If you've ever admired a vibrant aquarium full of colourful Cherry Shrimp, you're not alone. These tiny freshwater shrimp have become one of the most popular aquarium pets thanks to their beautiful colours, peaceful nature, and ability to thrive in planted aquariums. While Cherry Shrimp are often described as "easy to keep," their long-term success depends on stable water conditions and proper care.

At AUShrimpHome, all of our Cherry Shrimp are locally bred in Sydney tap water, making them well adapted to Australian water conditions and giving hobbyists a much higher chance of success compared to imported shrimp.

Why Cherry Shrimp Are Perfect for Beginners

Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are one of the easiest freshwater shrimp species to keep. They are hardy, peaceful, and come in many stunning colour varieties including:

• Red Cherry
• Bloody Mary
• Blue Dream
• Blue Velvet
• Yellow Golden Back
• Orange Sunkist
• Green Jade
• Carbon Rili
• Red Rili
• Chocolate
• Black Rose

Unlike many fish, shrimp produce very little waste and help clean the aquarium by grazing on algae, biofilm, and leftover food.

Recommended Tank Size

Although Cherry Shrimp can survive in small aquariums, a larger tank is always easier to maintain.

Recommended sizes:

• 20L minimum
• 30–60L ideal
• Larger tanks provide greater water stability. We are using moslty 60x30x30cm tanks for breeding our shrimps. 

A mature aquarium with established biofilm is always better than a newly set-up tank.

Ideal Water Parameters

The secret to healthy shrimp isn't chasing perfect numbers—it's maintaining stable water conditions.

Parameter	Recommended Range
Temperature	20–26°C (Best 24°C based on our experience )
pH	6.8–7.8 (Best 7.5 based on our experience )
GH	6–10 dGH
KH	2–6 dKH
TDS	180–250 ppm
Ammonia	0 ppm
Nitrite	0 ppm
Nitrate	Under 20 ppm

Avoid sudden changes in water chemistry, as shrimp are sensitive to rapid fluctuations. Example, Do not change more than 50% of the water at one time

Cycling Your Aquarium

Never add shrimp to an uncycled aquarium. Your biological filter needs time to establish beneficial bacteria that convert harmful ammonia into safer nitrate.

How We Cycle Our New Shrimp Tanks

This is the same cycling method we use for our own shrimp tanks at AUShrimpHome.

1. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of DSP or X2 Bacteria Powder evenly over the substrate.
2. Slowly fill the aquarium with Sydney tap water to avoid disturbing the substrate.
3. Install a sponge filter and allow it to run continuously.
4. Turn on the aquarium light for 5–8 hours per day to encourage the growth of beneficial biofilm.
5. Let the tank cycle for one week.
6. Perform a 30% water change to remove any unwanted organic matter or excess nutrients.
7. Continue cycling the tank for another week.

After two weeks, we introduce a small number of test shrimp.

Healthy shrimp should begin exploring the tank and searching for food shortly after being introduced. This is a good sign that the aquarium is ready for a larger colony.

However, if the shrimp spend hours swimming around the tank, remain inactive, stop grazing, gather in the corners, or cluster around the filter outlet, these are signs that something may be wrong with the water quality or biological cycle.

If this happens, continue cycling the aquarium, perform additional partial water changes, and investigate any potential issues such as ammonia, nitrite, chlorine, insufficient biological filtration, or unstable water parameters before adding more shrimp.

Taking the time to properly cycle your aquarium is one of the most important steps to ensuring long-term shrimp health and breeding success.

 

 

Best Plants for Cherry Shrimp

Live plants create a natural environment and provide shrimp with food, shelter, and breeding areas.

Excellent choices include:

• All types of aquarium moss such as Java, Xmas, Subwassertang..
• Anubias
• Java Fern
• Bucephalandra
• Floating Frogbit
• Water Sprite

Mosses are one of our favourite plants for shrimp tanks. Baby shrimp spend much of their time hiding and grazing among the moss, feeding on the biofilm that naturally develops on its surface. Unlike fast-growing stem plants, mosses require little maintenance, don't need CO₂ injection, and won't cover the entire aquarium. This keeps the tank looking tidy while making it much easier to observe and enjoy your shrimp.

Feeding Cherry Shrimp

Cherry Shrimp are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet.

Offer a combination of:

• High-quality shrimp food
• Plant-based foods
• Protein supplements
• Natural biofilm
• Mineral-rich foods

Feed only what your shrimp can consume within 2–3 hours.

Overfeeding is one of the most common causes of poor water quality and shrimp losses.

At AUShrimpHome, we recommend rotating different foods throughout the week to provide a balanced diet and support healthy growth, successful moulting, strong breeding, and vibrant colouration.

That's why we've developed a wide range of specialised shrimp foods, each with a unique purpose, including Snow, Protein Plus, Growth Boost, Colour Enhance, Shrimp Magnet, Magic Feed, Mulberry, and more.

