Red Cherry Shrimp

Optimal Parameters
PH: 6.8-7.8 Temperature: 70-80
KH: 1 PPM – 5 PPM Lighting: Low-High
GH: 3 PPM – 6 PPM Ammonia: 0 PPM
Nitrite: 0 PPM Nitrate: below 1 PPM
For more information about these numbers read this guide.

Care and Maintenance

Algae pellets, blood worms, and Mosura shrimp food are all excellent food options for these shrimp. Since these shrimp are more resilient than many of their cousins, tank maintenance is less rigorous. 10% water changes every other week, with a thorough substrate cleaning every two months is sufficient for a healthy and thriving colony.


Red Cherry Shrimp (or RCS) are one of the easiest dwarf shrimp to keep. They are much more tolerant of poor water conditions and can often even adapt and thrive in varied water parameters. They are genetically more resilient than other dwarf shrimp varieties due to less selective breeding to achieve their coloration.


RCS are very sociable and peaceful tank inhabitants, their scientific name is Neocaridina Heterpoda var. red. Female RCS tend to be larger and more colorful, and will generally stay on the tank’s substrate or decorations. The males can often be seen swimming through the water column. When females are ready to mate, they release a chemical that the males can detect through their antennae and will seek out. On some occasions the males can be seen swimming as a swarm throughout the tank. Red Cherry Shrimp are most comfortable in larger colonies of shrimp with plenty of surfaces to crawl on. They have what is called a thigmotactic response, which means they will become stressed if they do not have surfaces to be crawling on and touching with their many arms. Decorations or plants are a necessary part of a healthy shrimp colony.

Leave a Reply