Neocaridina shrimp are the colourful dwarf shrimp most UK keepers start with — the cherry shrimp family (Neocaridina davidi) and all its colour varieties, from solid Bloody Mary reds to deep Blue Dreams and pearl-white Snowballs. At Shrimp Hub we breed and import Neocaridina here in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, backed by over 22 years in the aquarium hobby.
Every batch is quarantined and checked by eye for colour and health before it’s listed, and every order includes 20% extra shrimp to cover any losses in transit — buy 10, receive 12. Orders placed before 12pm, Monday to Thursday, go out the same day by Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Shop Neocaridina shrimp by colour
All our Neocaridina are adults or near-adults at 1.5–2.0 cm, sold singly or in packs of 5, 10, 20 and 50.
Can’t choose? Try a skittle mix
Rainbow Mix Shrimp
Our skittle mix: six colours in one bag.
10 + 2 extra for £20 · packs of 10, 20 and 50
The Rainbow Mix is our skittle mix of Neocaridina shrimp: a hand-picked mix of six colours in one bag, with at least five colours guaranteed. It’s a bright, easy way to stock a first display tank.
Why Neocaridina are the best first shrimp
- Hardy and forgiving. They cope with a wide range of conditions, and most UK tap water is fine once it’s dechlorinated.
- They breed readily. Once settled, females carry eggs under their tails and the young hatch as tiny, fully formed shrimp — no special setup needed.
- They clean as they go. Neocaridina spend all day grazing algae and biofilm, so a planted tank with a mature filter feeds them most of what they need.
- Small bioload. A colony can live happily in a nano tank, as long as the tank is cycled and stable.
Neocaridina water parameters
Stable water matters more than hitting exact numbers. Aim for these ranges and avoid big, sudden changes:
| Parameter | Ideal range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 20–26°C |
| pH | 7.0–7.5 |
| GH (general hardness) | 8–10 |
| KH (carbonate hardness) | 4–6 |
| TDS | 250–300 ppm |
| Ammonia / nitrite | 0 ppm |
Shrimp are far more sensitive than fish to ammonia, nitrite and copper, so only add them to a fully cycled tank, check plant fertilisers are copper-free, and treat all new water with a dechlorinator. Our shrimp care checklist covers everything to do before your shrimp arrive, and our step-by-step guide on how to set up your first shrimp tank takes you from empty tank to settled colony.
Neocaridina colour types explained
All the colours we sell are the same species. What differs is how the colour is laid down on the body:
- Solid colours — Bloody Mary, Blue Dream, Green Jade, Black Rose, Yellow and Orange Sunkist. Colour covers the whole body, and higher grades show deeper, more even colour.
- Rili patterns — Red Rili, Blue Rili and Orange Rili. Coloured head and tail with a clear or pale band across the middle. A good Rili has a sharp, clean break between the two.
- Jelly and pearl types — Blue Jelly, Green Jelly and Snowball. A softer, semi-translucent look that seems to glow under good lighting.
Colour often looks paler for a few days after delivery while shrimp settle. Dark substrate, plenty of cover and stable water bring out their best colour.
Keeping colour lines pure
Different Neocaridina colours cross-breed with each other. In a mixed tank, the babies drift back towards brown or clear wild-type colours over a few generations. If you want to breed a colour line, keep one colour per tank. If you just want a colourful display, a mix like the Rainbow Mix is ideal.
How we pack and ship live shrimp
- Same-day dispatch for orders before 12pm, Monday to Thursday. We never ship on Fridays, so shrimp never sit in a depot over the weekend.
- Royal Mail Tracked 24, normally arriving the next working day.
- Insulated boxes with heat or cool packs depending on the weather. In a cold snap or heatwave we’ll hold your order and message you.
- 20% extra shrimp in every order as DOA cover. If more arrive dead than the extras, photograph the bag within 2 hours of delivery and we’ll replace or refund the difference. Full details are on our delivery page.
Neocaridina shrimp FAQ
How many Neocaridina shrimp should I start with?
Start with at least 10 of one colour. A group settles faster, shows more natural behaviour and gives you a good mix of males and females to start a colony.
What size tank do Neocaridina need?
They can live in a small, established nano tank, but a larger tank of 20 litres or more stays more stable and is much more forgiving for beginners.
How long do Neocaridina shrimp live?
Typically one to two years. A healthy colony keeps going for many years because new generations are born all the time.
What do Neocaridina shrimp eat?
Mostly algae and biofilm in the tank, topped up with a quality shrimp food a few times a week. Only feed what they can finish in about two hours.
Can Neocaridina live with fish?
Only with very small, peaceful fish. Most community fish will eat shrimp, especially babies. A shrimp-only tank, or one with otocinclus and nerite snails, is the safest choice.
Get restock alerts
Popular colours sell out fast. Join the list and we’ll email you when new batches land, plus the odd shrimp-keeping tip. No spam.
Still got a question? Read our questions and answers or get in touch — we’re always happy to help before you order.
