Choosing Your Shrimp: Neocaridina or Caridina?

Now, before we even think about getting the love train going for these little guys, you have to decide what species of shrimp you want to breed. Do you go with the hardy, easy-going Neocaridina shrimp, or are you feeling ambitious and want to try the more finicky Caridina? I am a sucker for Neocaridina myself, because they are basically like the golden retrievers of the shrimp world: friendly, adaptable, and just about as hard to mess up as anything can be.

Neocaridina Shrimp (For Those of Us Who Want to Keep It Simple)

If you are just starting out, Neocaridina shrimp, like the Red Cherry Shrimp, are your best buddies. These shrimp can handle a lot of different water conditions, breed like crazy, and do not need a whole lot of babysitting. Think of them as the easy-going tenants in your underwater apartment building—they pay rent on time, and they do not complain too much.

• pH Range: 6.5-7.5 (nothing too extreme here)
• Temperature: 72°F-78°F (room temperature if you are comfy, they are comfy)
• Water Hardness: 6-8 GH (not too soft, not too hard)

These little guys are survivors, and under the right conditions, they will start having babies faster than you can keep track of them. If you’re wondering how to create the ideal environment for them, check out this post on creating the perfect shrimp tank setup.

Caridina Shrimp (For the Brave and Bold)

If you are up for a challenge and really like to tinker with your water chemistry, Caridina shrimp, like the Crystal Red Shrimp, might be more your speed. Now, I will not sugarcoat it—these shrimp are more of a high-maintenance kind of deal. They need softer, more acidic water, and they are a little pickier when it comes to their environment. But man, are they beautiful.

• pH Range: 6.0-6.5 (you will want to invest in a good testing kit)
• Temperature: 70°F-75°F (keep things on the cooler side)
• Water Hardness: 4-6 GH (soft water lovers)

If you can pull this off, you will have some seriously stunning shrimp in your tank. But fair warning: they are not as forgiving as the Neocaridina, so get your water dialed in before you start. Need help with water parameters? You can follow the detailed guide on Neocaridina water parameters or Caridina water parameters.

Setting Up the Perfect Shrimp Nursery

Once you have chosen your shrimp, the next thing you need to do is make sure they have a home that they are not just going to survive in—but thrive in. Think of this as setting up the ultimate nursery for your shrimp babies.

Tank Size and Layout

I know some people will tell you that you can breed shrimp in a 5-gallon tank, and while that is technically true, I would recommend going with something a little bigger—10 gallons at least. It gives you more room to maintain stable water conditions, which is important when you have shrimp that are picky about their environment.

A solid shrimp breeding setup should include:

• Substrate: If you are breeding Caridina shrimp, go with an active substrate like ADA Amazonia that will keep your pH low. Buy ADA Amazonia Soil For Neocaridina, you can use something like sand or gravel—whatever floats your boat, really. Like CaribSea Eco-Complete
• Filter: Go with a sponge filter. It is gentle on baby shrimp, plus it gives them a nice surface to graze on. Also, it does not suck them up like other filters might. Nobody wants their shrimp getting an unplanned ride through the filter. Buy a Sponge Filter
• Plants: Load up on plants, especially mosses like Java Moss, or floating plants like Frogbit and Dwarf Water Lettuce. These plants give your shrimp a place to hide and graze, which makes them happy and stress-free—exactly what you want if you want them to breed.

Water Parameters (This Is Where It Gets Real)

Water quality is probably the number one thing that will make or break your shrimp breeding efforts. If you keep things stable, your shrimp will start multiplying. If not, you will be wondering why nothing is happening.

• Neocaridina Shrimp: pH 6.5-7.5, Temp 72°F-78°F, Hardness 6-8 GH
• Caridina Shrimp: pH 6.0-6.5, Temp 70°F-75°F, Hardness 4-6 GH

If you are breeding Caridina, you are probably going to need RO (reverse osmosis) water and shrimp salts to get your water parameters just right. For Neocaridina, tap water usually works fine as long as you use a good water conditioner.

