Crystal Red Shrimp

Crystal Red Shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis)

The Crystal Red Shrimp is a selectively bred freshwater dwarf shrimp known for its striking red-and-white banded pattern. It is one of the most popular ornamental shrimp in the aquarium hobby, especially in planted and “nano” aquascapes.

Appearance

• Bright red and opaque white bands across the body
• Colour intensity varies by “grade” (lower grades have more transparent white; higher grades are more solid and defined)
• Grows to around 2–3 cm
• Peaceful and highly active scavenger

Care Requirements

Crystal Red Shrimp are more delicate than common Neocaridina shrimp and need stable conditions:

• Temperature: 20–24°C (cooler is usually better long-term)
• pH: 5.5–6.8 (slightly acidic is ideal)
• GH/KH: Low mineral hardness preferred
• Tank type: Heavily planted, stable “shrimp-only” or peaceful community tanks
• Filtration: Gentle flow (sponge filters are ideal)

They are very sensitive to sudden changes in water chemistry, so stability matters more than perfect numbers.

Diet

They are omnivorous scavengers:

• Biofilm and algae (main staple)
• Shrimp pellets / sinking wafers
• Blanched vegetables (courgette, spinach)
• Occasional protein foods for breeding health

Behaviour

• Completely peaceful
• Spend most time grazing surfaces for biofilm
• Best kept in groups of 10+ for confidence and breeding success

Breeding

• Breeds in freshwater (no saltwater larval stage like Amano shrimp)
• Females carry eggs under their tail for ~3–4 weeks
• Shrimplets hatch as tiny fully formed shrimp
• Requires stable, mature tank with plenty of biofilm for survival

If you want, I can also compare Crystal Reds with Cherry Shrimp or help you build a shrimp-safe planted tank setup.