10 x Red Cherry Shrimp – Neocaridina Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp – Ayr Aquatics

10 x Red Cherry Shrimp – Bred in Ayr, Scotland

Red Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are the classic aquarium shrimp and the easiest place to start keeping shrimp. They are tough, peaceful and busy, spend all day picking at algae and biofilm, and breed in almost any healthy freshwater tank. These are home-bred by Ayr Aquatics in Ayr, South Ayrshire.

This listing is for a pack of 10 Red Cherry shrimp, our most popular size. Ten shrimp is the sweet spot for starting a breeding colony. It almost always includes a healthy mix of males and females, and it gives you enough shrimp to see them out and about grazing in a 20–40 litre planted tank. Once they settle, most keepers see berried (egg-carrying) females within a few weeks.

Colour and grade

These are standard Cherry grade: light to medium red, with some shrimp showing clear or patchy areas, especially the males. That is what you expect at this grade and price. Females are larger and usually redder. If you want stronger colour, look at our Sakura grade Red Cherry listings.

Why choose Red Cherry shrimp?

Common Red Cherries are ideal if you are new to shrimp, want a clean-up crew for algae in a community or planted tank, or want to build a large colony on a budget. They are forgiving of small mistakes, adapt to most UK tap water once dechlorinated, and give you a steady supply of babies.

Keeping the line pure: Keep Red Cherries with other red Neocaridina only. If you mix them with other Neocaridina colours (blue, yellow, orange, black rose) they will interbreed and the young will go back to brown, wild-type colour over a few generations.

Water parameters

• Species: Neocaridina davidi
• Temperature: 18–26°C (no heater needed in most UK homes)
• pH: 6.5–8.0
• GH: 6–10 · KH: 2–8
• TDS: 150–300 ppm
• Adult size: approx 2–3cm
• Lifespan: 1–2 years

Caring for your Red Cherry shrimp

Add them to a fully cycled tank only, with zero ammonia and nitrite. Shrimp are sensitive to copper, so check any plant fertilisers or medications before using them. Use dechlorinated tap water and do small, regular water changes of 10–20% a week rather than large ones. Moss, plants, cholla wood and Indian almond leaves give them biofilm to graze on and hiding places when moulting. Feed a quality shrimp food every day or two, in amounts they finish within a couple of hours, plus the occasional blanched vegetable.

Acclimatisation

Float the bag for 20–30 minutes to match temperature, then drip-acclimatise slowly over 1–2 hours before netting the shrimp into the tank. Do not pour the bag water into your aquarium. Keep the lights low for the first day and do not worry if they hide at first. That is normal.

Red cherry shrimp FAQs

Will Red Cherry shrimp eat algae?
They graze constantly on soft algae, biofilm and leftover food. They help keep a tank clean but will not clear heavy hair algae on their own.

Can Red Cherry shrimp live in a tank without plants?
They can, but they do far better with moss, plants or leaf litter to graze on and hide in, especially when moulting and when the babies are small.

Is a 20-pack worth it?
If you have a 30-litre tank or larger and want a big colony quickly, yes. More shrimp also means a better spread of males and females.

Delivery

Sent Royal Mail Tracked 24, Monday to Wednesday only so nothing sits in a depot over the weekend. Insulated packaging with heat or cool packs depending on the weather, marked LIVE ANIMALS. Buy more than one pack and you only pay postage once. Collection from Ayr is also available.

DOA guarantee

Live animals cannot be returned. Dead on arrival guarantee: if any shrimp arrive dead, send us a photo of the unopened bag within 2 hours of delivery and we will refund or replace them.

You will receive 10 healthy, mixed-sex juvenile to young adult Red Cherry shrimp, approx 1–2cm. Also available in packs of 5, 10 and 20 from Ayr Aquatics on UK Shrimp.