If you’re diving into the worlds of fish keeping and creating your nano aquarium tank, freshwater shrimp are the lovely invertebrates you won’t bypass. Among freshwater shrimps, Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp are popular among beginners due to their easy-care and vibrant appearance. Let’s look at how different these two species are and some tips to keep them thriving.
Origin
Neocaridina shrimps can be found mostly in freshwater environments in Asia, especially in China, Taiwan, and parts of Japan. They are also bred mostly in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. While Caridina shrimps have a wider range of habitats in tropical or subtropical water in Asia, especially in rivers and streams that are fairly soft, acidic, and cool. In spite of their origin mostly in Asia, these species of freshwater shrimps are now bred and can be found wider in over the world. At the Splashy Fish store, we provide high-quality freshwater shrimp with various types of Neocaridina and Caridia shrimps at an affordable price and the best customer service.
How to Identify Caridina and Neocaridia Shrimp by The Shrimp Colors
The first difference between these two freshwater shrimp that can be easily seen is the shrimp colors. Caridina shrimp is popular with the special patterns and combinations of colors that come from the cross-breeding of species. For example, the eye-catching Blue Bolt Caridina Shrimp with white and black colors is believed the result of cross-breeding among bee shrimp, Crystal Black Shrimp, Crystal Red Shrimp, and Snow Whites. On the other hand, Neocaridina shrimps are well-known for their diversified solid colors from red, orange, and yellow to black and blue such as Orange Sunkist Shrimp, Yellow Goldenback Shrimp. The thing that makes Neocaridina shrimp special is the translucent body which helps them stand out from other freshwater shrimps and be attractive in your aquarium.
Neocaridia shrimps have attractive solid translucent colors.
How to Set Up a Full Requirements Tank for Shrimp
Setting up a tank for shrimp is the first step to giving your beloved shrimp a better place to live and grow up. Both Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp are freshwater shrimp so they share the same requirements for shrimp tank set up. To set up a tank for shrimp, there is some required equipment we recommend for a better shrimp tank.
1. Aquarium Tank
The very first thing you need to have is an aquarium tank. There are various types of shrimp tanks but the one we recommend is the Rimless tank which has a sleek and minimalist design suiting any home office decoration. Furthermore, with the low iron and good insulation, this will offer an unobstructed view of fish and decorations to ensure a better moment of enjoying your aquarium.
2. Filter
Aquarium Filters are essential for maintaining a clean and healthy environment in your fish tank. They remove harmful waste products, such as ammonia and nitrites, while also providing beneficial bacteria with a place to grow. You can also use Fritz Turbo Start 7 or Fritz Fishless Fuel to remove these harmful chemical. Use a sponge filter for your shrimp tank to avoid tiny little shrimp stuck into the filter. Their gentle filtration and biological benefits make them an excellent choice for a wide range of aquariums.
3. Air pumps
An air pump in a freshwater shrimp setup is a crucial component for maintaining a healthy and thriving freshwater shrimp aquarium. These are some reasons why you should have air pumps for a shrimp tank:
Oxygenation: It increases dissolved oxygen levels in the water, essential for shrimp respiration and overall health.
Circulation: It creates water movement, preventing stagnant areas and ensuring the even distribution of oxygen and nutrients.
Filtration: It powers sponge filters or other air-driven filtration devices, helping to remove waste and maintain water quality.
Aeration: It helps to release excess carbon dioxide and other harmful gases from the water.
4. Aquarium Lights
Aquarium lights are not essential for shrimp tanks as shrimp do not require light to thrive. However, aquarium lights can enhance the aesthetics of your shrimp tank, making the colors of your shrimp and plants more vibrant. If you have live plants in your shrimp tank, some lighting is necessary for their growth. Consider the needs of your specific shrimp and plants when choosing the type and duration of lighting for your tank.
5. Aquarium Soil
Aquarium soil is a beneficial addition to shrimp tanks, especially if you're keeping planted tanks. It provides essential nutrients for plant growth, helps maintain stable water parameters, and creates a natural-looking environment for your shrimp. Additionally, some aquarium soils have buffering properties, which can help to maintain a slightly acidic pH level that many shrimp species prefer. The Oase Scaperline Soil, UNS Controsoil can be the best choice for a shrimp tank.
