Bloody Mary Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Overview

Bloody Mary is a deep blood-red selective strain of Neocaridina davidi, the hardy dwarf shrimp that has become a staple of nano and planted aquariums. Its solid, opaque red carries right through the body and legs, holding colour far better than many cherry-shrimp grades. Peaceful, endlessly busy and completely plant-safe, it grazes biofilm and algae from every surface and makes an ideal clean-up companion for a small community. Captive-bred and undemanding, it is one of the easiest invertebrates to keep and breed.

Appearance & Identification

Adults reach around 3 cm, females a little larger and rounder than the slimmer, smaller males. The prized trait is uniform, saturated red pigment with no clear patches or banding, and top-grade individuals look almost lacquered. Colour intensity deepens over a dark substrate and against green planting, and well-fed mature females often carry a visible saddle of developing eggs beneath the shell.

Aquarium Setup

A mature, fully cycled aquarium of 20 litres or more is ideal, with stable water and gentle, shrimp-safe filtration such as a sponge filter that will not draw in shrimplets. Provide plenty of grazing surface, as mosses, botanicals, leaf litter and fine-leaved plants all build the biofilm these shrimp feed on. Keep temperature between 18 and 28°C, pH from 6.5 to 8 and hardness in the 4-15 dGH range, remembering that shrimp need dissolved minerals to moult properly. Avoid sudden swings in parameters and change water little and often.

Temperament & Tank Mates

These shrimp are entirely peaceful and spend the day grazing across plants, wood and substrate in a constantly moving group. They keep their best colour and breed most freely in a colony of six or more, and feel secure when there is dense cover to retreat into. They pose no threat to plants, fry or other peaceful tank inhabitants.

Feeding

Bloody Marys graze naturally on biofilm and soft algae, so a mature tank matters more than heavy feeding. Supplement two or three times a week with a purpose-made shrimp pellet, blanched spinach or courgette, and occasional botanicals such as catappa or mulberry leaf. Offer only what the colony clears in a couple of hours and remove leftovers to protect water quality.

Breeding

Breeding needs little more than a stable, mature tank and a mixed group, as this species reproduces readily without intervention. Females carry 20-30 eggs fanned under the tail for around three to four weeks, then release fully formed miniatures that fend for themselves immediately. In a shrimp-only or gentle nano tank the colony will expand steadily on its own, so plentiful cover for the young is the only real requirement.

Delivery & Live Arrival Guarantee

Every Bloody Mary Shrimp is hand-selected and quarantined before sale, then packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed and sent by tracked, live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, so it reaches you safely anywhere in the UK.