Cherry Shrimp Breeding 101 (Plus How to Grade for Color Like a Pro)
If you’ve got a planted tank and a love for inverts, Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are one of the easiest and most rewarding species to breed. The real challenge? Building a stable colony and improving color over time. This guide covers both.
Table of Contents
- Best Breeding Tank Setup
- How Cherry Shrimp Breed
- Caring for Shrimplets (Baby Shrimp)
- Color Grading 101: How to Sort Shrimp by Quality
- Breeding Tips, Tricks & Genetics
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
Best Breeding Tank Setup
- Tank size: 5–10 gallons minimum (20 gallons ideal for a growing colony)
- Filter: Sponge filter or gentle HOB with guard
- Substrate: Inert or buffered (if breeding for color)
- Plants: Java moss, Subwassertang, floating plants (hiding spaces)
- Temp: 72–78°F (avoid heat spikes)
- pH: 6.8–7.5 ideal for color and health
- Water changes: 10–20% weekly (stable parameters are key)
Don’t use: Copper-based medications or fertilizers—these will wipe out shrimp instantly.
How Cherry Shrimp Breed
Once mature, female Cherry Shrimp will “saddle” (develop visible eggs under the shell) and become berried (eggs carried underneath). Males will detect pheromones and swim frantically to mate.
- Gestation: ~30 days before hatching
- Fry count: 20–30 per female (more if water is stable)
- They hatch fully formed: No larval stage—no intervention needed
Pro Tip: Stable parameters, consistent food, and minimal stress = constant breeding.
Caring for Shrimplets (Baby Shrimp)
- Don’t vacuum too deep—baby shrimp hide in substrate and moss
- Feed powdered foods (like Bacter AE or shrimp snow) for biofilm growth
- Leave algae on surfaces—shrimplets graze constantly
- Keep tank covered to prevent evaporation and sudden swings
No need to move babies—unlike fish, Cherry Shrimp won’t eat their young.
Color Grading 101: How to Sort Shrimp by Quality
Cherry Shrimp are graded by color depth, opacity, and uniformity. Breeding without culling or selection results in a “muddy” colony over time.
- Standard Cherry: Translucent red, often with clear patches
- Sakura: Brighter red with more body coverage
- Fire Red: Deep solid red, legs often colored too
- Painted Fire Red: Solid, opaque red across entire body
How to grade: Use a small acrylic photo box or cup, place it against white background, and examine under good lighting. Keep top-grade breeders in a separate tank if possible.
Breeding Tips, Tricks & Genetics
- Only breed high-grade shrimp together to maintain color
- Cull muddy or clear individuals (rehome or use in display tank)
- Feed variety: blanched spinach, shrimp pellets, biofilm boosters
- Don’t overcrowd—too many shrimp = stunted growth and faded colors
- Use remineralized RO water if your tap is inconsistent or high in copper
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using untreated tap water with copper
- Mixing too many Neocaridina colors—leads to wild-type offspring
- Sudden temperature changes from water changes
- Not testing TDS or pH regularly—consistency matters
- Skipping grading—colors will fade generation over generation
Final Thoughts
Cherry Shrimp are easy to breed but tough to master. Want a beautiful, deep red colony that turns heads? It’s all about the setup, consistency, and careful selection over time. Whether you’re breeding for fun, profit, or aquascaping flair—this is a species worth learning well.
Want a downloadable grading chart or video breakdown of setup tips? Let me know in the comments and I’ll get one made!
