red, to a translucent red - various shades of red.
Cherry shrimp have a distinctive head with a pointy rostrum (nose) and four antennae (one pair longer than the other). Cherry shrimp have eyes that protrude on stalks on either side of the rostrum, and three pairs of short legs beneath the mouth that help the shrimp scavenge for food.
The red cherry shrimp’s abdomen has six overlapping shell segments and five pairs of legs for swimming. Red Cherry Shrimp thrive in well-planted aquariums, with dried leaves, mosses and grass being the plants of choice.
Do cherry shrimp shed their skin?
Red Cherry Shrimp will moult and shed their carapace, often appearing to have grown larger once shed. The carapace is often clear and will be eaten and foraged by other shrimp, which is perfectly natural behaviour and a good source of calcium for them. A shed carapace can often be mistaken for a casualty in the aquarium.
Will Cherry Shrimp clean my tank?
Cherry shrimp, and many other aquatic freshwater shrimp, will feed and forage about the aquarium floor, breaking down and consuming uneaten bits of food, plant and leaf matter, and waste. They should not be relied upon as a cleaner however, and must be given a ready source of food and algae to scavenge. Cherry shrimp will often be seen clinging to internal filters or filter sponges to feed.
Features
Approx. supplied size: 0.5-1" / 1-2cm (small)
Maximum size: 2" / 5cm
Origin: Taiwan
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting requirement: Low
Ideal number kept together: 6+
Water conditions
Our conditions: pH 7.5, temp 22°C
Ideal pH: 6.5 - 8.0
Water flow: low to moderate
Ideal temperature: 19-26°C
Ease of care
Easy. Do not use any copper treatments, such as treatments for snails, with shrimp in the aquarium - they will prove fatal. Always check the label before using any disease treatments in shrimp tanks. Ensure they have plenty of shelter, such as driftwood or caves, to avoid predators and encourage breeding.
Compatibility
Peaceful. Do not house with fish that are likely to see them as a source of food, such as cichlids or bettas. House with smaller fish that cannot fit them in their mouths, such as neon and ember tetra.
Diet
Omnivore. Will happily gather small sinking granules and graze on a ready supply of algae. Feed shrimp specific food or broken-up algae wafer.
Breeding
Shrimps are prolific breeders and will readily spawn a clutch of fry each week or two. If mixing colours, be aware that the offspring mixed shrimp are likely to produce will be brown or clear, rather than the parent colour. Males are smaller than females and grow to about 1 inch in length. Start with 6 or more to encourage reproduction.
Life Span
Red Cherry Shrimp can live 1-2 years in perfect conditions.
*NOTE ON SHIPPING: IF BUYING SHRIMP OR SNAILS ONLY, WE WILL REFUND HALF THE POSTAGE FEE PAID. SHRIMP AND SNAIL-ONLY ORDERS WILL NOW BE PROCESSED VIA ROYAL MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY IN APPROPRIATE SECURELY PACKED POLYBOXES. COMBINED ORDERS WITH FISH ARE SUBJECT TO STANDARD FEES.
For more information on general fishkeeping and our shipping procedures click here.
Photo credit(s): Canva Pro Licence, Shutterstock
