Neocaridina come in a huge range of colours, and the names can be confusing: rili, jelly, sakura, Bloody Mary, Blue Dream. This guide explains what each type means and how shrimp are graded, so you know exactly what you’re buying.
The three main colour patterns
Solid
Colour from head to tail with no clear patches. Our solid colours are Bloody Mary, Blue Dream, Black Rose, Green Jade, Orange Sunkist and Yellow.
Rili
Coloured head and tail with a clear or white section in the middle. The more even and sharply defined the pattern, the higher the grade. See our Red Rili, Blue Rili and Orange Rili.
Jelly
A translucent body with a soft tint of colour, giving a glassy look. Our Blue Jelly and Green Jelly are both jelly types. Snowball shrimp are a pearly white, named after their white eggs.
How red cherry shrimp are graded
Reds have the most established grading ladder, from palest to deepest:
| Grade | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Cherry | Pale to medium red, often with clear patches |
| Sakura | Stronger red with fewer clear patches |
| Fire red | Solid, even red over the whole body |
| Painted fire red / Bloody Mary | Deep red that runs through the shell, not just on the surface |
Other colours are graded the same way: the more solid, even and deep the colour, the higher the grade.
How we grade at Shrimp Hub
Every batch is checked by eye before it is listed. We look for even colour, good size (1.5–2.0 cm), clean shape and active, healthy behaviour. Shrimp that don’t meet the standard for their colour aren’t sold as that colour.
Males, females and colour
Females are usually more colourful than males, especially in reds, and they are bigger with a curved underside. Males are smaller, slimmer and often paler. That’s normal, and a mixed group is what you want for breeding – see our breeding guide.
Why colour can fade
- Stress after a move – it returns within a week or two.
- Just before a moult.
- A pale background or substrate. Shrimp colour up more on dark substrate.
- Breeding with other colours – read our guide to mixing colours.
Frequently asked questions
What does rili mean in shrimp?
A rili shrimp has colour on the head and tail with a clear section in the middle of the body.
Is Bloody Mary a Neocaridina?
Yes. Bloody Mary is a high-grade red Neocaridina davidi.
Are female cherry shrimp more colourful?
Usually, yes. Females are larger and tend to have stronger colour than males.
