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Understanding Red Cherry Shrimp: An Introduction

Let's begin with the basics of this popular invertebrate. The red cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) is a small freshwater crustacean from Taiwan. Valued for their peaceful nature, ease of red cherry shrimp care, and low bioload, they are excellent for a dedicated red cherry shrimp tank. Selective breeding has produced their popular vibrant red color.

Anatomy And Distinct Appearance

Red cherry shrimp have a slender body and muscular abdomen. They feature five pairs of walking legs on the thorax and five pleopods (swimmerets) for swimming and carrying eggs. Key features also include delicate claws for grasping food, a pointed rostrum, stalked eyes, and sensitive antennae for navigation.

Exploring Red Cherry Shrimp Color Grades

The coloration intensity defines the grades of red cherry shrimp, offering various aesthetic options for your red cherry shrimp aquarium. Understanding these helps in selecting shrimp that meet your visual preferences.

• Standard Cherry Shrimp: Transparent or pale body with red markings.

• Sakura Grade: Mostly red body with some clear patches.

• Fire Red Low-Grade: Almost complete red coloration.

• Fire Red High-Grade: Fully red body, though legs may be translucent.

• Painted Fire Red: The highest grade, with solid, opaque red coloration covering the entire body and legs.

Lifespan

The typical lifespan of a Red Cherry Shrimp is about one year, although this can be extended in ideal tank conditions. It is important to note that they may sometimes die shortly after being introduced to a new tank, often due to the stress from transport or changes in water conditions.

Red cherry shrimp grades show a spectrum of vibrant coloration

Sexing Your Red Cherry Shrimp: Male Vs. Female

Sexing mature red cherry shrimp is key for breeding efforts in your red cherry shrimp tank.

Females are generally larger (up to 1.5 inches), more vividly colored, and may display a yellow "saddle" of unfertilized eggs or be "berried" with fertilized eggs. Males are smaller (1-1.25 inches), slimmer, and have more translucent coloration. Juveniles are difficult to sex due to their undeveloped features.

Setting Up The Ideal Red Cherry Shrimp Aquarium

A proper environment is crucial for the health of your red cherry shrimp. A well-planned red cherry shrimp tank ensures security, stable water conditions, and ample resources for these delicate invertebrates.

Ideal Red Cherry Shrimp Tank Size

While red cherry shrimp can adapt to nano tanks as small as 2 gallons, a 10-gallon red cherry shrimp tank or larger is recommended for greater stability and a healthy breeding colony. Aim for 5 to 10 shrimp per gallon to ensure adequate space.

Essential Water Parameters For Red Cherry Shrimp

Stable water conditions are paramount for red cherry shrimp care. Maintain these parameters:

• Ammonia and Nitrite: 0 ppm

• Nitrates: Below 20 ppm

• Temperature: 65-85°F (18-29°C), with 72-76°F (22-24°C) being optimal for breeding.

• pH: 6.5 - 8.0

• General Hardness (GH): 6-7 dGH or higher

• Carbonate Hardness (KH): 2-3 dKH or higher

Choosing Proper Filtration For Red Cherry Shrimp

For a red cherry shrimp aquarium, sponge filters are highly recommended. They are safe for tiny shrimplets and provide a surface for biofilm, a natural food source. If using a hang-on-back or canister filter, cover the intake with a pre-filter sponge to protect offspring.

Selecting The Right Substrate

There are many different types of substrate, each with its own benefits. Choosing the right one helps maintain stable water conditions for your shrimp.

Inert Substrates
Inert options like sand, gravel, or pebbles are often the best choice for Neocaridina shrimp. These substrates do not alter water parameters like pH or GH, which simplifies tank management and makes them ideal for beginners.

Aquasoil
Most aquasoil products slightly lower the water's pH, which can be beneficial for Caridina shrimp that prefer softer, more acidic water. While some avoid it for Neocaridina due to its active effect on water parameters, many keepers successfully use it without issues.

Capped Dirt
The capped dirt method, common in Walstad-style tanks, involves a layer of organic topsoil under a cap of sand or fine gravel. This creates a nutrient-rich environment for plants and helps stabilize the water, though it has a steeper learning curve.

Adding Hardscape For Your Shrimp

Hardscape like driftwood and rocks provides extra surfaces for shrimp to graze on and creates safe hiding spots, which are crucial after molting.

Driftwood
Certain types of driftwood can slightly lower your aquarium's pH. Be aware that most driftwood releases tannins, which can tint the water brown. This is harmless but can be minimized by choosing low-tannin woods like spider wood.

Rocks
Some rocks, such as Seiryu stone, can raise your tank’s pH and GH by slowly releasing calcium, which aids in shrimp molting. Lava rock is a porous, budget-friendly option that hosts beneficial microorganisms and biofilm for shrimp to graze on.