Rather than feeding the same food every day, we rotate one different food each day. This mimics the varied diet shrimp would naturally find in the wild and ensures they receive a broad spectrum of proteins, plant matter, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Over the years, we've found this feeding routine produces healthier shrimp, stronger breeding colonies, and improved overall vitality.

Why Minerals Matter

Many beginners focus only on food, but minerals are equally important.

Shrimp require calcium and other trace minerals to:

• Build strong shells
• Complete successful moults
• Produce healthy eggs
• Support baby shrimp development

At AUShrimpHome, we breed hundreds of Cherry Shrimp tanks using Sydney tap water, which typically has a TDS of around 100–120 ppm. While these parameters are generally suitable for Neocaridina shrimp, tap water can naturally fluctuate throughout the year.

With hundreds of breeding tanks to maintain, it simply isn't practical to test the TDS, GH, and KH of every tank after each water change. To simplify our maintenance routine while keeping our shrimp healthy, we developed our own GH/KH Liquid Mineral specifically for Cherry Shrimp.

After each water change with fresh tap water, we simply add the recommended amount of GH/KH Liquid. This quickly replenishes essential minerals, helps stabilise water parameters, and supports healthy moulting, breeding, and overall shrimp health—without the need for constant testing and measuring.

We believe the same approach works well for most hobbyists across Australia. While tap water varies from state to state, adding a small amount of GH/KH Liquid after each water change helps maintain a consistent mineral balance, making Cherry Shrimp easier to keep and reducing the stress caused by fluctuating water conditions.

Rather than chasing perfect water parameters every week, our goal is to maintain stable, mineral-rich water. In our experience, consistency is far more important than achieving an exact GH or TDS number, and it's one of the key reasons our breeding colonies continue to thrive year after year.

Compatible Tank Mates

Cherry Shrimp are peaceful and should be housed with other peaceful species.

Good tank mates include:

• Corydoras
• Otocinclus
• Kuhli Loaches
• Snails
• Small peaceful rasboras
• Ember Tetras (with plenty of plant cover)

Avoid:

• Angelfish
• Cichlids
• Large Barbs
• Oscars
• Most aggressive fish
• Large predatory species

Remember that even peaceful fish may eat baby shrimp if given the opportunity.

Breeding Cherry Shrimp

 One of the greatest joys of keeping   Cherry   Shrimp is watching them breed   naturally.

 Healthy females carry eggs beneath their   abdomen for approximately 3–4 weeks   before releasing miniature fully formed   shrimp.

 To encourage breeding : keep water   stable, feed a varied diet, provide   mineral  supplementation, include dense   mosses ,avoid predators

 Unlike many fish, baby shrimp do not require special foods immediately after hatching, although powdered foods and natural biofilm help maximise survival.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Adding shrimp too soon

Always cycle the aquarium before introducing livestock.

Overfeeding

Excess food quickly pollutes the water.

Large water changes

Shrimp prefer consistency. Smaller, regular water changes are safer.

Ignoring minerals

Poor moulting often results from insufficient minerals rather than disease.

Buying imported shrimp

Imported shrimp frequently experience stress from transport and may struggle to adapt to local water conditions.

Choosing locally bred shrimp greatly improves acclimation and long-term success.

Why Choose AUShrimpHome?

At AUShrimpHome, our shrimp are not mass-imported. They are carefully bred in Sydney using local tap water, making them naturally adapted to Australian aquarium conditions.

Our shrimp are:

• Locally bred in Australia
• Carefully selected for health and colour
• Well adapted to local water parameters
• Packed professionally for safe overnight shipping
• Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee

Whether you're setting up your very first shrimp aquarium or expanding an established colony, starting with healthy, locally bred shrimp gives you the best possible chance of success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cherry Shrimp should I start with?

We recommend starting with at least 10 shrimp. A larger group settles more quickly and increases the likelihood of establishing a breeding colony.

How long do Cherry Shrimp live?

With proper care, Cherry Shrimp typically live between 1.5 and 2 years.

Will Cherry Shrimp clean my aquarium?

They help consume algae, biofilm, and leftover food, but they should not be relied upon as your primary cleaning crew.

Do Cherry Shrimp need a heater?

In most Australian homes, they do well between 20–26°C. A heater is recommended if temperatures regularly fall below this range.

Can Cherry Shrimp live with fish?

Yes, provided the fish are small and peaceful. Heavy planting helps protect baby shrimp from predation.

Final Thoughts

Cherry Shrimp are one of the most rewarding freshwater aquarium species to keep. Their vibrant colours, fascinating behaviour, and ease of breeding make them suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists alike.

By providing stable water conditions, quality nutrition, and a mature planted aquarium, you'll soon enjoy a thriving colony that continues to grow for years to come.

If you're looking for healthy, locally bred Cherry Shrimp, premium shrimp foods, and expert advice, explore the full range at AUShrimpHome and discover why thousands of Australian shrimp keepers trust us with their aquariums.