Keeping wild type neocaridina is one of the most popular ways to keep shrimp in your home. They are easy to care for and are a great addition to your aquarium. They are easy to breed and make good pets, but you should be prepared to invest some time in your shrimp's care.
Blue dreams
Among the many varieties of dwarf shrimp, the Neocaridina and Caridina are categorized. The Caridinas are distinguished by solid stripes and opaque white patterns. They are also known as Mischling shrimp.
The blue dream shrimp is a neocaridina davidi variety. This shrimp is known for its bright blue color. The coloration can vary from a light, splotchy blue to a deep, opaque blue.
dark royal blue shrimp
A good place to look for these shrimp is in your local pet store. You will also find them in aquarium retailers. They are relatively easy to keep. However, they do require some care.
For starters, you should fill your aquarium with dechlorinated water and then fill it with two to three inches of substrate. Next, you should fill your aquarium with plants. Afterwards, you can add eggshells for calcium.
Red cherry shrimp
Originally described as Neocaridina heteropoda, the Red Cherry wild type neocaridina shrimp is a relatively new addition to the aquarium hobby. It has been bred in selective fashion from the wild Neocaridina davidi, which is also known as the red cherry shrimp. It was first introduced to the freshwater aquarium trade in Asia in the 1990s, and is now popular in the US.
red cherry shrimp
These colorful, omnivorous shrimp are a great addition to an aquarium community populated by small, colorful fish. They graze on algae without harming the aquarium plants. The coloration can vary from greenish brown to brick red.
These shrimp are fairly easy to keep. They like a variety of water chemistry changes, including high pH and low temperatures. They also love food plants and hiding spots.
Man-made variants
Previously known as Neocaridina heteropoda, the red cherry shrimp is native to southern China. It is now widely popular among aquarists. It feeds on the leaf litter of rivers and prefers alder, goat willow and other vegetation. It is considered an exotic species.
In Taiwan, Neocaridina species colonized the region from four different colonization events. Among them, Neocaridina saccam colonized Taiwan before other species. The study showed that Neocaridina saccam possessed two distinct lineages. The ancestral populations of Neocaridina saccam are found in the south and the north of Formosa Bank. They can be isolated easily. The distributions of shared haplotypes showed high population differentiation.
Several studies have investigated Neocaridina species in East Asia. They found that the species showed similar morphologic characteristics and have similar identification keys. However, they have different systematic statuses and distributions. They also showed weak migrating potential. The study provided information about Neocaridina phylogeography and history in East Asia. However, more sampling and more genetic characters are needed in the future.
Acclimating them to tap water
Luckily, Neocaridina shrimp are native to aquatic environments, meaning they can easily adapt to tap water. This makes them a popular choice for the beginner fishkeeper. However, they do require a bit of target feeding and the proper equipment.
Using the right type of shrimp pellets is essential. For instance, a high quality shrimp pellet will not only provide the proper nutrition but will also help prevent parasites from taking hold. Using a dechlorinator and/or detoxifier may be required for certain situations.
Another way to acclimate your Neocaridina to tap water is to add a water cooler to your aquarium. This will ensure that the temperature stays a constant temperature and will also allow you to do water changes more frequently. The best temperature to keep your shrimp at is around 25 degrees.
Breeding them
Keeping Neocaridina shrimp is a popular hobby among beginners. These shrimp are small and easy to keep. Neocaridina shrimp can be found in various colors and patterns. They are omnivorous and feed on a variety of organisms, including nematodes, rotifers, and ciliates. They also eat biofilm, and are active scavengers. They are also highly beneficial to the ecosystem, as they recycle nutrients through decaying vegetation.
Neocaridina shrimp are usually caught in slow-moving, shallow streams. They are also found in thermally polluted rivers in Germany and Poland. The TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of the water in these regions ranges from 300-400 ppm. They do best in pH of 6.5-8.0. Water temperatures should be at least 21-26degC.
Neocaridina shrimp can be kept in species tanks or in nano aquariums. They are highly active scavengers and should be kept in a habitat that provides ample hiding places. They are also tolerant of low temperature, and will survive temperatures as low as 18degC.
