Red Cherry Shrimp

fish description – Red Cherry Shrimp Care Guide ($Neocaridina\ davidi$ ‘Red Cherry’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Neocaridina\ davidi$ (‘Red Cherry’ Strain)
Common Name	Red Cherry Shrimp (RCS), Cherry Shrimp, Sakura 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 years in cooler, stable conditions)
Care Level	Easy (Hardy and widely adaptable)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A small, compact crustacean with an entire body colored in a shade of red (from light to opaque). They are constantly grazing, exploring all surfaces of the tank. Their exoskeleton is periodically shed (molting) for growth.
• Coloration: The body color is red, with intensity depending on the grade (Red Cherry is the general grade, Fire Red/Painted Red are higher grades). Females are generally larger, have a deeper, more vivid red color, a broader tail, and often display a yellowish ‘saddle’ (unfertilized eggs) on their back. Males are smaller and paler.
• Fins: N/A (Crustacean). Females carry eggs (“berried”) under their abdominal swimmerets (pleopods).
• Behavior: Highly social; they must be kept in a colony to feel secure. They are non-destructive to plants and are valued as part of the clean-up crew. They are prolific livebearers—shrimplets hatch as miniature versions of the adults.

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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 highly recommended for water stability and colony growth.
• Schooling: Best kept in a colony of at least 10 individuals to ensure a healthy mix of sexes and encourage social behavior.
• Temperature: Wide tolerance range: $65^\circ$–$85^\circ\text{F}\ (18^\circ$–$29^\circ\text{C})$ (ideal $72^\circ$–$76^\circ\text{F}$). Stable temperature is more important than the exact number.
• pH Level: Tolerant of a wide range: 6.5 to 8.0. They thrive in moderately hard, mineral-rich water ($\text{GH}$ 6-10 $\text{dGH}$) as calcium is necessary for molting. Ammonia and nitrites must be zero.
• Aquascape: Requires a mature, fully cycled tank. Use a dark substrate to enhance their red coloration. Provide dense amounts of live mosses (Java Moss is ideal) and floating plants to offer continuous grazing surfaces (biofilm) and vital hiding spots, especially for shrimplets and recently molted adults. Use a sponge filter or protect the filter intake.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Red Cherry Shrimp is an omnivorous scavenger/grazer.

• Staple Diet: Feeds constantly on biofilm, microalgae, and detritus. This should be supplemented.
• Supplementation: Calcium and protein are crucial. Supplement 2–3 times weekly with shrimp-specific sinking pellets (enriched with 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 their small bioload makes them susceptible to ammonia spikes from decaying food.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Copper is lethal and must be avoided in all tank products. They are vulnerable to predation; avoid all fish with mouths large enough to eat them (e.g., Angelfish, Bettas, most Cichlids, Barbs, large Tetras).
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful fish and invertebrates. Examples include Snails (Nerite, Mystery), Otocinclus catfish, Pygmy Corydoras, Ember Tetras, and Chili Rasboras. They are safe with most live plants.