Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp for Sale

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp Care Guide

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are one of the easiest freshwater shrimp to care for, making them an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced shrimp keepers. They thrive in mature, well-established aquariums with stable water parameters, plenty of biofilm, and live plants such as Java Moss, Subwassertang, and other shrimp-safe aquarium plants.

Basic Care Requirements

Recommended Water Parameters

Water Parameters We Maintain

Our Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp are maintained under stable conditions to promote long-term health and successful acclimation.

Feeding Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp are natural grazers that spend most of the day feeding on biofilm, algae, and microorganisms growing on aquarium surfaces. While a mature planted aquarium provides a valuable natural food source, supplemental feeding helps maintain vibrant coloration, healthy molts, and successful breeding.

A balanced diet can include:

• ✅ High-quality shrimp food
• ✅ Algae wafers
• ✅ Blanched spinach, zucchini, or cucumber
• ✅ Indian Almond Leaves
• ✅ Natural biofilm and algae
• ✅ Occasional protein-rich foods in moderation

Feed only what your shrimp can consume within a few hours to help maintain excellent water quality.

Aquarium Setup Tips

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp thrive in planted aquariums with plenty of mosses, driftwood, rocks, and hiding places. Stable water parameters are much more important than chasing an exact pH or hardness value. A sponge filter or shrimp-safe filter intake is strongly recommended to protect young shrimplets.

Avoid housing Cherry Shrimp with large or aggressive fish, as they may prey on adult shrimp or newly hatched babies.

How big do Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp get?

Adult Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp typically grow to about 1–1.25 inches (2.5–3 cm) in length. Females are generally larger, rounder, and display deeper red coloration than males, while males remain slightly smaller and slimmer. Under stable water conditions with a quality diet, they usually reach their full adult size within several months.

Why is my Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp losing color?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp may temporarily lose color due to shipping stress, molting, poor water quality, sudden changes in water parameters, diet, or a light-colored substrate. Newly arrived shrimp often appear paler after transit but typically regain their vibrant red coloration once they acclimate to a stable, healthy aquarium. Feeding a high-quality shrimp diet, maintaining consistent water parameters, and using a darker substrate can all help promote stronger, more vibrant coloration.

How many Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp can I keep per gallon?

A good starting colony is 10–15 Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp in a 5-gallon aquarium. As your shrimp reproduce, the colony will naturally grow based on the available food, filtration, hiding places, and overall water quality. While established aquariums can support a surprisingly large number of Cherry Shrimp, maintaining stable water parameters and avoiding overfeeding are much more important than following a strict number of shrimp per gallon.

How long do Red Cherry Shrimp live?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp typically live 1–2 years when kept in a stable, well-maintained aquarium. Their lifespan depends on factors such as water quality, diet, temperature, and overall aquarium stability. Providing high-quality food, regular water changes, and consistent water parameters will help your shrimp live longer and maintain their vibrant red coloration.

How fast do Red Cherry Shrimp grow?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp grow quickly under stable aquarium conditions and typically reach breeding age in 2–4 months. Growth rate depends on factors such as water quality, temperature, diet, and genetics. Providing a high-quality shrimp diet, stable water parameters, and a mature aquarium with plenty of biofilm will help young shrimp develop into healthy adults as quickly as possible.

Is Red Cherry Shrimp easy to Breed?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp are one of the easiest freshwater shrimp to breed, making them an excellent choice for beginners. In a mature aquarium with stable water parameters, high-quality food, and plenty of hiding places, healthy adults will often reproduce without any special intervention. Females carry their eggs for about 3–4 weeks before releasing fully formed baby shrimp, allowing a healthy colony to grow naturally over time.

Will Different Shrimp Species Breed With Each Other?

Yes, Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) can breed with other Neocaridina shrimp, including Blue Dream, Carbon Rili, Fire Red, Orange Sakura, Yellow Golden Back, and other Neocaridina color varieties. While these shrimp are all the same species with different color morphs, crossbreeding can produce offspring with mixed or less vibrant coloration over time.

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp will not breed with Caridina shrimp, such as Crystal Red Shrimp, Crystal Black Shrimp, Taiwan Bee Shrimp, or Tiger Shrimp, because they belong to a different genus.

If your goal is to maintain a vibrant, high-quality Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp colony, we recommend keeping only one Neocaridina color variety per aquarium to preserve their bright red coloration through future generations.

How Can You Tell Male and Female Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp Apart?

Male and female Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp can usually be distinguished once they reach maturity. Females are typically larger, rounder, and display deeper, more vibrant red coloration, while males are generally smaller, slimmer, and lighter in color. Female shrimp also have a broader, curved underside (abdomen), which is designed to carry and protect their eggs.

If a female is ready to breed, you may notice a yellow or green "saddle" behind her head. This saddle contains developing eggs before they are fertilized. After mating, the eggs are transferred beneath the female's abdomen, where she carries them for approximately 3–4 weeks until the baby shrimp hatch.

