A shrimp aquarium: mature water, patience and a copper-free home for cherry shrimp

As you look at the mossy corner of the aquarium, you notice a tiny red dot moving. Lean closer, and a shrimp appears, cleaning the surface of a leaf nonstop with its tiny legs. According to the University of Florida's (UF/IFAS) guide to insects and other invertebrates, the cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) actually comes from freshwater streams in Taiwan, and in the wild it is transparent or greenish brown. The red, orange, yellow, green and blue colors we see in aquariums are the result of selective breeding over many generations. These little pets look easy to care for, but they are very sensitive to sudden changes in the water and to certain chemicals.

Get to know the cherry shrimp

According to UF/IFAS, adult cherry shrimp grow to 3–4 cm at most, and females are usually larger than males. The female carries her eggs under her abdomen, and they hatch in 16–19 days. A female carries between 43 and 60 eggs. Here's the interesting part: unlike most crustaceans, these shrimp have no larval stage. The young hatch as tiny adults, 1–2 mm long, and are able to breed at about 30 days old.

According to UF/IFAS, cherry shrimp feed on algae, the film of microorganisms known as biofilm, and dead plant or animal matter; they spend most of their time grazing on the biofilm that covers leaf litter. According to OATA, they can live for several years in a well-matured aquarium with good water quality.

Setting up the aquarium: don't rush

What makes an aquarium "mature" is the beneficial bacteria living in the filter and on surfaces. According to RSPCA Australia, the biological filter is the most important part of an aquarium: bacteria first convert toxic ammonia into nitrite, and then nitrite into much less harmful nitrate. When ammonia and nitrite drop to zero and nitrate starts to appear, the aquarium has completed its cycle; according to RSPCA Australia, this usually takes 4–6 weeks.

OATA wants shrimp to go only into an aquarium that has completed this cycle, and wants animals to be added gradually. Adding too many animals at once can cause "new tank syndrome," where ammonia and nitrite build up.

• Size: OATA recommends at least 10 liters for a group of small shrimp; if there are fish too, you'll need more space.
• Filter: According to OATA, every aquarium needs a filter, whatever its size.
• Lid: Shrimp can jump out of the water, so use a lid.
• Plants and hiding places: Use live plants if you can. Sand or fine gravel makes it easier for shrimp to forage.
• Location: Keep the aquarium away from drafts, heat sources, direct sunlight, noise and vibration.
• Testing: OATA recommends testing the water with a test kit every week. RSPCA Australia wants ammonia and nitrite tested every two to three days for the first six weeks in a new aquarium.

The general values OATA gives for freshwater shrimp:

These values are a general framework; ask an experienced specialist about the specific needs of your shrimp species.

Little pets that love to hide

According to a study carried out in Brazil, cherry shrimp are animals that really "like to hide": they were inside a shelter in about 82% of observations and were more active at night. Of the shelters tested, they preferred Java moss the most, and the researchers recommend using Java moss in aquariums and providing hiding places. If your shrimp are hiding, don't worry; it's their natural behavior.

Copper: an invisible danger

According to the UF/IFAS guide to copper, most invertebrates are very sensitive to copper and won't survive a copper treatment. The guide recommends taking invertebrates out of the aquarium before any copper treatment and not putting them back until the copper level has dropped very low, ideally to zero. OATA also says shrimp can die even at low copper levels.

Acclimating new shrimp

According to OATA, invertebrates are prone to shock when things change suddenly, so acclimation should be done without rushing.

1. Turn off the lights and keep the bag away from bright light.
2. Float the bag: Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for about 10 minutes so the temperatures can even out.
3. Add water slowly: Over at least 30 minutes, add aquarium water to the bag a little at a time.
4. Release the shrimp: Let as little of the bag water as possible get into the aquarium; throw away the bag and its water.
5. The first week: Keep a close eye on the shrimp and the water.

Water changes: small and regular

According to RSPCA Australia, 10–25% of the water in a mature aquarium should be changed every week and the gravel cleaned; OATA also recommends about 25% at least once a week. Make small, regular changes rather than large, sudden ones.

• Chlorine: Add tap water conditioner to the new water; it removes chlorine and chloramine.
• Temperature: RSPCA Australia recommends filling a labeled bucket that's used only for the aquarium with the new water a day ahead, so it can reach room temperature.
• Filter: Rinse the filter gently in water taken from the aquarium, not under the tap, to protect the beneficial bacteria.
• Siphon: RSPCA Australia reminds you not to start a siphon hose by sucking on it.

Molting and babies

According to UF/IFAS, like all arthropods, cherry shrimp grow by shedding their exoskeletons, and they eat their old shells to recover the nutrients in them. According to OATA, shrimp molt often, and the empty shell left behind can look like a dead shrimp. So if you see a transparent shrimp shell in the aquarium, don't panic right away; count your shrimp first.

According to OATA, cherry shrimp breed on their own in an aquarium with enough hiding places and food.

Food and tank mates

According to OATA, shrimp are mostly herbivores that feed on algae. You can supplement their diet with algae wafers and, if needed, shrimp food. OATA recommends feeding two or three times a week and leaving the food in for at least 30 minutes; any uneaten food should be removed, because it rots and creates toxic waste.

Which fish?

According to OATA, shrimp get along with most species, but shouldn't be kept with fish whose mouths they can fit into or with predatory species. Remember: according to UF/IFAS, the babies are only 1–2 mm long. Before adding fish to your aquarium, check the species with an experienced specialist.

Our other invertebrate guides: Invertebrates. Another crustacean that lives on land and also molts: the land hermit crab.

Frequently asked questions

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Sources

• UF/IFAS EDIS (Featured Creatures) · Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi
• UF/IFAS EDIS · Use of Copper in Marine Aquaculture and Aquarium Systems (FA165)
• RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase · Why is water quality important when setting up a fish aquarium?
• Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) · How to look after freshwater shrimp and snails
• Nauplius (Carvalho-Batista et al., 2023) · Shelter preference and variation in the daily activity pattern of the ornamental shrimp Neocaridina davidi

By Tüylüm · Published and last checked: October 24, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to [email protected] and we'll fix it right away. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the license shown below each photo.