Description
🌟 Red Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var. Red)
📌 Basic Info
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Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi (Red variant)
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Common Name: Red Shrimp / Red Cherry Shrimp (basic grade)
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Size: ~1 – 1.2 inches (2.5 – 3 cm)
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Lifespan: 1.5 – 2 years
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Tank Zone: Bottom to mid (always grazing on plants, substrate, and surfaces)
🌊 Water Parameters
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TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 100 – 250 ppm
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pH: 6.5 – 7.5
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Temperature: 20°C – 26°C (68°F – 79°F)
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Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
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Hardness: GH 4–8, KH 3–6
🐟 Characteristics
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Bright red body color (intensity depends on grade – Cherry, Sakura, Fire Red, Bloody Mary)
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Peaceful, small, and hardy → perfect for community and nano aquariums
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Active algae eaters, help in keeping tanks clean
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Easy to breed in stable conditions
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Females are larger and have deeper red compared to males
🍽️ Food
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Type: Omnivorous scavenger
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Diet: Algae, biofilm, shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables (spinach, zucchini), spirulina, high-quality shrimp food
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Feeding Frequency: 3–4 times per week, very small amounts
🛠️ Maintenance
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Weekly water change: 15–20%
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Sponge filter preferred (safe for baby shrimp)
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Provide moss, plants, and driftwood → natural grazing and hiding spots
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Avoid copper in fertilizers or medicines (toxic to shrimp)
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Stable water parameters are more important than perfect numbers
👥 Social Behavior
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Minimum Group Size: 10+ (thrive in colonies)
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Tank Mates: Peaceful small fish – rasboras, ember tetras, endlers, guppies, otocinclus, snails
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Avoid: Large/aggressive fish (bettas, cichlids, goldfish, barbs)
✅ Do’s
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Keep them in well-planted tanks with hiding spots
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Acclimate slowly when adding to a new tank
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Maintain a stable, cycled aquarium
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Keep in colonies for natural behavior and breeding
❌ Don’ts
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Don’t keep them with predator fish
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Don’t overfeed (causes water pollution)
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Don’t expose to copper-based treatments
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Don’t keep in unstable or very new aquariums
⭐ Quick Tips
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One of the most popular freshwater shrimp worldwide
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Hardy, colorful, and beginner-friendly
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Great algae cleaners and easy to breed
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Adds a bright red touch to any planted aquarium
