Cherry Dwarf Shrimp care guide
Neocaridina davidi · Atyidae
Cherry Dwarf Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) is an aquarium animal. It belongs to the Atyidae family. It is native to Eastern China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and Vietnam. Water temperature: 20°C – 26°C. pH: 6.0 – 8.0. Care difficulty: Easy.
How do you care for Cherry Dwarf Shrimp?
| Light | Adaptable to all light levels (prefers a dark substrate) |
|---|---|
| CO₂ | Requires well-oxygenated water |
| Temperature | 20°C – 26°C |
| pH | 6.0 – 8.0 |
| Placement | Grazes on moss, substrate & leaf surfaces |
| Growth | Breeds fast: 20–50 eggs carried for 2–3 weeks, young mature in about 2 months |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Family | Atyidae |
How do you trim and propagate Cherry Dwarf Shrimp?
Dose GH minerals regularly to facilitate smooth molting cycles.
What problems affect Cherry Dwarf Shrimp?
Failed molts from mineral shortage, abrupt parameter changes or too much protein; sudden colony die-off from copper — from medications, some coloured substrates or plant/fertiliser products — lethal in trace amounts; berried females drop eggs when the water is too warm (≥32°C in lab trials) or stressed.
How do you fix Cherry Dwarf Shrimp problems?
NEVER use copper-based products — check medication and fertiliser labels; keep GH stable, change water in small steps and balance the diet; keep the water stable and below about 28°C.
Where does Cherry Dwarf Shrimp come from?
Eastern China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and Vietnam · Biotope regions: East Asia.
What should you know before buying Cherry Dwarf Shrimp?
Never release shrimp — Neocaridina is invasive in Japan, Germany, Poland and the USA (especially in thermally polluted waters). Copper-based and many fish medications are lethal to shrimp.
Sources
- Neocaridina davidi — Wikipedia
- Rückenstrichgarnele — Wikipedia (German)
- Caridina cantonensis — Wikipedia
- Guide to shrimp in the aquarium — Dennerle
- Effect of temperature on biochemical composition, growth and reproduction of the red cherry shrimp (Tropea et al. 2015, PLoS One) — PLoS One (via PubMed 25768918)
- Losing reproduction: effect of high temperature on female N. davidi (Baliña et al. 2018, Biol Bull) — Biological Bulletin (via PubMed 29949439)
- All Shades of Shrimp: substrate colour preferences of N. davidi morphs (Plichta et al. 2021) — Animals (MDPI) (via PubMed 33918889)
- Integrative taxonomy of Neocaridina from Kyushu and southern Honshu, Japan, with introduced species (Shih et al. 2024) — Zoological Studies (via PubMed 39659496)
Care details checked against these sources on 2026-09-23.
Which aquascapes and tanks use Cherry Dwarf Shrimp?
- Aquarium algae: identify the type and fix the cause
- Balancing light, CO₂ and fertiliser in a planted tank
- Nitrogen cycle in an aquarium: how to cycle a new fish tank
See Cherry Dwarf Shrimp in a living world
- Riccardia Shrimp Cave — aquarium
- Iwagumi Triad — aquarium
- Wild Sound — aquarium
- Ha Long Bay Miniature — aquarium
- Ryuboku Wood & Stone — aquarium
- Discus Driftwood Cube — aquarium
Last updated · Open the interactive 3D guide · All species care guides