It’s one of the most common questions we get: can you keep different coloured Neocaridina together? The short answer is yes, they live together perfectly happily. The longer answer is about what happens when they breed.
Yes, you can mix colours in one tank
All the colours we sell are the same species, Neocaridina davidi. They have the same needs, the same temperament and live together without any trouble. A mixed tank of reds, blues, yellows and greens – often called a “skittles” or rainbow tank – is one of the most cheerful things you can have in a room.
What happens when mixed colours breed
Because they are the same species, different colours will interbreed. The bright colours you buy are the result of years of selective breeding, and when colours mix, the babies tend to lose that colour. Over a few generations you’ll see more wild-type shrimp: brown, clear or patchy.
- First generation: a mix of colours, some duller than the parents.
- After a few generations: mostly brown, olive or clear, with the odd coloured shrimp.
They are still perfectly healthy shrimp, just not the colours you started with.
Which approach is right for you?
| If you want… | Do this |
|---|---|
| A bright, colourful display tank | Mix colours and enjoy it. Add a few new coloured shrimp now and then to keep it bright. |
| To breed and sell or trade shrimp | Keep one colour per tank and remove off-colour babies. |
| A bit of both | One mixed display tank plus one single-colour breeding tank. |
Can you mix Neocaridina with other shrimp?
- Caridina (Crystal Red, Taiwan Bee and similar): they don’t interbreed with Neocaridina, but they need softer water, so they rarely suit the same tank.
- Amano shrimp: fine together, and they won’t interbreed. Amano babies can’t survive in fresh water.
Our Rainbow Mix
If a skittles tank is what you are after, our Rainbow Mix pack puts six of our colours in one bag, so you get the look straight away without buying six separate packs. As with everything we sell, every order includes 20% extra shrimp to cover any losses in transit.
Prefer to pick your own colours? Browse them all on the Neocaridina shrimp page, or read our colour and grade guide to understand the difference between solid, rili and jelly types.
Frequently asked questions
Will mixed Neocaridina colours turn brown?
Their babies will, gradually, over several generations. The adults you buy keep their colour.
Do red and blue cherry shrimp breed together?
Yes. All Neocaridina colours are one species and will interbreed.
What is a skittles shrimp tank?
A tank with many Neocaridina colours mixed together. Our Rainbow Mix is made for it.