Feeding Your Shrimp: The Diet of Breeders

If you are trying to get shrimp to breed, you have to make sure they are eating well. Now, shrimp are not picky eaters—they will graze on biofilm all day long. But if you really want them to be in prime breeding condition, you have to give them a little more than just the leftovers on your tank walls.

What to Feed Your Shrimp

For shrimp that are about to make babies, a balanced diet is key. You will want to feed them high-quality shrimp pellets and supplement with blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach a couple of times a week. Every once in a while, throw in some protein-rich food like daphnia or brine shrimp to keep them healthy and breeding.

Here are a few ideas:

• Shrimp Pellets: Basic shrimp food that should be the backbone of their diet.
• Blanched Vegetables: Zucchini, spinach—anything soft that they can pick apart.
• Protein Treats: Daphnia or brine shrimp for that extra boost.
• Bacteria Based: Shrimp love to munch on food that we can’t see, like bacteria. Bacter AE and products like it are required for shrimp breeding.

You will also want to make sure you are not overfeeding them. Whatever they do not eat in a couple of hours should come out of the tank, or it will foul the water. And nobody likes a dirty tank, especially shrimp.

The Breeding Process: Getting to the Good Stuff

Alright, so now that your shrimp are fed and happy, it is time to get to the breeding part. If you have done everything right, you will start to notice your female shrimp carrying eggs under their abdomen. This is called being “berried,” and it is a sign that your shrimp are feeling the love.

Recognizing Males and Females

• Females: Larger, more colorful, and when they are ready to breed, you will see a little saddle of eggs inside their body.
• Males: Smaller and more active, usually chasing the females around when they are feeling frisky.

After mating, the female will carry those eggs for about 30 days, give or take. During that time, your job is to keep the water stable and give them plenty of food.

Caring for Baby Shrimp (AKA Shrimplets)

When those eggs finally hatch, you will have a bunch of tiny shrimp (called shrimplets) swimming around your tank. These little guys are super small, and they need to be protected if you want them to survive.

Hiding Places for Shrimplets

One of the most important things you can do for shrimp babies is to give them plenty of places to hide. Plants like Java Moss and floating plants are perfect for this. The babies can hide in the plants and stay safe from any curious tankmates (including their own parents).

Feeding Shrimplets

Baby shrimp mostly feed on biofilm, but you can help them grow faster by adding some powdered shrimp food to their diet. You can also encourage biofilm growth by tossing in some Indian Almond Leaves or Cholla Wood. Buy Indian Almond Leaves

Products to Consider:

• Shrimp King Baby Food: Specialized powdered food for baby shrimp.
• Bacter AE: Encourages biofilm growth in your tank.

Common Hiccups When Breeding Shrimp

Not everything always goes according to plan when you are trying to breed shrimp. Here are a few things that can throw a wrench in your shrimp breeding efforts and how to deal with them.

Poor Water Quality

Shrimp are sensitive little creatures, and bad water quality can shut down your breeding operation faster than anything else. Regular water changes (about 10-20% a week) are essential to keeping things stable. Use a good water test kit to keep track of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Trust me—if those levels spike, your shrimp will not be happy.

Overcrowding

Shrimp breed fast, so unless you are planning on setting up a shrimp empire, you will need to manage your population. Too many shrimp can lead to poor water quality and competition for food. If your tank is starting to get crowded, consider moving some shrimp to another tank or selling them to fellow shrimp lovers.

Wrapping It All Up

So, that is the scoop on breeding shrimp. Whether you are just getting started with Neocaridina or you are ready to take on the challenge of Caridina, the key is keeping your shrimp happy and your water clean. With a little patience and the right setup, you will have a tank full of happy, breeding shrimp in no time. And let us be honest—there is nothing more satisfying than watching those tiny shrimplets grow up and start their own little shrimp families.

Your Turn: Have any shrimp breeding tips or experiences to share? Drop a comment below, and let us know what has worked for you!