Blue Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Overview

The Blue Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) is a vivid, sky-to-sapphire blue selective line of the ever-popular cherry shrimp — hardy, peaceful and endlessly busy. A tireless little algae-grazer that adds a jewel-like flash of colour to any planted or nano aquarium, it is beginner-friendly, breeds readily, and quickly forms a self-sustaining colony in a mature tank.

Appearance & Identification

Reaching around 3cm, females are the larger, more intensely coloured sex, glowing a deep, even blue, while males are smaller and slightly paler. Colour is strongest in a settled colony over a dark substrate. As with all shrimp, it moults as it grows, briefly hiding until its new shell hardens.

Aquarium Setup

A mature, fully cycled aquarium from 20 litres upward is ideal, with dense planting, moss and biofilm-covered surfaces to graze. It tolerates a wide range (18–28°C, pH 6.5–8.0) but dislikes sudden change, so stable water matters most. Crucially, never use copper-based medications, which are lethal to invertebrates.

Temperament & Tank Mates

Completely peaceful, the Blue Cherry Shrimp spends its day grazing biofilm and algae and ignores everything else. It is safe with small, calm community fish, snails and other Neocaridina of the same colour, though almost any fish will eat the tiny fry. For a booming colony, a shrimp-only or nano tank is best.

Feeding

In a mature tank it largely feeds itself on algae and biofilm. Supplement lightly with quality shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables such as courgette and spinach, and leaf litter or botanicals. Feed small amounts a few times a week and remove leftovers, as overfeeding is a common cause of colony problems.

Breeding

Blue Cherry Shrimp breed prolifically in stable, mature water — berried females carry a clutch of eggs under the tail until miniature copies of the adults hatch, needing no special care. Keep the colony to a single colour, as mixing Neocaridina colours quickly reverts the offspring to wild brown.

Delivery & Live Arrival Guarantee

Every Blue Cherry 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.