Which shrimp to choose: a guide to colours and grades

We have more than twenty shrimp in our catalogue, and we are constantly asked: "how do they differ, apart from colour?" In short, almost all of them are one species, Neocaridina, and they are kept the same way. They differ in colour, intensity and price. Crystals (Caridina) and Amano are a separate story; see the end.

Reds: Red Cherry, Red Fire, Bloody Mary

One line, different grades of selection. Red Cherry is the basic grade with a partly transparent body. Red Fire is coloured almost completely, bright red. Bloody Mary is dark ruby with a deeper, glassy colour. The higher the grade, the higher the price and the more important it is not to mix with other colours, so the offspring keep the colour.

Rilli: red, blue, orange, green

Rilli is a pattern, not a colour: coloured head and tail with a transparent middle. There are Red Rilli, Blue Rilli, Orange Rilli and Green Rilli. They look unusual in a group, especially on dark substrate.

Blues: Blue Jelly and Blue Sapphire

Blue Jelly is light blue with a soft shade. Blue Sapphire is deep blue. Blue lines are a little more sensitive than reds to sudden water changes, but in a stable tank there are no problems.

Orange and yellow

Orange Sakura is bright orange and one of the hardiest. Orange Sunkist is lighter, "sunny". Orange Bloody SuperB is a deep orange-red of a high grade. Golden Top and Yellow Crested Cream are yellow and cream tones, Golden Top with a pronounced stripe along the back.

Green and black

Green Jade is emerald green and shows well on light substrate and in moss. Green Jade Extreme is a selection with the darkest jade colour; we have few of them and they sell out fast. Black King Kong is deep black and very striking among green plants.

Can't decide?

Take the mix: 10 or more shrimp of different colours in one pack. For a first tank it is the best option: colourful, inexpensive, and you see straight away which colour you like most. But keep in mind that in a mix the colours blend over time, and after a few generations the shrimp turn brownish. If you want a pure colour, keep one line.

Crystals (Caridina): Crystal Red and Black Crystal

This is another species, Caridina cantonensis: red-and-white and black-and-white. They need soft, acidic water: pH 5.5–6.8 and 20–24 °C, usually reverse osmosis and a special substrate. They should not be kept with Neocaridina: the conditions are different. These are shrimp for those who already have experience.

Amano

Caridina japonica is the largest of the popular shrimp, up to 5 cm. People buy it not for colour but for work: Amano is the best algae eater, including hair algae. It lives several years. It does not breed in fresh water, so you will have as many as you bought. There is also a white variety, Amano SNOW.