Photos © Sean Evans
|
| Common name: | Red Cherry Shrimp, Cherry Shrimp, Red Fire Shrimp |
| Scientific name: | Neocaridina heteropoda var. "red" |
| Synonyms: | Neocaridina denticulata sinensis "red" |
| Size: | Approx 1.2" (3cm). |
| Origin: | China and Taiwan, but the red form does not occur in the wild. |
| Tank setup: | Ideal for planted nano tanks. |
| Compatibility: | Totally peaceful, and fine with other shrimp, but very likely to be eaten by anything but the smallest and most peaceful fish. |
| Temperature: | Tolerate cooler temperatures, but 22-25oC (72-77oF) ideal. |
| Water chemistry: | Soft to medium hard and pH around neutral to slightly alkaline is ideal, but not critical as a wide range is tolerated. |
| Feeding: | Omnivores, will eat algae and scavenge most other foods. Use good quality flake, granular and pellet foods with a veggie component.
Specific invertebrate foods are also available. |
| Sexing: | Females tend to be more red, and can be clearly identified when carrying eggs. |
| Breeding: | Easy to breed provided good water quality is maintained. Keep temp around 24oC (75oF).
Eggs are carried by the female and hatch into miniature versions of the adults. |
| Comments: |
These colourful little shrimp are ideal algae eaters and general scavenge feeders for peaceful planted tanks, or entertaining in their own right for a small species tank.
For breeding purposes, they should be housed alone, as the tiny young are about the same size as brine shrimp, and are likely to be eaten even by small fish.
|
