
The high grade is very red, and the low grade is not as red. To simplify things and make it easier on you to select the shrimp you want, we split them into two categories: high grade or low grade. Normally, the female cherry shrimp (identified by her thick rounded tail and "saddle" back) will be brighter in color than male cherry shrimp.īlue cherry shrimp AKA blue velvet shrimp The painted color scheme is a shiny, nail polish red, while the other colors are a deeper, brighter red. When looking to purchase one, you’ll come across several names for them depending on their color: Sakura, Fire Taiwan, Painted Fire Red, blue ones, and even yellow ones. It’s really what makes these a striking addition to your tank. When it comes to cherry shrimp, you want the most beautiful deep red color. When it comes to fish they’re best with more docile species.īettas are notorious for going after shrimp. Cholla wood and moss make great hiding spots. However, when provided with enough hiding spaces shrimp can co-exist with larger fish, but there will always be a risk.

If you want to ensure they won't get eaten make sure you don’t have anything in the tank that’ll go after them. Our rule of thumb is if it can fit in its mouth then it's a predator. Shrimp are, well, shrimp! So, they’ll be preyed upon by other fish. This can be done by adding small amounts of crushed coral to the substrate or filter. Since they’re continuously molting and shedding their exoskeleton, you also want to make sure to include calcium in their diet. These shrimp also are natural tank cleaners, searching for tiny bits of bacteria and fish food that has not been eaten in the substrate, mosses, and on plant life.

Keep your shrimp healthy by giving them a great diet, consisting of algae and high-quality shrimp food.

In this article, we’ll talk about the basics of both keeping and breeding cherry shrimp. Like their saltwater cousins, they have a curved body, small legs, and spend most of their time seeking shelter in tank plant life and eating. These little freshwater crustaceans grow to be about 1.5” in length. As an easy addition to your community tank that’s also simple to keep, cherry shrimp are increasingly popular.
