Bloody Mary Shrimp

Q: How big do Bloody Mary Shrimps get?

A: The female bloody mary shrimp can reach up to around 1.6"/4 cm, while the males stay a bit smaller.

Q: How many Bloody Mary Shrimp can I keep per gallon?

A: You can keep an almost infinite amount of Bloody Mary shrimp per gallon of aquarium water volume as long as you make sure to start with at least a 5-gallon tank. Stay on top of maintenance, and the colony should balance itself. In order to make your tank seem like a natural environment for your shrimp and keep the shrimp healthy, vibrant, and maximize bloody marys red coloration, feed your shrimp food and provide a natural look with things like cholla wood and Indian Almond Leaves. The Shrimp also loves decaying plant matter, so be sure to check out our plant selection here.

Q: How long do Bloody Mary Shrimp live?

A: Bloody Mary shrimp's lifespan strongly depends on factors like water quality, diet, and temperature. In the right conditions, they can make it at least a year, even up to two if the bloody marys are healthy.

Q: How fast do Bloody Mary Shrimp grow?

A: Pretty darn quickly! In the right conditions, bloody mary shrimp are able to grow from freshly hatched fry to breeding adults in 2-2.5 months.  The female shrimp are a bit larger with bright red color, the male shrimp have a shorter rostrum and are smaller in general.

Q: Are Bloody Mary Shrimp easy to Breed?

A: If optimal care requirements are met, the Bloody Mary Shrimp is fairly easy to breed. In our shop, we sell great Breeding Aids for you to help the breeding process go easier and faster.  If you have a well established aquarium, it should not take long to get a breeding colony going. 

Q: Will different shrimp species breed with each other?

A: Yes, most Neocaridina species will breed with other Neocaridina species, and many Caridina species will breed with other Caridina species. However, 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 Bloody Mary Shrimp.

Q: Why is my Bloody Mary shrimp losing color?

A: Bloody Mary shrimp coloration 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's often recommended to keep the colorful species on a darker substrate, or they may fade to help them blend in. 

Q: How often do Bloody Mary Shrimp molt?

A: Depends on their age! Bloody Mary shrimp grow very quickly. This also means they molt a lot (at least every few days at first) until they reach their adult size, after which they slow down to about once a month.

Q: What is the diet of Bloody Mary Shrimp?

A: Bloody Mary 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. Bloody Mary 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 Bloody Mary Shrimp 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 a wide variety of good shrimp foods in our shop. The Bloody Mary Shrimp you order are currently eating Ebita Breed - Quarto 2 and they also love to eat algae wafers, which you can find here.

Q: What type of filter should I use?

A: 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.

Q: What are the best plants for Bloody Mary Shrimp?

A: Any aquarium plants are great if you'd like to keep Bloody Mary shrimp! They love to hide in and forage on the leaves. A few personal favorites are java moss, floating plants, and hair grass (Eleocharis acicularis). All the plants we sell are great for Bloody Mary Shrimp. You can find out more about Freshwater aquarium plants here. 

Q: What is the best substrate for Bloody Mary Shrimp?

A: Bloody Mary 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.

Q: What are the best tank mates for Bloody Mary Shrimp?

A: Bloody Mary shrimp, like other dwarf shrimp, are non aggressive creatures. They will never harm any tankmates but will easily fall prey to hungry fish. It might be a good idea to set up a single-species aquarium. Still, peaceful inverts like other shrimp and small snails are always a possibility. You can check out the dwarf shrimp compatibility chart to see what shrimp will be a great match for the Bloody Mary Shrimp.

Aquarists who don't mind losing some of their stock can combine them with a number of peaceful species, including the popular Corydoras and Otocinclus catfish, small schooling fish, and more. Learn more about the best types of fish for your shrimp aquarium here.  The shrimp should usually breed quickly enough to sustain the population despite regular casualties, provided there are enough hiding places. Not enough hiding places for your shrimp? We have some great hiding decorations in our shop. 

Q: What is the best way to acclimate my new Bloody Mary Shrimp? 

A: When adding new Bloody Mary shrimp into your 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. Please note, when you first receive your shrimp to add them to your tank, they might have lost some of their coloration due to stress from shipping, but within 24-48 hours they will be back and vibrant for your tank!

Q: Is your question not listed above?

A: If you don't see the answer to your question, give us a quick email, and we will get back to you asap. If you have just ordered from us, we hope your shrimp have arrived alive and maybe even an extra shrimp was born on the journey.