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Species profile

Snowball Shrimp

Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis

Common names: Snowball Shrimp, White Pearl Shrimp

Colour varietyNeocaridina Shrimp
Snowball Shrimp (Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis)

Adult size

Up to 3 cm

Typical adult length 2.5–3 cm.

Up to 3 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from China

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 pale white freshwater dwarf shrimp commonly traded as Snowball or White Pearl Shrimp and associated with Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis.

Appearance and Identification

Translucent white to milky captive line, often associated with conspicuously pale or white eggs in berried females.

Usually sold as Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis, although aquarium lines can have mixed ancestry. Ask the seller about the line if purity matters to you.

Females are generally larger and broader through the abdomen. Sex and maturity can also influence visible color and egg appearance.

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.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
18–26 °C
pH
6.5–8
GH
6–12
KH
2–8
TDS
150–300
Stability importance
Very important

Neutral to slightly alkaline, moderately hard water suits these shrimp. Keep GH and KH within range to support moulting, and avoid sudden changes.

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.

Breeding

Breeding type
Direct Developer
Breeding difficulty
Very easy
Brood or egg count
About 20 to 30 eggs
Parental care
Maternal care
Baby foods
  • Mature biofilmContinuous food for hatchlings.
  • Fine powdered shrimp foodUse sparingly.

Females carry white eggs that resemble small snowballs, which gives the shrimp its name. The young hatch as tiny shrimp with no larval stage.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin
Asia, China
Natural habitat
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

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