Tank Size
10-gallon is the practical minimum for a colony. 5-gallon works for a small starter group.
Long, low tanks (20-gallon long) provide better surface area for grazing.
Water Parameters
Neocaridina (cherry, blue, yellow): pH 6.5–8.0, GH 6–12, KH 2–6, temp 65–80°F. Very tolerant.
Caridina (crystal red, taiwan bee): pH 5.5–6.5, GH 3–6, KH 0–2, temp 68–76°F. Demanding.
For beginners: stick to Neocaridina.
Substrate
For Neocaridina: any substrate works. Sand, gravel, or aqua soil.
For Caridina: aqua soil (ADA Amazonia) is mandatory to maintain low pH.
Plants
Java moss, Christmas moss, Bucephalandra, anubias, and floating plants like Salvinia and frogbit.
Mosses provide grazing surface, hiding spots for shrimplets, and biofilm production.
Filtration
Sponge filter only. Hang-on-back and canister filters can suck up shrimplets.
Cycle the tank for 6–8 weeks before adding shrimp. Shrimp are extremely sensitive to ammonia and nitrite.
Feeding
Shrimp graze on biofilm constantly. Supplemental feeding 2–3 times per week is enough.
Foods: blanched zucchini, blanched spinach, Bacter AE, Hikari Crab Cuisine pellets, mineral blocks.
Overfeeding causes ammonia spikes and shrimp die-offs.
Breeding
Females develop a yellow "saddle" on their back (eggs forming). After mating, they carry 20–40 eggs under their tail for 3–4 weeks.
Shrimplets emerge as miniature adults. Survival rate in a planted tank with no fish: 80–90%.
Color Varieties
Cherry red, sakura red, fire red, painted fire red — all Neocaridina.
Blue diamond, blue dream, blue velvet — Neocaridina.
Yellow neon, yellow goldenback, golden bee — Neocaridina.
Black rose, chocolate, snowball — Neocaridina.
Mixing colors causes offspring to revert to wild brown over generations.