Red Onyx shrimp (Neocaridina davidi 'Red Onyx') | Care & info

Are you looking for a red dwarf shrimp to add to your aquarium, but regular old cherry shrimp and even the deep red bloody Mary just aren't really cutting it? What about a darker, almost chocolatey red tone? The unusual Red Onyx shrimp, another variety of Neocaridina, really does live up to the gemstone it was named after. Spectacular in color, but just as easy to keep as the other members of its species, this one is perfectly suitable for beginning shrimpers.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Red Onyx Neocaridina and keeping them in your home aquarium!

Scientific name	Neocaridina davidi 'Red Onyx'
Common name	Red Onyx shrimp
Difficulty level	Easy
Origin	China

Red Onyx shrimp appearance

As mentioned in the intro, Neocaridina davidi 'Red Onyx' is characterized by its deep maroon to dark brown coloration. It's a selectively bred variation of Neocaridina davidi, selected specifically by breeders for its color. It's relatively new, which means the line isn't entirely stable yet and not all the offspring are guaranteed to look as spectacular as their parents. This is something that breeders can still work on improving.

Other than its color, this is your typical Neo. It grows to around 1.5" in size, with the females being larger and more intensely colored than the males.

Setting up a Red Onyx shrimp aquarium

Requirements

You don't need a large aquarium if you're interested in keeping Red Onyxes: here at The Shrimp Farm, we usually recommend 5+ gallons for experienced shrimp keepers or 10+ gallons for beginners. This is because larger aquariums are easier to keep stable.

Your aquarium should always be fully cycled before you introduce any shrimp. It should have a filter and, if the ambient temperature tends to be unstable, a heater as well. If you have no idea how to set up a shrimp tank, take a look at the Shrimpin' 101 guide before you head out to the aquarium store!

All dwarf shrimp appreciate some hiding places in the aquarium. Shrimp flats, rocks and driftwood are great options, as are live plants. A dark substrate is preferable to make these guys' colors pop. We also recommend good lighting, as Red Onyxes really shine best when you can properly see them. In lower light conditions, they appear more black than anything else.

Water parameters

Although Neocaridina shrimp aren't too picky when it comes to water conditions, the basics should always be in order. Ammonia and nitrites must be at 0 at all times, and nitrates preferably <10. Copper-based medications are to be avoided, as those are highly toxic to shrimp.

In order to keep the water quality up to par, you can do a weekly small water change. Once a month, you can gently squeeze excess dirt from the filter into a bucket of aquarium water to keep it running smoothly.

pH: 6.2-8.0

Temperature: 65-80 °F

Hardness: 5-12

Total Dissolved Solids: 150-250

Tankmates

This shrimp variety isn't the cheapest, something caused by the fact that it is still a relative newcomer and doesn't breed totally true yet. As such, we recommend being careful when choosing tankmates to avoid losing stock. Fish should be limited to the absolute most peaceful species.

You've got a little more wiggle room when it comes to invertebrates. Snails like the red racer Nerite, dwarf crayfish or even Thai micro crabs all make good options. The same goes for dwarf shrimp from different genera that can't interbreed with Neocaridina. The image below shows a Red Onyx shrimp kept with crystal reds, which is a great choice.

Red Onyx shrimp diet

Like other freshwater dwarf shrimp for the aquarium, Red Onyxes naturally feed on detritus and biofilm. You'll see yours spend most of their day scuttling across the aquarium floor and all surfaces, using their small grabby legs to pick off any edible morsels they can find.

You should provide supplemental feedings once a day or so. Go for a high-quality shrimp food as a staple and provide variety with whatever: these guys really aren't picky. You can give them blanched veggies like smashed peas, seaweed sheets, normal fish food, frozen foods, algae tablets and much more. Just be sure to remove any uneaten food from the aquarium within a few hours to prevent water quality issues.

Breeding Red Onyx shrimp

Breeding Red Onyx shrimp shouldn't be too much of a challenge, although as mentioned, it's likely some of the offspring won't feature the same wine red coloration. If you'd like to work on a more stable line, you should cull the less intensely colored specimens. Luckily, in this case, "culling" doesn't mean you have to kill them off: you can just move them to a different tank to live out their days.

With this morph it can be difficult to see when the female is saddled (developing eggs in her ovaries) due to the opaque colors. You'll notice when she's actually carrying eggs, though, as they'll be located under the back legs (swimmerets). These eggs will hatch into tiny copies of the adults after about 30 days. The fry don't need any special care.

Buying Red Onyx shrimp

As mentioned, this is still a relatively new variety of shrimp. You're unlikely to find it at your local aquarium store, although it's worth a try asking if they can order some in for you. Finding Red Onyxes online is easier. The Shrimp Farm sells Red Onyx shrimp and ships them straight to your doorstep with live arrival guarantee!