Type — Arthropoda.
Subtype — Crustacea.
Class — Malacostraca.
Order — Decapoda.
Superfamily — Atyoidea
Family — Atyidae.
Genus Neocaridina — Neocaridina.
Neocaridina heteropoda [Liang, 2002] (formerly Neocaridina denticulata sinensis) has been renamed Neocaridina davidi [Bouvier, 1904]. This also includes all color morphs such as Red Fire, Yellow, Orange, Schoko, Sakura, and others. Source: Werner Klotz and Andreas Karge, Freshwater Shrimps from all over the World, 3rd edition, Dahne, ISBN 978-3935175-90-6. Previously described as “Davidi” in 1904, and in accordance with the rules of zoological nomenclature, the valid name is the first species name.
Wild Neocaridina shrimps are mainly distributed in Southeast Asian countries, living in rivers and bodies of water typically rich in plants, submerged wood, and rocky bottoms. This species is the ancestor of the well-known Cherry and Yellow shrimps. It features a camouflage coloration that undoubtedly helps it remain unnoticed in its natural habitat. Neocaridina are generally best kept in aquariums with established biological balance, plenty of hiding places, and mosses. The setup should include pieces of wood and stones.
Plants and decor elements provide them with shelters, while bacteria and other tiny organisms, including algae, live on their surfaces and serve as food. They should be purchased in groups of at least six individuals; in smaller numbers, they may become secretive. A larger group also increases the gene pool. Neocaridina rarely live longer than 12-18 months, so if you buy an adult shrimp, it may already be old.
There are many color morphs – red, orange, blue, brown, and even dark blue or black specimens can be found. In addition, representatives of this species, like many others, are capable of rapidly changing their coloration. Perhaps the most commonly kept aquarium species is Red Fire, also known as the invasive shrimp, because once introduced, it does not leave the water body, spreading rapidly and displacing native species.
Shrimps can be kept in very small aquariums if there is plenty of moss and adequate filtration. However, they reproduce very quickly, so using a larger aquarium is recommended; a larger water volume provides a greater “safe” zone, especially regarding temperature control and water quality. Sudden changes in temperature or water quality are often fatal factors, and smaller bodies of water are much more prone to sudden fluctuations.
Any dwarf shrimp requires high water quality. Even tiny traces of ammonia are fatal, and these creatures are intolerant of nitrites. Minor amounts of copper are also lethal. Medications containing copper must not be used. All purchased plants must always be thoroughly rinsed to remove any traces of medications and fertilizers. Most Neocaridina species thrive in medium to hard water with a pH of 6.5-8.0. If your water is soft, calcium supplements should be added to help the shrimp during molting. The best temperature is 21-26°C, although most can tolerate from 18°C to 28°C.
Shrimps of this species are undemanding regarding substrate, which can range from regular gravel to nutrient-rich substrate. A dark substrate covered with brown Indian almond leaves is preferred. Try keeping your dwarf shrimps only with snails and other shrimps. This way, you will see more shrimp and more of their natural behavior. However, if you want to introduce fish, choose very small ones so the shrimp do not become food. They eat almost everything, from blanched spinach and zucchini to algae wafers, shrimp pellets, fish flakes, bloodworms, etc. Using foods rich in astaxanthin helps significantly enhance color intensity.
Sexing presents no difficulties. Females are clearly distinguishable as they are larger than males, have a much darker coloration, and a curved abdomen. In addition, females can be observed with saddles and even eggs. They are very prolific (a female carries 20-50 eggs at a time) and breed readily almost year-round. However, this requires clean water with proper parameters. The eggs are green. When eggs appear in the saddle, it also turns green, which is a sure sign of approaching hatching of the young.
Usually, it takes 30 to 45 days from fertilization to the appearance of offspring. Another sign of impending hatching is the appearance of a new saddle in the still egg-carrying female, indicating that the shrimp is ready to carry another batch of eggs. The denser the planting in the aquarium, the more offspring you can expect from the shrimp.
A downside of this genus is the rather high variability in coloration. However, breeders have turned this downside into an advantage by developing a decent number of colorful variations. Hobbyists, on the other hand, have to constantly cull, leaving only the most brightly colored individuals for breeding. Consequently, you should not keep different species of this genus in the same aquarium, at least not of opposite sexes. Crossbreeding usually results in transparent or poorly colored shrimps. This problem can only be avoided by keeping single-sex shrimps, for example, in a decorative display tank. The breeding stock to replenish each species must be kept separately.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) var. “Green” – Body is green-brown. Saddle with dark green eggs. The variety is not widely distributed.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) var. “Black Fire” – Its body is very dark brown, almost black. A breeder in Spain created “Black Zebra”, which has short light stripes on the back. The variety is not widely distributed.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) “Black Sakura” – Black Sakura. Females have a beautiful, intense dark brown, almost black color. Some of them become as black as Black Tigers.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) “Bloody Mary Shrimp” – Bloody Mary. It differs from the Fire Red shrimp not by its outer red shell, but by having the red color inside its body. The outer layer of the shrimp is transparent and has a sheen and shimmer similar to Taiwan Bee shrimp.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) “Choco, Schoko” – Chocolate shrimp. Body coloration is stable, with a very nice dark brown color with a strong sheen, sometimes partially transparent.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) “Purple Velvet” – Only the rostra are red, the rest of the body is purple-violet.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) “Purple Fire” – Shrimps are entirely purple. However, offspring may also include “Purple Velvet”. It is a variant of “Purple Velvet”.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) “Full White Eyed” – “Red Fire” and “Orange Fire” shrimps with white eyes.
— Neocaridina davidi (heteropoda) [Bouvier, 1904] “Wild”. “Wild shrimp”. Synonym: Neocaridina heteropoda, Neocaridina denticulata sinensis. China, Taiwan, Korea, up to 2.5 cm. Wild-type Neocaridina. Body is elongated, translucent with camouflage coloration. Greenish-brown shades predominate, but some specimens have reddish or yellowish tones in their pigmentation. Color is very variable; females are larger and have a clear stripe on the back. Usually green or brown (sometimes even bluish), with various dark spots and a few cream dots on the back.
Females are larger and more brightly colored than males. Extremely prolific. Females carry green eggs during pregnancy. The saddle will also be green, and its appearance is a good sign that spawning will soon take place. This species was used to develop the red and yellow shrimp morphs (“Red Cherry” and “Yellow shrimp”). Over many generations, individuals with specific color traits were selectively crossbred repeatedly. It was from the wild form that they were selectively bred to achieve solid red and yellow coloration.
A fairly wide range of water parameters is acceptable for maintenance. As with the cherry shrimp, both soft and hard water will do. Absolutely undemanding in diet, they eat almost anything. They reach sexual maturity at 3-4 months, when females begin to develop eggs.
Very prolific and readily breeds almost year-round. However, this requires clean water with proper parameters. The eggs are green. When eggs appear in the saddle, it also turns green, which is a sure sign of approaching hatching of the young. Usually, it takes 30 to 45 days from fertilization to the appearance of offspring. They live up to 1.5 years. T 18-28°C; KH 3-15°; pH 6.5-8.0.
Neocaridina heteropoda var. red, Cherry, Red Cherry shrimp.
Caridina striata, Caridina tenuirostris, Caridina woltereckae. 