6. Shrimp Salt
Shrimp salt, also known as remineralizer or GH booster, is a beneficial supplement for shrimp tanks as it replenishes essential minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and trace elements. Using shrimp salt is particularly important in soft water setups where these essential minerals might be lacking. Regular use of shrimp salt can help prevent molting issues, improve shrimp coloration, and enhance overall well-being
7. GH/KH Test Kits
GH/KH test kits are essential tools for maintaining a healthy shrimp tank. They measure the General Hardness (GH) and Carbonate Hardness (KH) of water in the aquarium. GH refers to the concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are vital for shrimp molting and exoskeleton development. KH, on the other hand, indicates the water's buffering capacity or its ability to resist pH fluctuations. Stable pH levels are crucial for shrimp survival and breeding. Using GH/KH test kits allows you to monitor these parameters regularly and make necessary adjustments to ensure optimal conditions for your shrimp. Therefore, investing in a reliable GH/KH test kit is a wise decision for any shrimp keeper.
8. TDS Pens
TDS pens (Total Dissolved Solids) are handy tools for shrimp tank maintenance, providing a quick and easy way to measure the overall concentration of dissolved substances in your water. While not as specific as individual tests for GH or KH, TDS readings give you a general idea of water quality and stability. This helps monitor water changes, detect potential issues in water, track remineralization, and acclimate new shrimp. Combining TDS readings with other water tests ensures the water quality of your shrimp tank.
9. Aquarium Lid/Cover
Finally, using aquariums lids is also beneficial. It prevents the shrimp from jumping out, reduces water evaporation, controls humidity in the tank, and blocks out external contaminants that potentially harm your shrimp. However, if your shrimp doesn’t jump and your tank isn’t prone to excessive evaporation, a lid might not be essential. Just do what you think is best for your shrimp tank.
Popular Species of Caridina and Neocaridina Shrimp
Caridina shrimps provide enthusiasts with a wide variety of choices with their striking appearance, special patterns, and wide range of colors from red, black, and blue and some even have metallic colors, too. Some popular species of Caridina are Crystal Red Shrimp, Crystal Black Shrimp, Blue Bolt Caridina Shrimp (Caridina cf cantonensis var. 'Blue bolt'), Pure Red Line Caridina Shrimp (PRL Shrimp) etc.
Blue Bolt Caridina Shrimp is one of the most popular Caridina shirmps.
Neocaridina shrimps, such as Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var. red) and Blue Dream Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var. Blue) are also popular with their vibrant solid colors such as Red, Blue, Orange Sunkist Shrimp, Yellow Golden Back Shrimp, etc. They are the perfect choice for beginners due to their adaptability and colorful appearance.
Caring for Caridina vs Neocaridina Shrimp
Are Caridina shrimp hard to keep?
This is the most common question we receive. The answer is no, they are not difficult to keep as long as you maintain the correct water parameters. Using RO/DI water and shrimp salt can help you achieve and maintain the ideal water conditions we recommend below.
|
Parameter |
Caridina |
Neocaridina |
|
TDS |
80 - 150 ppm |
80 - 200 ppm |
|
gH |
3-6 dGH |
4 - 14 dGH |
|
kH |
0-1 dKH |
0 – 10 dKH |
|
pH |
6.0 – 6.8 |
6.4 – 8.0 |
|
Temperature |
below 74°F (~ 23°C) |
65° - 80°F (~ 18.3° - 26.6°C) |
|
Water change |
10% to 25% a week |
20% per 7-10 days |
Overall, Neocaridina shrimp have a wider range of acceptable water parameters than Caridina shrimp. So, we recommend using the condition of shrimp Caridina due to its more pickiness than shrimp Neocaridina if you’re growing them in the same aquarium.
What do Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp eat?
Caridina shrimp are not picky eaters and they will accept most of the food you provide. However, the nutrients affect the appearance of this freshwater shrimp so providing them with high quality food is very crucial. We recommend feeding your Caridina shrimps with sinking shrimp pellets, or small frozen foods such as mini bloodworm, baby brine shrimp, etc.
Neocaridina shrimps don’t require much in their diet either. Balancing their diet between vegetables such as spinach, cucumber, watermelon, and squash and other shrimp food and fish food. You can also easily balance their diet by using instant shrimp food such as Kats Aquatics and Shrimp Envy. These brands offer a variety of formulations with different nutrient ratios, allowing you to tailor their diet to your shrimp's specific needs. Packed with organic ingredients, these shrimp foods provide a comprehensive blend of nutrients essential for promoting optimal health and vibrant coloration in your freshwater shrimp.
How Caridina and Neocaridina breed?
Both Caridina and Neocaridina shrimps give birth to live young. The female shrimp will carry the eggs for around 30 days until they hatch into tiny shrimp. In this stage, provide the female shrimp with high protein diets such as frozen bloodworms and shrimp vitamins to ensure the baby to higher bloodline. It’s better to keep them in a separate tank to avoid them from eating up by other fish.