If your goal is to establish a breeding colony, keeping a healthy mix of males and females in a stable, planted aquarium will give you the best chance of successful reproduction. Once conditions are right, Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp often breed naturally without requiring any special care.

Will different shrimp species breed with each other?

Yes, most Neocaridina species will breed with other Neocaridina species, and many Caridina species will breed with other Caridina species. Neocaridina species will not breed with Caridina species. It is not recommended to keep any species that may interbreed with each other. Check out our dwarf shrimp compatibility chart to see what shrimp will not interbreed with Red Cherry Shrimp. Why is my Red Cherry shrimp losing color?

Red Cherry shrimp can fade if the water quality is off - have you done a water test yet? You can get great water quality test kits in our shop. It can also be related to substrate color. It's often recommended to keep the colorful species on a darker substrate, or they may fade to help them blend in. 

How often do Red Cherry Shrimp molt?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp molt regularly throughout their lives as they grow. Young shrimp typically molt every few days to every couple of weeks because they grow rapidly, while healthy adults usually molt about once every 3–4 weeks. Successful molting depends on stable water parameters, proper mineral levels, and a balanced diet, so sudden changes in water quality should be avoided.

What is the diet of Red Cherry Shrimp?

Red Cherry Shrimp are omnivores and share the same diet that most Dwarf Shrimp enjoy. They will eat just about anything in an aquarium, that is edible. Red Cherry Shrimp will eat the algae that naturally occurs in aquariums. Sinking pellets and blanched (boiled until soft) vegetables make good foods for dwarf shrimp, as well. But Red Cherry will oftentimes need supplemental feedings. Aquarium foods intended for bottom feeders and aquatic invertebrates are readily accepted, as are blanched vegetables (boiled until soft). You can find wide veracity of good shrimp foods in our shop. The Red Cherry Shrimp you order are currently eating Ebita Breed - Quarto 2

Be sure to read the ingredients label carefully, any food containing copper should not be used. (Copper Sulfate is a common ingredient in fish foods)

What type of filter should I use?

A sponge filter is the best filter for a shrimp-only aquarium. Another good option is a corner box filter. Most power filters will suck smaller shrimp into the filter and kill them, so they are not recommended. In our shop, you can find a nice selection of filters that are safe for shrimps.

What are the best plants for Red Cherry Shrimp?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp thrive in planted aquariums with plenty of live plants that provide shelter, grazing surfaces, and natural biofilm. Some of the best plants for Cherry Shrimp include Java Moss, Subwassertang, Anubias, Bucephalandra, floating aquarium plants, and Dwarf Hairgrass. These plants create hiding places for baby shrimp, improve the aquarium's natural appearance, and provide additional surfaces for shrimp to graze on throughout the day.

What is the best substrate for Red Cherry Shrimp?

Red Cherry shrimp can lose their color if kept on a light substrate. After all, they're prey animals, so they like to blend in as a means to avoid predators. Your best bet is to go for a dark substrate; the type doesn't matter much for your shrimp. In fact, they even do fine with no substrate at all.

What are the best tank mates for Red Cherry Shrimp?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp do best with peaceful tank mates that are unlikely to prey on them or their babies. Excellent companions include Otocinclus, Corydoras, Nerite Snails, Mystery Snails, Amano Shrimp, and other peaceful Neocaridina shrimp. While some small community fish can be kept with Cherry Shrimp, any fish may eat baby shrimp, so providing plenty of moss, plants, and hiding places is recommended if you want your colony to reproduce successfully.  You can also view our Dwarf Shrimp Compatibility Chart.

What is the best way to Acclimate my new Red Cherry Shrimp? 

When adding new shrimp into your established already existing tank, it is important to take the proper steps in introducing and acclimating them into their new home. The whole process is extremely stressful for the shrimp. Acclimation is important for shrimp as it allows them time to adjust to the temperature and parameters of their new environment. By doing this correctly, you will reduce the chances of shock or death of your new shrimps. You can find the step-by-step process of acclimating shrimp here.

Are Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp Good Algae Eaters?

Yes, Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp are excellent algae eaters and are one of the best cleanup crew members for planted freshwater aquariums. They constantly graze on soft algae, biofilm, decaying plant matter, and leftover food, helping keep your aquarium cleaner throughout the day. While they are very effective at controlling soft algae and preventing buildup, they will not eliminate heavy algae outbreaks on their own. For the healthiest shrimp and the best coloration, provide a balanced diet in addition to the natural food sources available in your aquarium.

Can Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp Live With Bettas?

Grade AA Red Cherry Shrimp can live with Bettas, but success depends on the individual Betta's temperament. Some Bettas ignore shrimp completely, while others will actively hunt and eat both adult shrimp and baby shrimplets. If you're considering this combination, read our complete guide to keeping Bettas and Cherry Shrimp together before adding them to the same aquarium. Providing plenty of live aquarium plants, mosses, driftwood, and other hiding places will greatly improve the shrimp's chances of survival. If your goal is to establish a thriving breeding colony, a species-only shrimp tank is the safest and most successful option.

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