Cherry Shrimp

About

Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are small freshwater invertebrates originally from southern Asia that have become a staple of the planted tank world. Selectively bred from wild populations, they now come in an impressive range of color grades, from pale pinkish specimens to deep, solid reds, with higher-grade individuals showing more intense, opaque coloration across the entire body. In the aquarium they spend most of their time grazing across plant leaves, substrate, and hardscape, picking at biofilm and algae, which makes them genuinely useful tank inhabitants rather than just decorative ones. They are social and do best in groups, becoming noticeably more active and visible when kept in numbers. About once a month, each shrimp goes through a molt, shedding its old shell to allow a larger one to form. During this vulnerable window they'll tuck themselves away until the new shell hardens, so plenty of cover and hiding spots matter. One thing many keepers overlook: leave the empty shells in the tank. The shrimp return to eat them, reclaiming calcium and other minerals. Cherry shrimp can breed readily in a well-established aquarium, and a healthy colony will sustain itself and grow without much intervention from the keeper.