Plants For Cherry Shrimp Tanks

Live plants are highly beneficial, offering cover, grazing surfaces, and helping to maintain water quality. Easy-care species are best for a new shrimp tank.

Moss
Moss is a fantastic choice, providing excellent hiding spots for baby shrimp and ample surface area for algae and biofilm to grow. Java Moss and Taiwan Moss are beginner-friendly and easy to grow on rocks or driftwood.

Background Plants
Fast-growing stem plants like Rotala rotundifolia and Hygrophila polysperma are perfect for the background. They provide cover, extra grazing surfaces, and help regulate nitrogen levels, creating a safer environment.

Midground Plants
For the midground, epiphyte plants like Anubias, Bucephalandra, and Java fern work well attached to hardscape. If you have open substrate, smaller varieties of Cryptocoryne create a nice visual transition.

Floating Plants
Floating plants help control algae by reducing light penetration and offer more surfaces for shrimp to graze. Good options include giant duckweed, Amazon frogbit, and red root floaters, which are easier to manage than common duckweed.

One Plant Wonders
Some plants, like pearlweed, can fill out an entire tank on their own from a small starting portion. This approach is a great way to create a lush, natural-looking tank while keeping setup costs low.

Lighting For Cherry Shrimp Tanks

Proper lighting is essential for plant growth and encourages the growth of microalgae, a natural and nutritious food source for shrimp. An affordable, beginner-friendly light with a built-in timer and adjustable brightness is highly recommended. A six-hour daily light cycle at full intensity is a good starting point.

Acclimating Cherry Shrimp

Once your tank is cycled and set up, you must acclimate new shrimp gradually. This minimizes stress and gives them the best chance of thriving.

The most common method is to place the shrimp in a container with their shipping water and slowly add small amounts of your aquarium water over a couple of hours. Drip acclimation kits or manually adding water with a pipette are effective ways to do this. Once acclimated, gently transfer them into your tank.

Sponge filters provide a safe environment for delicate baby shrimp

Cherry Shrimp Tank Maintenance

There is no one-size-fits-all rule for tank maintenance. Your routine for water changes, plant trimming, and feeding will depend on your specific setup. You will naturally adjust this routine as you become more familiar with your aquarium's needs.

For a low-maintenance setup, choose slower-growing plants that don't require frequent trimming. This allows you to spend less time working on the tank and more time enjoying it. Good options include:

• Java moss

• Java fern

• Anubias

• Bucephalandra

• Bacopa caroliniana

Once your tank is fully cycled, beneficial microorganisms will handle ammonia and nitrite. However, beginners should plan on doing partial water changes to keep nitrate levels safe. While cherry shrimp can tolerate nitrates above 30 ppm, it's best to keep them lower.

The frequency of water changes depends on your setup. You might need to perform them weekly, monthly, or even less often in a heavily planted tank. The key is to monitor your water parameters and adjust your maintenance schedule accordingly.

Feeding Your Red Cherry Shrimp: What Do They Eat?

Understanding the right feeding methods is crucial for a thriving Red Cherry Shrimp colony. You can choose a natural, low-maintenance approach or a more direct method to support faster growth.

Natural Feeding

One simple feeding method is to let your shrimp graze on the algae and biofilm that grow naturally in the tank. This is often sufficient for a small colony.

You can encourage more of this natural food by adjusting your aquarium’s light duration and intensity. This approach helps keep water quality stable but typically results in slower colony growth.

Target Feeding

Target feeding is preferred to support a larger, more active shrimp colony. This involves providing a variety of high-quality foods directly to your shrimp.

Some popular food staples include:

• Bug Bites

• Shrimp Cuisine

• Algae Wafers

• Bloodworms

• Snowflake Food

Leaves like mulberry and oak also make great treats. You can also supplement their diet with vegetables like spinach, which is high in potassium and benefits both shrimp and aquatic plants.

Serving Size

The ideal feeding amount depends on your colony size, plant density, filtration, and water temperature. A good starting point is to add food and check if it’s gone after four hours.

If the food is completely gone, you can slowly increase the amount. If you see leftover food after four hours or notice a rise in ammonia, you should reduce the quantity.

Calcium Supplementation

While many shrimp-specific calcium products are available, they are often not necessary. In a well-maintained tank with a proper diet, most shrimp colonies can molt successfully without extra supplements.

Red Cherry Shrimp Molting: What To Expect

Red cherry shrimp molting is the process of shedding their exoskeleton to grow. This vital stage requires sufficient minerals, especially calcium, from the water. Low GH and KH can cause failed molts, which are often fatal. After molting, shrimp are vulnerable and need hiding places. Do not remove the old exoskeleton, as shrimp will often consume it to reclaim valuable minerals.

