Red Cherry shrimp are probably the most popular dwarf shrimp in the aquarium hobby. They are decorative, undemanding and breed easily: everything a (new) shrimp keeper could wish for.

If you're wondering how to care for Red Cherries, you're in the right place. Keep reading for everything you need to know about Neocaridina davidi 'Red' in the aquarium and how to keep your colony happy and healthy!

Scientific nameNeocaridina davidi 'Red'. Also sometimes still Neocaridina heteropoda var. 'Red' or Neocaridina denticulata sinensis
Common namesRed Cherry shrimp, Cherry shrimp, Sakura shrimp, Fire shrimp
Difficulty levelEasy
OriginTaiwan

Red Cherry shrimp natural habitat

They may not be as bright red as the shrimp we like to keep in our aquariums, but they're out there: wild Neocaridina davidi shrimp are naturally found in central and eastern China as well as Taiwan. In their natural range, they can be found in a wide range of different habitats. They'll pop up in rivers, agricultural channels, ponds, reservoirs, mountain streams and more.

Unfortunately, as a result of the aquarium trade, the Red Cherry shrimp is also an invasive species in such places as Hawaii, Japan and even thermally polluted (warm) rivers in Poland and Germany! Let this be a word of warning: don't release your aquarium critters into the wild. They may survive and damage local ecosystems.

Setting up a Red Cherry shrimp aquarium

Requirements

As with all dwarf shrimp, a large aquarium is not needed to keep Red Cherries and a setup of at least 5 gallons (19L) should be more than enough to sustain a colony. Some aquarists choose to keep them in even smaller tanks, but these will be a lot more difficult to keep stable and are less suitable for beginners.

All aquariums, including Red Cherry shrimp tanks, should be filtered and cycled. A sponge filter or a regular filter with a pre-filter sponge is recommended for when keeping dwarf shrimp, as their fry are very small and can easily get sucked up by powerful filters. A heater is usually not a necessity if the setup is located in a heated room, although you can choose to go for one if you want to make sure the temperature remains stable.

All shrimp will feel safest (and thus display bright coloration and behave naturally) when plenty of hiding places are present in their aquarium. This can be anything from live plants to special shrimp tubes.

How to care for Red Cherry Shrimp: Perfect beginner aquarium shrimp #aquariums #aquatic

Water quality

The ideal water parameters for Red Cherries are similar to those for most other dwarf shrimp species. The lower and less heavily selectively bred grades especially are not too demanding when it comes to water quality. They will do well in a wide range of water parameters. Just be sure to never introduce them into an uncycled tank, as they are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrites, and keep water values as stable as possible.

Water quality can be tested using a liquid test kit. Test regularly to make sure everything is still in order and be sure to do regular water changes to keep nitrates in check.

pH: 6.2-8.0

Temperature: 65-85 °F (18-29.5 °C)

gH: 4-8

kH: 3-15

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 150-250

Tankmates

Red Cherries, like other dwarf shrimp, are very peaceful and vulnerable creatures. They will never harm any tankmates, but will easily fall prey to hungry fish. If you keep higher and more expensive grades, 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. A few of our favorite choices are:

You may also be wondering what fish can go with Red Cherry shrimp. Aquarists who keep lower grade Cherries and 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. The shrimp should usually breed quickly enough to sustain the population despite regular casualties, provided there are enough hiding places.

Red Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) | Care & info
High-quality variant with intense coloring known in the aquarium hobby as "Sakura Shrimp".

Red Cherry shrimp diet

What do Red Cherry shrimp eat? If you're wondering what to feed Red Cherry shrimp, or really any shrimp, it can help to have a look at their natural diet. In the wild, the species' ancestor will eat anything it can find. Its diet consists mostly of algae and aufwuchs (also known as biofilm).

Do Cherry shrimp eat algae, like many other shrimp species? Yep, in the aquarium, Red Cherries will also feed on algae and the tiny organisms living in plants and other organic material. However, their diet will usually have to be supplemented. A high-quality shrimp food can be used as a staple. They will also accept blanched vegetables, frozen foods and all kinds of sinking fish foods.

More information about their ideal diet and what to feed your Red Cherries can be found here.

Breeding Red Cherry shrimp

Breeding Red Cherries shrimp is not considered difficult at all, which makes them a great option for beginners looking to try their hand at shrimp breeding. As long as water parameters are in order the shrimp will reproduce readily, with females carrying eggs pretty much all the time.

Wondering what Red Cherry shrimp eggs look like, how often Red Cherry shrimp breed, how long Red Cherry shrimp eggs take to hatch and more? More information about reproduction can be found in the full Cherry shrimp breeding guide. If you'd like to know how to identify Cherry shrimp gender, have a look at the Neocaridina shrimp sexing guide.

Red Cherry shrimp grading

Red Cherry shrimp were selectively bred from shrimp with a brownish color. Breeders are always working to produce shrimp with even an even more intense reds, which has lead to a number of different grades being established in order to be able to assess a shrimp's "quality". The more opaque and intense the red coloration, the higher the grade the shrimp will fall into.

A full article about the different Red Cherry grades with a handy grading chart can be found here.

Red Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) | Care & info

Frequently asked questions

How big do Red Cherry shrimp get?

The females can reach up to around 1.6"/4 cm, while the males stay a bit smaller.

How many Red Cherry shrimp can I keep per gallon?

You can keep an almost infinite amount of these 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.

How long do Red Cherry shrimp live?

Red Cherry shrimp 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.

How fast do Cherry shrimp grow?

Pretty darn quickly! In the right conditions, they are able to grow from freshly hatched fry to breeding adults in 2-2.5 months.

Why is my Red Cherry shrimp losing color?

Dwarf shrimp can fade if the water quality is off - have you done a water test yet? 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?

Depends on their age! As mentioned above, dwarf 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.

What are the best plants for Cherry Shrimp?

Any aquarium plants are great if you'd like to keep dwarf shrimp! They love to hide in and forage on the leaves. A few personal favorites are Java moss, floating plants and hairgrass (Eleocharis acicularis).

What is the best substrate for Cherry shrimp?

As discussed earlier, dwarf 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.

Buying Red Cherry shrimp

You should be able find Red Cherries in most aquarium stores, although quality can vary.

The Shrimp Farm sells both low grade and high-grade Red Cherry shrimp - delivered right to your doorstep with guaranteed live arrival.

Englund RA. 1999. "The occurrence and description of Neocaridina denticulata sinensis (Kemp, 1918) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae), a new introduction to the Hawaiian Islands." Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 58: 58–65.

Jabłońska, A., Mamos, T., Gruszka, P., Szlauer-Łukaszewska, A., & Grabowski, M. (2018). First record and DNA barcodes of the aquarium shrimp, Neocaridina davidi, in Central Europe from thermally polluted River Oder canal, Poland. Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, (419), 14.

Mitsugi, M., & Suzuki, H. (2018). Life history of an invasive freshwater shrimp Neocaridina davidi (Bouvier, 1904),(Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae) in the Tomoe River, the Boso Peninsula, eastern Japan. Crustacean Research, 47, 9-16.