Aquarists keep invertebrates, especially shrimps, for different purposes, and freshwater Cherry Shrimp is the most famous among them. These red cherry shrimp (Neocaridina shrimp) originated from Taiwan and are quite hardy, which makes them a popular choice among beginners. They are available in many shades of red, and their vibrant colors add attractiveness to the tank.
In this article, we will talk about everything from their appearance, diet, tank conditions, tank mates, breeding, etc. Before going to the description, let’s take a brief look at the table given below –
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Family | Atyidae |
| Scientific name | Neocaridina heteropoda |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Lifespan | 1-2 Years |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Color Form | Red |
| Tank Set-Up | Freshwater, Heavily Planted |
| Size | 1.5 Inches |
| Minimum Tank Size | 5 Gallons |
| Compatibility | Other Shrimps and Snails |
Cherry Shrimp Overview
Cherry Shrimp are freshwater dwarf shrimp. These red shrimps belong to the Atyidae family of invertebrates, which includes 20 other varieties. These algae eaters are native to Taiwan and are known for their non-aggressive nature.
Apart from this, cherry shrimps are easy to maintain and look after. They will add color and keep the tank clean as well. Their qualities make them perfect for a beginner.
How Long Do Cherry Shrimp Live?
Cherry shrimp are hardy and can survive harsh water conditions. They need a heavy plantation in a freshwater tank with lots of shelter and caves to hide in. If the water conditions suit, the cherry shrimp can live up to 1-2 years.
Many color variants of shrimps are available in the wild, but you will find only red ones from the aquarists. Its dark red color is the result of selective breeding over the years. Now, they are graded based on shade and brightness.
Cherry Shrimp Behavior
Cherry shrimp, like others in the family, are non-aggressive. If you look at them, you will find them quite busy.
They spend most of their time cleaning and looking for food at the bottom of the tank. Red Cherry Shrimp will add attractiveness to their appearance and keep you engaged with their active movements.
Cherry Shrimp Appearance
Cherry Shrimp have a red appearance with different shades. The color ranges from a deep, bright red body to a paler red body with red spots.
Red Cherry Shrimp Size
The female red Cherry Shrimp can grow up to 1.5 inches (approx. 4 cm), while the males are slightly shorter than them.
Types of Cherry Shrimp
There are several cherry shrimp grades. Some types of cherry shrimp are given below-
- Cherry Shrimp: These shrimp have the lowest grade of red and are known as regular cherry shrimp. They have a translucent body with red patches.
- Sakura Cherry Shrimp: These shrimps have slightly paler coloration, but the patches are quite visible.
- Fire Red Shrimp: These shrimps have red coloration on the whole body instead of patches.
- Painted Fire Red Shrimp: These shrimps have solid, deep red coloration, considered the highest grade. Even their legs have red coloration, which makes them expensive.
The female cherry shrimps have more bright coloration and are larger than the males. However, the difference can be determined only when they are mature. The females develop an orange-colored saddle on their stomachs, which is used to hold eggs before fertilization.
Cherry Shrimp Tank Conditions and Habitat
Cherry Shrimp live in densely packed ponds and streams in the wild, which have rocky substrates. To thrive in your aquarium, you must replicate the conditions of their habitat.
| Conditions | Parameter |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 65-85 °F |
| pH | 6.5-8.0 |
| Plantation | Heavy, Java Moss |
| Substrate | Rocky |
| Tank capacity | 5 gallons minimum |
As we mentioned earlier, they need a heavy plantation to breed and hide. You can also include crevices, moss, and driftwood for them to hide in. They are very sensitive to water conditions, so make sure to avoid any rapid change.
The shrimp with lower grades can still be able to survive poor water conditions, but a higher-graded shrimp won’t. In equipment, you can add a heater to stabilize the temperature, which is optional, but having a filter to cycle water is necessary. The increased amount of nitrite can cause difficulty for them.
They are small and can be sucked by the filter. So, to avoid this from happening, use the sponge filter. If you are using a canister filter, add foam on the inlets to keep the water flow low.
They appear bright red when they feel safe in their surroundings or when the water conditions are suitable.
What Size Aquarium Do Red Cherry Shrimps Need?
A 5-gallon aquarium is enough for keeping shrimp. However, they breed quite quickly, and there will be a colony in your tank before you know it. So, buy a tank slightly bigger than this to avoid last-minute situations.
How Many Cherry Shrimp Per Gallon?
You can keep 2-5 shrimp per gallon. But if you are planning to keep a colony, the aquarium should be at least 20 gallons.
