Fire Red Shrimp

fish description – Fire Red Shrimp Care Guide (Neocaridina\ davidis ‘Fire Red’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Neocaridina\ davidi$ (‘Fire Red’ Strain)
Common Name	Fire Red Shrimp, Super Red Shrimp, Red Neocaridina 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 (up to 3 in ideal, cooler conditions)
Care Level	Easy (Hardy and adaptable)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A small, delicate crustacean with an entire body, including the legs, colored in a deep, opaque fire-engine red. They are constantly active, grazing on biofilm and detritus, making them excellent tank cleaners.
• Coloration: The intensity of the red coloration determines the grade (Fire Red is a high grade with minimal transparency). Females are larger, display a deeper red, have a wider ‘saddle’ (unfertilized eggs in the ovaries) behind the head, and a curved underside (swimmerets) to carry eggs (berried). Males are smaller and paler.
• Fins: N/A (Crustacean). They have feathery swimmerets (pleopods) under the tail.
• Behavior: Highly social; they are best kept in colonies to encourage natural behavior. They are non-destructive to plants and spend their time grazing surfaces. They reproduce by being livebearers, releasing miniature versions of the adults (shrimplets).

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons (19 liters) is the absolute minimum, but a 10-gallon tank or larger is strongly recommended for stable water parameters, which are crucial for molting.
• Schooling: Best kept in a colony of at least 10 individuals to ensure both sexes are present and to encourage natural behavior. Population will grow quickly under good conditions.
• Temperature: Wide tolerance range: $65^\circ$–$80^\circ\text{F}\ (18^\circ$–$27^\circ\text{C})$ (ideal $72^\circ$–$76^\circ\text{F}$). They do not require a heater if the room temperature is stable.
• pH Level: Tolerant of a wide range, but prefer slightly alkaline and moderately hard water: 6.5 to 7.5. Extremely sensitive to ammonia and nitrites (must be zero $\text{ppm}$).
• Aquascape: Requires a mature, fully cycled tank. Use a dark substrate (inert gravel or specialized shrimp soil) to enhance their red color. Provide abundant live mosses (Java Moss is ideal), driftwood, and leaves to provide continuous grazing surface (biofilm) and essential hiding spots, especially after molting. Use a sponge filter or protect the filter intake with foam to prevent shrimplets from being sucked up.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Fire Red Shrimp is an omnivorous scavenger/grazer.

• Staple Diet: Feeds constantly on biofilm, algae, and detritus. This is their primary food source.
• Supplementation: Calcium is critical for molting and shell growth. 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 small portions 2–3 times per week, in an amount that can be consumed within a few hours. Never overfeed, as uneaten food quickly fouls the water.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Copper is highly toxic and must be avoided in all medications, fertilizers, and water conditioners. Avoid all predatory fish, even those that seem small and harmless (e.g., adult Bettas, Angelfish, most Cichlids, and larger Barbs), as they will prey on adult shrimp and shrimplets.
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful, tiny fish and other non-predatory invertebrates. Examples include Snails (Nerite, Mystery), Otocinclus catfish, Pygmy Corydoras, Ember Tetras, and Chili Rasboras. Many aquarists keep them in a species-only tank to maximize colony size.