One of the best things about Neocaridina is how easily they breed. Give a group good conditions and you’ll soon see tiny shrimp appearing on the moss. This is how it works, and how to help it along.
Telling males from females
- Females are larger, with a deeper, curved underside and usually stronger colour.
- Males are smaller, slimmer and straighter, and often paler.
- A saddle is a yellow or green patch behind a female’s head. These are eggs developing in her ovaries, and a sign she is ready to breed.
Start with a group of 10 or more and you will almost certainly have both.
The breeding cycle
- A saddled female moults and releases a scent into the water.
- Males search the tank frantically. This “mating dance” is normal.
- Within a day the female moves the eggs under her tail. She is now berried.
- She carries 20–30 eggs for about 3–4 weeks, fanning them to keep them clean.
- The eggs hatch as tiny, fully formed shrimp, about 1 mm long.
- Babies reach breeding age in around 3–4 months.
How to encourage breeding
- Stable water in the right range – see our water parameters guide.
- Temperature around 22–24°C. Breeding slows in cold water.
- Plenty of moss and plants for babies to hide and graze in.
- A shrimp-safe sponge filter so babies can’t be sucked into the filter.
- No fish, or only the tiniest peaceful ones. Fish eat baby shrimp.
- Varied, light feeding – a good shrimp food, blanched vegetables and natural biofilm.
Why berried females drop their eggs
Young females sometimes drop their first clutch, and stress can cause it too. Common causes are a big water change, a sudden temperature shift, or being moved soon after becoming berried. Keep things steady and the next clutch usually goes to term.
Keeping a colour line strong
If you keep one colour per tank and remove the palest babies as they grow, the colony keeps its colour over time. Mixing colours leads to duller babies – our guide to mixing colours explains why. Learn what to look for in our colour and grade guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long are cherry shrimp pregnant?
Females carry their eggs for around 3 to 4 weeks before they hatch.
How many babies do cherry shrimp have?
Usually 20 to 30 per clutch, and a healthy female can breed every month or so.
Do I need a separate tank for baby shrimp?
No. Adults don’t eat their young. Just keep fish out and give them plenty of moss.