Cherry Shrimp Tank Mates
Shrimps are non-aggressive, whether it is Red Cherry Shrimp or any other member of its family. They won’t harm or cause trouble to other fish and will be busy all day minding their own business. Another reason for this is they don’t have anything to defend themselves.
But this weakness can make them prey to other fishes. To avoid this, don’t keep them with any fish with a mouth big enough to swallow them. The other way is to create a lot of space for them to hide. But don’t put higher-grade shrimps in another tank, mate.
Ideal Red Cherry Shrimp Tank Mates
The mates that can be kept with lower-grade tank mates include – Catfish (Cory and Otocinclus), Small Tetras, Freshwater Snails (Ivory, Mystery, Gold Inca, Nerite, Malaysian Trumpet), Small Plecos, Dwarf Gourami, etc.
Enemy Red Cherry Shrimp Tank Mates
The mates you should avoid at all costs are – Oscars, Cichlids, Arowanas, Discus, etc.
Keeping Cherry Shrimp Together
Cherry shrimp should not be kept alone in the tank. They can get stressed and not show any activity because they feel unsafe. You can keep a group of 10 shrimps, as the larger the number, the more confident they will be. They will thrive and show different behaviors as well.
For the male and female ratio, make sure the number of females is more than that of males. To add variety, you can keep other shrimp species with cherry shrimp, such as Vampire Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, or Ghost Shrimp. You can also add snails to the tank.
Cherry Shrimp Diet and Feeding
Cherry Shrimp are omnivores and act as scavengers in the wild, which makes them easy to feed. They are algae eaters but can feed on anything from plant debris to small organisms.
You can also feed them homemade or premade food, as well as live or frozen food. Many foods are available in the market that are made specifically for shrimp. It is important to add pellets or wafers as a large part of their diet.
For vegetables, you can add boiled and mashed cucumber, carrots, spinach, lettuce, and zucchini to their diet. However, make sure to add only a small quantity of food and remove any remaining food after 2 hours of feeding.
Like other algae eaters, a large proportion of their diet includes algae itself, which they look for all day. They can’t clean the tank as quickly as large fish, but they will keep the glass and corners of the tank shining.
It is important to feed them high-quality food in the right amount. This will keep shrimp healthy and active, but overfeeding will not only make them sick but also pollute the tank.
Cherry Shrimp Care
Cherry Shrimp are easy to feed and care for. They won’t demand a lot of care and maintenance from you, but still, some things can make them sick or even kill them. The things that can harm them are as follows –
- Copper—They are very sensitive to Copper, which is found in many fish food items and many medications. So, check the ingredients before adding anything to the tank.
- Ammonia—Ammonia and nitrites are other elements that can harm Cherry shrimps. The amount of these elements increases if the tank is not cycled or cleaned properly. Make sure to check the water parameters once in a while.
- Exoskeleton—Shrimps shed their exoskeletons as they grow. These are not harmful to them, but many people remove them when they see them falling on the surface. This should not be done, as the shrimps will feed on them to get essential minerals.
If your tank is big, you will face fewer challenges, but you can face many of them when it is small.
Cherry Shrimp Breeding
Cherry shrimp are the easiest species to breed and don’t require much effort from the breeder. They mature in 4-6 months and will start breeding as soon as they become comfortable in their surroundings.
The process of breeding Cherry Shrimp can be categorized into three stages – pre-breeding, breeding, and hatching.
- Pre-breeding – They breed in the summer season, but if you want to breed them in any other season, you can increase the temperature up to 82o
Also, make sure there is ample space for them to breed and feel safe. During the breeding season, you need to add more protein to their diet.
- Breeding—As we discussed, they reach sexual maturity in 4-6 months. Once they mate, females carry eggs underneath their tails(berried eggs) and regularly fan them to provide oxygen.
- Hatching—The eggs take around 30 days to hatch. Once they hatch, you can keep them in the main tank to provide the necessary diet. The adult shrimps are not very considerate of their baby shrimp and leave them to fend for themselves.
If you think they are not getting ample food or to increase the chance of their survival, you can plant Anacharis for them to feed.
Is Cherry Shrimp for you?
Cherry shrimps are beautiful little creatures who not only add beauty to the tank, but their activity will also keep one engaged.
They are dwarf shrimp found in Taiwanese streams and ponds. They are easy to care for, feed, and breed, and they also make excellent tank cleaners. All these qualities make them ideal for beginners.
What qualities of Cherry Shrimp did you like the most? Did you keep them in your tank? Let us know in the comments below.