Red Cherry Shrimp Temperament And Compatible Tank Mates

Red cherry shrimp are peaceful and non-aggressive, but their small size makes them vulnerable. Careful tank mate selection is crucial for a successful red cherry shrimp aquarium.

For optimal red cherry shrimp care, compatible companions include other dwarf shrimp, snails, and small, peaceful fish like Otocinclus catfish. However, most fish will prey on baby shrimp. For maximum breeding success, a species-only red cherry shrimp tank is the safest choice.

Red cherry shrimp coexist peacefully with small tank mates like snails

Breeding Red Cherry Shrimp: A Guide To Successful Reproduction

Breeding red cherry shrimp is straightforward in a well-established red cherry shrimp tank. Start with a colony of at least 10 shrimp in a heavily planted tank with stable water. After mating, a female carries 20-30 eggs for about a month before they hatch into miniature, independent shrimplets. An ideal temperature of 81-82°F (27-28°C) maximizes reproduction.

To avoid cross-breeding, Red Cherry Shrimp should never be put in a tank with other Neocaridina species. They can be kept with Caridina species such as Amano Shrimp, Bee Shrimp, and Crystal Red Shrimp. While Crystal Red and Bee Shrimp require lower pHs and temperatures to breed, they will live just fine in the water parameters that Red Cherry Shrimp thrive in.

Common Red Cherry Shrimp Care Mistakes To Avoid

Effective red cherry shrimp care means avoiding common pitfalls that can harm your colony.

• Uncycled Tank: Introducing shrimp to an uncycled tank exposes them to lethal ammonia and nitrite.

• Unstable Parameters: Fluctuations in pH, GH, KH, or temperature cause stress and can lead to fatal molts.

• Incompatible Tank Mates: Predatory fish will eat shrimp, especially shrimplets.

• Copper Exposure: Copper from medications or plant fertilizers is highly toxic to shrimp.

• Overfeeding: Excess food fouls the water and leads to ammonia spikes.

• Insufficient Hiding Places: Shrimp need cover like live plants and décor to feel secure, especially after molting.

Overfeeding can pollute the water and harm your entire shrimp colony.

Other Interesting Facts

• While cherry shrimp typically live for about a year, they can live up to twice that long in optimal conditions. They are very sensitive to fluctuating water parameters common in home aquariums.

• Cherry shrimp are highly social and should be kept in groups of 10 or more. A larger group increases their confidence and the likelihood of successful breeding.

• Shrimp and other invertebrates are extremely sensitive to copper and certain water treatments like malachite green. Always monitor tank conditions carefully to protect your shrimp.

• Young cherry shrimp molt every one to two weeks, while adults molt every three to four weeks. Poor water quality can cause molting issues like the "White Ring of Death," where the shrimp gets stuck in its old shell and dies.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Many Cherry Shrimp Should Be Kept Together?

If you're starting a breeding colony, it's best to begin with at least 10 shrimp. This number increases the chances of having both males and females. Avoid selecting only the largest, most colorful shrimp, as they might all be older females past their prime breeding age.

How Do You Make Redder Cherry Shrimp?

To enhance the red coloration, you can selectively cull the colony. This involves removing less colorful shrimp, allowing only those with the brightest red traits to reproduce. This practice helps improve the genetic line and results in more vibrant offspring over time.

How Big Do Cherry Shrimp Get?

Female cherry shrimp are typically larger, growing up to 1.5 inches (4 cm). Males are smaller and more slender, reaching about 1–1.25 inches (2.5–3 cm) in length.

How Hardy Are Red Cherry Shrimp?

Red cherry shrimp are considered relatively hardy and beginner-friendly but are very sensitive to sudden changes in water chemistry and poor water quality. Consistent red cherry shrimp care is key.

A healthy female shrimp can carry a new batch of eggs every month

Do Red Cherry Shrimp Need A Heater?

Red cherry shrimp are hardy and can live in unheated aquariums within 60–82°F (16–28°C). However, if room temperature drops below 72°F (22°C), a heater is recommended to encourage consistent breeding. Higher temperatures can accelerate their life cycle, while lower temperatures may slow reproduction.   

Mastering red cherry shrimp care involves meeting their simple needs: stable water, a well-planted red cherry shrimp tank, and a balanced diet. These invertebrates are a rewarding addition to any freshwater red cherry shrimp aquarium. By providing proper molting support and selecting appropriate tank mates, aquarists can ensure a flourishing colony. Betta USA Aquatic is committed to providing the resources and quality livestock to help you succeed.

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