Choco Black Shrimp

fish description – Choco Black Shrimp Care Guide ($Neocaridina\ davidi$ ‘Choco Black’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Neocaridina\ davidi$ (‘Choco Black’ Strain)
Common Name	Choco Black Shrimp, Chocolate Shrimp, Black Chocolate Shrimp
Origin	Taiwan and China (Selectively Bred Strain)
Adult Size	1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm)
Temperament	Extremely peaceful, non-aggressive, active scavenger
Lifespan	1–2 years
Care Level	Easy (Hardy and resilient)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A small, compact crustacean with an entire body colored in a solid, deep, rich chocolate brown that can appear near-black.⁸ They are tireless grazers, adding a striking, dark elegance to planted tanks, especially against light or bright green foliage.⁹

   

• Coloration: The body is a solid, opaque dark brown/black.¹⁰ Females are typically larger, have a deeper, richer color saturation, and possess a wider, curved abdomen to carry eggs. Males are smaller and often paler.

   

• Fins: N/A (Crustacean). Females carry eggs (“berried”) under their abdominal swimmerets (pleopods).¹¹

   

• Behavior: Highly social; best kept in a colony.¹² They spend their time grazing on biofilm, detritus, and algae.¹³ They are prolific livebearers and reproduce readily in stable, clean environments.¹⁴

   

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons (19 liters) is the minimum, but a 10-gallon tank or larger is strongly recommended for water stability and colony health.¹⁵
• Schooling: Must be kept in a colony of at least 10 individuals to ensure confidence and sufficient male/female ratio for breeding.
• Temperature: Wide tolerance range: $65^\circ$–$80^\circ\text{F}\ (18^\circ$–$27^\circ\text{C})$ (ideal $72^\circ$–$78^\circ\text{F}$). Stability is crucial for successful molting.
• pH Level: Tolerant of a wide range, but prefer slightly alkaline and moderately hard water: 6.5 to 7.5.¹⁶ Zero Ammonia and Nitrite are mandatory.¹⁷ High $\text{GH}$ and $\text{KH}$ are needed for shell health.
• Aquascape: Requires a mature, fully cycled tank.¹⁸ A dark substrate (inert gravel or specialized shrimp soil) is recommended to intensify their dark color.¹⁹ Provide abundant live mosses, driftwood, and botanicals to provide continuous grazing surface (biofilm) and essential hiding spots.²⁰ Use a sponge filter or protect the filter intake.

   

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Choco Black Shrimp is an omnivorous scavenger/grazer.²¹

 

• Staple Diet: Feeds constantly on naturally occurring biofilm, microalgae, and detritus.²² This must be supplemented.

   

• Supplementation: Calcium and protein are crucial.²³ Supplement 2–3 times weekly with shrimp-specific sinking pellets (high in calcium/minerals), blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach), and spirulina wafers. Offer occasional protein (bloodworms) sparingly.

   

• Schedule: Feed very small portions 2–3 times per week, ensuring food is consumed within a few hours. Never overfeed, as decaying food is highly toxic to shrimp.²⁴

   

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Copper is lethal and must be avoided in all tank products.²⁵ Avoid all fish with mouths large enough to eat the shrimp.²⁶ Avoid mixing with other colors of ²⁷$Neocaridina$, as breeding different colors together typically results in ‘wild type’ (brown/clear) offspring.²⁸
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful fish and invertebrates.²⁹ Examples include Snails (Nerite, Mystery), Otocinclus catfish, Pygmy Corydoras, Ember Tetras, and Chili Rasboras. Species-only tanks are highly recommended for breeding success.³⁰