Are you a seasoned hobbyist who wants to refresh their aquarium? Does your recent interest in fish and different freshwater shrimp species have you excited to bring a tank into your home? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you’re in the right place.
There are three main types of shrimp that are popular in the freshwater shrimp hobby, all of which come in a variety of colors and sizes. Adding a few species that can cohabitate is a simple way to bring your tank to life and make your shrimp feel more at home in their new living environment.
Are you ready to explore different shrimp types? Here are some of the different shrimp species to consider adding to your hobby tank:
Neocaridina
Neocaridina davidi are a type of freshwater shrimp that originate from Taiwan, Japan and Hawaii. These shrimp are a hard water species that do well in the following water parameters:
- Recommended dGH Range: 7 to 12 dGH
- Recommended dKH Range: 4 to 8 dKH
- Recommended PH Range: 7 to 8
If you're relatively new to shrimp, we recommend starting with Neocardina shrimp as they are the easiest to keep among the varieties of shrimp. They can also do well in most tap water in the United States. For more information on how to setup a new Neocaridina tank, check out our blog here.
These shrimp are a hard water species that do well in the following water parameters:
- Recommended dGH Range: 7 to 12 dGH
- Recommended dKH Range: 4 to 8 dKH
- Recommended PH Range: 7 to 8
If you're relatively new to shrimp, we recommend starting with Neocardina shrimp as they are the easiest to keep among the varieties of shrimp. They can also do well in most tap water in the U.S.
Another interesting fact is that when Neocardinia shrimp crossbreed, the offspring is a combination of the colors and the end result is a brown shrimp, what Neocardinia look like in their natural wild state.
Some of the most common Neocaridina shrimp to consider adding to your tank include:
Caridina
Caridina shrimp are originally from the subtropics of Asia, Oceania and Africa. When it comes to Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp, the biggest difference between the two is their water parameters and their appearance.
Caridina requires soft water in comparison to Neocaridina, and pH should be between 5.5-6.5.
This means they require a different setup compared to Neocaridina shrimp. A Caridina shrimp will require remineralized RO water, as most water in the U.S. are too hard for these species, the setup will also require an active substrate which is used to keep the PH between 5.5 to 6.5 . Our recommended water parameters for Caridina shrimp is as follows:
- Recommended dGH Range: 3 to 4 dGH
- Recommended dKH Range: 0 dKH
- Recommended PH Range: 5.5 to 6.5
For more information on how to setup a new Caridina Shrimp tank, read on here.
Appearance is another signifier in determining Caridina vs Neocaridina. Different Caridina shrimp Colors and patterns are more complex compared to Neocaridina Shrimp. Additionally, the endopod on the Caridina shrimp is less rounded than that of a Neocaridina shrimp.
Some of the Caridina shrimp to consider for your tank:
Sulawesi Shrimp
Sulawesi shrimp are from the Sulawesi islands of Indonesia.
There are many varieties of Sulawesi shrimp. However, the most popular Sulawesi shrimp are the Cardinal Sulawesi shrimp. They are also referred to as "white glove shrimp" due to their white legs.
If you're fairly new to the shrimp hobby, this may not be the best option to start with due to how sensitive these species are.
These shrimp are natural rock dwellers. That is why, to be successful with these shrimp, they will require a cycled tank with rock formations for the shrimp to have sufficient hiding places and enough surface area for algae to grow on. They will also require a heater set to around 80 to 84 F to mimic their natural environment.
When fully grown, the Sulawesi shrimp measures at an inch long, making them one of the smallest of the dwarf freshwater shrimp species.
Honorable Mentions
- Amano. From the swamps of Japan to the comfort of your own home, Amano shrimp have a positive reputation in the hobby. These shrimp can tolerate wide water parameters, making them another great choice as a tank mate to your other shrimp and fish.
- Bamboo. Bamboo shrimp is a small, peaceful species that can make a friendly addition to your hobby tank. This reddish-brown shrimp can grow up to 3 inches long, making it one of the larger options of dwarf shrimp. Some of the other names you might see this species referred to as include:
- Asian Filter Feeding Shrimp
- Fan Shrimp
- Flower Shrimp
- Singapore Shrimp
- Wood Shrimp
Check Out Our Collection of Freshwater Shrimp
No matter what freshwater shrimp species you’re interested in, we can help you find the perfect option. Our selection of freshwater shrimp is impressive, with a variety of colorful sea critters to choose from, such as:
- Shadow Panda Shrimp
- Crystal Red Shrimp
- Golden Bee Shrimp
- Green Jade Shrimp
- Golden-Back Yellow Shrimp
- Bloody Mary Shrimp