Add a Pop of Colour with Yellow Cherry Shrimp

Yellow Cherry Shrimp are a stunning freshwater shrimp species that add a vibrant pop of colour to planted aquariums. Their bright yellow bodies stand out against any backdrop of plants or decor. These active little scavengers are also one of the easiest shrimp to keep, making them perfect for beginners. Read on to learn about keeping and breeding these eye-catching invertebrates.

Peaceful Addition to Community Aquariums

Yellow Cherry Shrimp, also known by their scientific name Neocaridina davidi, are a very peaceful species that mix well with small community fish. Their small size, growing to around 2-3 cm long, means they won’t nibble on plants or harass tankmates. Their bright coloration serves as a warning to predators that they would not make a tasty meal.

Many aquarists add these shrimp to complement a group of small, non-aggressive fish like tetras, rasboras, or guppies. Provide plenty of moss, plants, and decorations to give the shrimp ample hiding spots and grazing surfaces. The yellow shrimp interact peacefully with other shrimp varieties and make excellent clean-up crews.

Easy Care for Beginner Aquarists

Caring for Yellow Cherry Shrimp is straightforward, even for complete novices to the aquarium hobby. This makes them one of the best freshwater shrimp for those starting out. They adapt readily to a wide range of water parameters and standard tropical tank temperatures between 22-28°C. Moderate lighting and pH between 6.5-7.5 provides ideal conditions.

Because of their small size, Yellow Cherry Shrimp have a very low bioload. This means water changes can be less frequent compared to a fish tank. Use a sponge filter to provide gentle water movement without sucking up baby shrimp. Feed a few crushed shrimp pellets or algae wafers once or twice a day to supplement their grazing on natural biofilm and algae in the tank.

Prolific Breeders Fill the Tank with Colour

The exciting thing about keeping Yellow Cherry Shrimp is watching their vibrant population multiply quickly. They are prolific breeders, so a small starter colony will produce babies regularly given their simple care needs. The females carry the bright yellow and red hues, while the males are less colourful.

Seeing the tank slowly fill with more little yellow and red specks swarming over plants and decor is very rewarding for aquarists. The babies, called shrimplets, hatch from eggs and go through several molting stages to reach maturity at 3-5 months old. This nonstop breeding means you’ll have plenty of Yellow Cherries to enjoy!

Peaceful Scavengers and Algae Grazers

In addition to being beautiful, Yellow Cherry Shrimp serve the useful purpose of grazing on algae and assisting with clean-up. Their little claws pick at algae, dead plant matter, biofilm, and leftover fish food. Having a clean-up crew of shrimp helps control unsightly algae growth and keeps the tank looking its best.

Unlike some fish, shrimp will not uproot or eat live plants. Letting Yellow Cherries forage over aquarium plants helps keep the leaves free of brown algae without harming the plants. Their constant scavenging keeps the tank substrate stirred up to prevent anaerobic pockets that can produce harmful gases.