Which shrimp should you choose for your aquarium?
Aquarium shrimp are among the easiest and most useful inhabitants of a freshwater tank: they clean up deposits and algae, and their colours bring the aquascape to life. We offer three main groups.
- Neocaridina shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) — hardy and ideal for beginners. They tolerate water with a pH of 6.5 to 8 and a temperature of 18 to 28 °C, and breed easily in a calm community tank. Available colours: Red Fire, Blue Jelly, Orange Sakura, Green Jade, Bloody Mary, Golden Top and a colour mix.
- Caridina shrimp (Caridina cantonensis) — Crystal Red and Black Crystal. More demanding: soft, slightly acidic water (pH 5.5 to 6.8), 20 to 24 °C. For aquarists who already have some experience.
- Amano shrimp (Caridina japonica) — the largest and the best algae eaters. They do not breed in fresh water, so their number stays stable. See the Amano shrimp.
Neocaridina shrimp: the easiest way to start
For a first shrimp tank, choose a single Neocaridina colour and start with a pack of 10 to 20 shrimp. When you keep one variety, the young keep their parents' colour; if several colours interbreed, the offspring gradually turn brown. A well-planted aquarium with mosses such as Taiwan moss or Marimo balls offers shelter and natural food.
Buy aquarium shrimp online
Our shrimp are sold in packs of 10, 20, 30 or 40 depending on the variety. We ship Monday to Thursday in insulated packaging that protects the animals in transit. Order before 12:00 for same-day dispatch and next-day delivery; shipping is free from €100. Every shipment is covered by our live arrival guarantee: if an animal arrives dead, contact us within 2 hours of delivery with photos of the unopened bag, and we offer a replacement, store credit or a refund (see our refund policy). Businesses: discover our wholesale offer too.
Welcoming your shrimp
On arrival, acclimatise the shrimp slowly to your aquarium water by gradually adding tank water to their bag over 30 to 60 minutes. Check first that your water is suitable: our article Is your tap water right for shrimp? explains how to do it in one minute. Feed sparingly, 2 to 3 times a week, with a shrimp food; the rest of the time they feed on the biofilm and algae in the tank.
