Neocaridina Shrimp - Back to Neocaridina Shrimp Page

    Common Name- Blue Grass shrimp (other morphs are cherry shrimp, etc.) These have been allowed
                                    to revert to their natural brown color.
    Water Conditions- Not Critical. Temp 70-80, Some water movement, must have fine leaved plants to live in.
    Behavior- Do not bother fry or fish. Eats algea and excess fish food.
    Breeding- Prolific once established.
    Size- About 1/2- 3/4 inch.

   These algea-eating cleaner shrimp are a great alternative to catfish that may eat fry, or compete with other fish for
   resources. These shrimp are hardy, and once established can be fairly prolific. Many Cichlids and larger fish will eat them.

   When first obtained, place any gravid females into a small container of her own with some Java moss. After up to a month
   she will release 30-40 newly hatched fry that are tiny copies of the adults. Remove her and raise the young on small
   amounts of crushed dry fish food until large enough to fend for themselves- about 1 month. New small fry may at first
   be eaten by the fish in the aquarium.

   They are peaceful, not territorial or aggressive in any way, and blue individuals are produced fairly regularly.
   By selectively breeding them the blue line can be re-established. They are hard working, fairly active and entertaining to
   watch. They have been colony bred here for approximately 7 years, and have generally returned to their natural appearance.

   I keep them out of egg layer breeding tanks as they may eat eggs.

   These are very hardy and seem to survive even when the fish do not. When they do succumb, it has been because the
   temperature exceeded 80-82 degrees or oxygenation within the aquarium has suffered. Being livebearers, they do not
   lay eggs and can be removed from any tank simply by catching and removing them with a net.

   The only issue with them has been that they can be so prolific that in a heavily planted tank they may need to be
   occasionally thinned out to keep the biological load in the tank under control. These have proven to me the hardiest
   and easiest to maintain animal in the fishroom! Lastly, because they are in such good supply here, though I quote
   .50 each for these, an order will result in many extras!

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