30.01.2008

Neocaridina heteropoda var. 'Red' - Red Cherry Shrimp

(formerly Neocaridina denticulata sinensis var. 'Red')

Description

This freshwater shrimp is probably one of the most popular dwarf shrimp.

This is a red color version of the well-known algae eating shrimp Neocaridina heteropoda (formerly Neocaridina denticulata sinensis) from Taiwan.

The males reach a length of 2 cm. The females are slightly larger at 2.5 cm and are usually more colorfull. In females, the red color is two-dimensional, by the males there are more red lines but that look also very attractive.

Intense colored animals need not to hide from Crystal Red Bee (Caridina cf. cantonensis).

Keeping

The Red Cherry Shrimp are very social animals. They're already satisfied with small basins of 10 L capacity. They are tolerant to many water conditions and temperatures. The shrimps feel good in hard as in soft water with temperatures between 5-30°C.

The optimum for Cherry Shrimps is at 20-25 °C and medium hard water. Despite their durability you should keep an eye on water quality. A weekly water change and the use of an air-driven mat filter keeps the water parameters stable.

I would recommend sandy soil, a small air-driven mat filter and delicate aquatic plants, such as Java Moss, Riccia, and especially the Dwarf Baby Tears - Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'. Straight to the Dwarf Baby Tears the flashy red of the dwarf shrimp is a nice contrast.

Feeding

The Cherry Shrimp are omnivores. They should be feeded as varied as possible. Regular fish food, frozen food, algae, cooked vegetables, pellets and also leaves from beech or oak may be served.

Selfmade Pellets

The shrimp love homemade food sticks from pease pudding, Spirulina, Cyclop-Eeze, decapsulates Brine Shrimp and fine ground flake food. The ingredients are simply mixed and pressed either through a rough syringe or can be dispersed onto baking paper and dried. The dried sticks are durable for a few weeks, but should preferably shut away in tightly closed containers.

Vermehrung / Zucht

The Red Cherry Shrimp belong to the specialized reproduction type. They lay directly finished little shrimp and do not need larval stages or keeping in salt or brackish water. The females bear dependent of their size between 20 to 40 large eggs with about 1 mm. The eggs of the Cherry Shrimp are bright yellow in color and develop from a yellow neck spot of the females. The small shrimp hatch at 25 ° C, after about 4 being then have about 2 mm in size. The parents are not after their fry and the small shrimp don't need to be fed separately, because they find enough food in an established aquarium like algae and duff. After 3 months, the young shrimp are sexually mature.

Co-housing

The Red Cherry Shrimp may well be associated with peaceful, small fish. Anyway the shrimp will usually breed in a densely planted aquarium with many hiding places. A co-housing with cichlids or other larger fish should be avoided if the shrimp should not end up as expensive live food.

A co-housing with other dwarf shrimp is easily possible. The Cherry Shrimp crossbreed only with the algae shrimp (Neocaridina heteropoda) and a yellow mutation (Neocaridina heteropoda var) yellow. A crossbreeding is also reported with the white pearl shrimp ( Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis).

Even at the keeping of several other shrimp species (especially bees, bumblebee, and tiger shrimp) crossbreeding should be avoided.

Color Improvement

The red color of each cherry shrimp individual often varies widely, so it is probably the most promising approach to enhance the color by the rigorous selection of the best colored shrimp. That is, however, a high workload at this very reproductive shrimp species.

The approach to improve the coloration with the support of color food is controverically discussed. The ingredients of the above mentioned sticks, especially the spirulina algae and Cyclop-Eeze, contain a very high Carotenoid and Astaxanthene content. If food has an influence on the color, then it would be expected here.

I am particularly noticed that shrimp, which grow up in an aquarium with fish, even show a fiery red color as mini shrimp. Shrimp that are maintained alone are colored much later, and even do not reach the desired color intensity. One might assume that the shrimp develop a protective mimicry in the presence of enemies. Due to the mutation the color turn out a bit gaudy painted (-:

At a very dense vegetation the shrimp reproduce also in a tank with rowdy barbels (Puntius conchonius, Puntius nigrofasciatus and Puntius tetrazona). However they are then only been seen while scooping.

I can strongly recommend the keeping of the Red Cherry Shrimp.

© Andreas Jäger