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

5 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 5 Red Cherry shrimp. A 5-pack is ideal if you want to try the variety, add colour or new bloodlines to an existing red colony, or stock a small nano tank of 10–20 litres. With five shrimp you will usually get both males and females, but if breeding is your main goal we recommend the 10- or 20-pack for a guaranteed mix.

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

Are Red Cherry shrimp good for beginners?
Yes. They are the most popular beginner shrimp because they are hardy, cheap to feed and breed easily in a cycled tank.

How fast do Red Cherry shrimp breed?
Females carry around 20–30 eggs for three to four weeks. The babies grow to adult size in about three to four months, so a colony can grow quickly.

What should I feed Red Cherry shrimp?
A good shrimp pellet or granule two or three times a week, plus blanched spinach or courgette and Indian almond leaves. Only feed what is eaten within a couple of hours.

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 5 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.