Cherry Shrimp FAQ: Care Breeding and Colour Loss
Cherry shrimp are the entry shrimp for almost every Singapore aquarist, valued for hardy temperament and prolific breeding once a colony settles. The cherry shrimp faq below answers the questions that come up most as keepers move from a starter ten-pack toward a self-sustaining colony. This cherry shrimp faq reflects daily counter conversations at Gensou Aquascaping in 5 Everton Park. Each question stands alone; this guide answers the eleven questions Singapore aquarists ask most about cherry shrimp.
What Water Parameters Do Cherry Shrimp Need?
Neocaridina cherry shrimp prefer TDS 200-300, GH 6-8, KH 3-5, pH 6.8-7.5, temperature 22-26°C. Singapore PUB tap water at GH 2-4 needs remineralisation with Salty Shrimp GH/KH+ to reach the target range. Stable parameters matter more than perfect parameters — a colony at TDS 250 stable will outperform one swinging between 200 and 350.
What Is the Difference Between Neocaridina and Caridina?
Cherry shrimp are Neocaridina davidi — hardy, tolerant of moderate hardness, easy to breed. Caridina shrimp like crystal red and bee shrimp need very soft water (GH 4-6, KH 0-1, TDS 80-150) and acidic pH 5.5-6.5. The two cannot be mixed in one tank — their parameter ranges do not overlap. Always confirm species before buying.
How Often Do Cherry Shrimp Breed?
Females carry eggs for 25-30 days then drop 20-30 fully-formed shrimplets. Sexually mature females can hold eggs again within days. A starter colony of ten in stable conditions becomes a self-sustaining hundreds-strong colony within four to six months. This is why cherry shrimp are the recommended first shrimp.
Why Are My Cherry Shrimp Losing Colour?
Colour loss usually means stress, dietary deficiency, low-grade genetics, or breeding back to wild-type over generations. Stress causes temporary fading that recovers within days of conditions improving. Genetic dilution from mixing colour grades produces permanent fading — cull off-colour individuals to maintain line quality. The fish food range stocks shrimp-specific colour-enhancing food.
Are Cherry Shrimp Sensitive to Copper?
Extremely. Copper levels lethal to shrimp persist in tanks for months after dosing. Never use copper-based meds (Cupramine, copper sulphate algaecides) in shrimp tanks. Even residual copper from bonus-treated fish food can kill shrimp colonies. Check every product label for copper content before adding to a shrimp tank.
What Tank Mates Work With Cherry Shrimp?
Adult cherries survive with most peaceful small fish, but newborn shrimplets are eaten by anything with a mouth large enough. Shrimp-only tanks produce the highest population growth. If keeping with fish, choose otocinclus, small rasboras, or pygmy corydoras and accept that shrimplet survival drops to under twenty per cent.
Do Cherry Shrimp Need a Heater?
Singapore ambient at 28-31°C runs warm for cherry shrimp. They tolerate it but breed faster and live longer at 24-26°C. Tanks in air-conditioned rooms hit ideal range without intervention; uncooled HDB tanks accept the warmer baseline at the cost of lifespan. A small chiller becomes worthwhile for serious colour-grade lines.
What Should I Feed Cherry Shrimp?
Mostly biofilm in established tanks — cherries graze surfaces continuously. Supplement two or three times weekly with shrimp-specific pellets, blanched spinach or zucchini, and occasional live food. Avoid overfeeding which fouls water and crashes colonies. A small algae bloom on hardscape is a feature, not a fault, in shrimp tanks.
How Do I Tell Male From Female?
Females are larger (up to 3cm), more deeply coloured, and develop a saddle-shaped band of unfertilised eggs visible behind the head. Males are smaller, slimmer and paler. Once berried, females are unmistakable with the egg cluster visible under the tail. Most starter packs include both sexes by default.
What TDS Meter Should I Buy?
A simple HM Digital TDS-3 from Carousell or Lazada at $15-25 is enough for shrimp work. Calibrate yearly against the included reference solution. The water care range stocks alternative meters and the GH/KH+ remineraliser cherry shrimp need.
Why Are My Shrimp Dying During Water Changes?
Sudden TDS, temperature or pH shift kills cherry shrimp faster than almost any other cause. Match water change parameters to tank parameters within 5 per cent TDS, 1°C and 0.2 pH. Drip-acclimate new arrivals over two hours. Skip large water changes — twenty per cent weekly suits shrimp tanks better than fifty per cent.
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