Blue Zebra Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 3–4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 litres
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C
Species profile
Blue Velvet Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Common names: Blue Velvet Shrimp, Blue Velvet Neocaridina, Blue Cherry Shrimp
Colour varietyNeocaridina Shrimp
Adult size
Up to 4 cm
Typical adult length 3–4 cm.
Up to 4 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Beginner shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
- Breeding colonies
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- You want to preserve another Neocaridina colour line
- Water conditions change frequently
A light to medium blue Neocaridina davidi colour line suited to established planted shrimp aquariums.
Appearance and Identification
Translucent to medium blue body colour; intensity and uniformity vary with line, grade, substrate, lighting, and stress.
Aquarium-trade colour variety of Neocaridina davidi. Blue Velvet and Blue Dream are often sold inconsistently, so lineage is more useful than colour alone.
Females are generally larger and have a broader abdomen used to carry eggs.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 80–100 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 25–50 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 20 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 30 cm
- Minimum group size
- 6
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Variable
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Use a mature, stable aquarium with biofilm, plant cover, protected filter intakes, and gentle flow. These shrimp are hardy, but new tanks, copper in water or medication, and sudden changes are the usual causes of loss.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Peaceful and continuously active as a surface grazer.
Not a schooling species, but normally kept as a colony.
Not normally territorial.
Small fish may consume shrimplets.
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Xinyou XY-2835 small sponge filter
A small air-driven filtration option for a lightly stocked dwarf-shrimp setup. The seller lists a sponge approximately 5.5 cm across and 7 cm high.
An air pump and airline are required separately. Choose the complete filter and pump combination for your actual tank and stocking; this small sponge is not presented as the sole filter for a large aquarium.
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Water Parameters
Maintain stable, mineralized freshwater with enough calcium and magnesium for reliable moulting. Acclimate slowly and avoid large TDS swings.
Parameter caveat
Stable conditions and careful acclimation matter more than repeatedly adjusting water to chase exact values.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Aufwuchs Grazer, Detritivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Mature biofilmPrimary grazing resource.
- Soft algae growthGrazed from aquarium surfaces.
- Leaf litterProvides grazing surface and decomposing material.
- Prepared shrimp foodFeed sparingly.
An opportunistic grazer and detritivore consuming biofilm, algae, decomposing plant material, leaf litter, microorganisms, and other organic material.
Avoid leaving excess food in the aquarium.
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Aquatic Venturez dwarf-shrimp food – 10 g
A specialist prepared-food option for the dwarf-shrimp diet described above. This listing is a 10 g pack.
Use small portions alongside the mature grazing surfaces and other foods in the care guide. Remove leftovers and adjust the amount to the number of shrimp feeding. This is not a food recommendation for filter-feeding shrimp.
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Breeding
- Breeding type
- Direct Developer
- Breeding difficulty
- Very easy
- Breeding temperature
- 22 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7.2
- Brood or egg count
- Approximately 43–60 eggs
- Incubation
- 18 days
- Parental care
- Maternal care
- Baby foods
- Mature biofilmContinuous food for hatchlings.
- Fine powdered shrimp foodUse sparingly.
Females carry eggs beneath the abdomen until hatching. Development is direct, and hatchlings emerge as miniature shrimp.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Asia, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater Stream, Pond, Slow River
- Aquarium contexts
- Freshwater Community, Nano Aquarium, Planted Tank, Shrimp Tank
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Colour variety
- Genus
- Neocaridina
- Family
- Atyidae
- Species group
- Neocaridina Shrimp
- Previous scientific names
- Neocaridina heteropoda, Historical name still found in older aquarium-trade material., Neocaridina denticulata sinensis, Historical name used in older literature and hobby references.
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Carbon Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 3–4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 litres
- Temperature
- 19–26 °C
Chocolate Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 3–4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 litres
- Temperature
- 18–26 °C
Golden Stardust Neocaridina Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 2–3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 litres
- Temperature
- 19–26 °C