What are the best tankmates for Caridina and Neocaridina Shrimp?
Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp are generally peaceful and can coexist with nano fish, non-aggressive fish species that won't prey on them or compete for food. It's essential to provide hiding places and ensure the tank environment meets the needs of both shrimp and fish species. Here are some types of fish you can place in the aquarium with freshwater shrimp.
Ember Tetra
Ember tetras, with their vibrant red hues and peaceful demeanor, are ideal companions for freshwater shrimp. These tiny, non-aggressive tetra fish primarily occupy the mid-level of the tank, leaving shrimp undisturbed at the bottom. As omnivores, Ember tetras won't harm shrimp and can even help control algae in the tank. Their adaptability and compatibility make them an excellent choice for a thriving shrimp community.
Celestial Pearl Danios or Galaxy Rasbora (Danio margaritatus)
Celestial Pearl Danios are beautiful, peaceful nano fish that make excellent tank mates for adult freshwater shrimp. These active, playful fish add a vibrant splash of color to any aquarium. While they may snack on shrimp fry, providing ample hiding places ensures the safety of your shrimp population.
Chilli Rasbora (Boraras brigittae)
Chilli Rasboras (Boraras brigittae), also known as Mosquito Rasboras, are tiny, vibrant red fish native to Southeast Asia. Their peaceful nature and small size make them ideal tank mates for freshwater shrimp. They primarily inhabit the upper levels of the tank, rarely disturbing shrimp at the bottom. Their diet consists mainly of microorganisms and algae, posing no threat to adult shrimp.
Exclamation Point Rasbora (Boraras urophthalmoides)
Exclamation Point Rasboras (Boraras urophthalmoides) are tiny, peaceful fish known for their distinctive black spot at the base of their tails. Their small size and gentle nature make them ideal tank mates for adult freshwater shrimp. Primarily inhabiting the upper levels of the tank, they rarely disturb shrimp at the bottom. Their diet consists mainly of microorganisms and algae, posing no threat to adult shrimp.
The Strawberry rasbora (Boraras naevus)
The Strawberry Rasbora (Boraras naevus), with its striking red hue, is a peaceful and diminutive fish that coexists harmoniously with adult freshwater shrimp. Preferring the upper tank levels, it leaves the shrimp to their own devices at the bottom. While their diet mainly comprises microorganisms and algae, posing no threat to adult shrimp, they may see shrimp fry as a tasty snack. Provide ample hiding spots for baby shrimp if you intend to breed them.
The dwarf rasbora (Boraras maculatus)
The Dwarf Rasbora (Boraras maculatus), a miniature marvel of the fish world, is a perfect cohabitant for freshwater shrimp. Their shy nature and preference for the upper water layers ensure the shrimp remain undisturbed in their lower domain. These tiny fish primarily feed on microorganisms and algae, posing no threat to adult shrimp. However, as with other Rasboras, caution is advised if you're breeding shrimp, as the Dwarf Rasbora might view the fry as a tasty snack. Providing adequate hiding spots for baby shrimp is essential in such cases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these two species of shrimps have specific care requirements like water parameters and diet/feeding but still also can be mixed in the same aquarium. The key is providing them with the best living conditions. Whether you choose the delicate elegance of Caridina or the vibrant resilience of Neocaridina, both species offer endless fascination and joy to shrimp enthusiasts worldwide. At Splashy Fish Store, we supply a wide range of Freshwater Shrimp for sale which come from reliable sources. We further guarantee that all of our Freshwater Shrimp fish will go through the quarantine process for a period of 14-day before sale. We care about the quality and strive to provide you the best we can. Visit our fish store online or our aquarium in washington dc area to find what surprise is waiting for you.
FAQs:
Can Caridina and Neocaridina Shrimp be kept in the same tank?
The answer is yes, as long as you give them the best and suit living conditions. We recommended keeping the water parameters close to Caridina shrimp requirements as they are the most picky shrimp. Besides that, they can share the same diet so it’s possible to mix them in your aquarium.
Can Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp breed?
No, Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp come from different genera and have different structures in their bodies like the shape and size of the reproductive appendage so interbreeding them is impossible.
Will betta fighting fish eat freshwater shrimp?
Yes, bettas may eat Neocaridina shrimp. However, it depends on the temperament of the individual betta. Some bettas are more aggressive than others and may be more likely to eat shrimp. To minimize the risk of your betta eating your shrimp, it is advisable to keep them in a heavily planted tank. This will provide the shrimp with hiding places and make it more difficult for the betta to catch them. Additionally, introducing freshwater shrimp to the tank before the betta may also help, as the betta will be less likely to see the shrimp as food if they are already familiar with them.
