Shrimp Name: Blue shrimp/Blue Neocaridina/Crystal Blue shrimp (Neocaridina sp. “blue”) (High Order)

Origin: China

Characteristics/ Habits: When fully mature my size range is 2 – 3.5cm. I have a blue shaded color and sometimes the blueness is not always present. I can even be slightly transparent with a light brown line running from top to bottom. If my blue coating is not present, I am still the Blue shrimp. The amazing thing about my kind is that we come in many variations of blue, from light to dark blue. I like a well planted tank with lots of leaves. Like all shrimp, I am also a scavenger and can look for my own food. I like eating algae, leaves, flake food, pellets and some seaweed.

Water Parameters: I do well in most temperature conditions so long they are not too cold or hot. A temperature range of 70-80°F is preferable with a pH of 6.6-8.0. Soft to slightly acidic water is fine. The most important thing to note when it comes to shrimp in general and not just me are the regular water changes. We are sensitive to copper and nitrites, so keeping us can be a challenge.

Sexing: The females are always plumper than the males. The males are slightly smaller. Our blue coloration or lack of cannot be used as a determining factor.

Breeding: I am a prolific shrimp if and when my demands are met. Regular water changes are a must. Huge numbers are also encouraged if one wants to enjoy my overwhelming blue presence. My young ones are born as small representations of the Blue adult shrimp. After a few days their blue colors start to show. They grow really fast. When berried the female usually carries an average of 20 -25 eggs. Prepare to be dazzled!

Compatibility: I am compatible with small friendly fish, that way I do not have to worry about being eaten as a snack. When it comes to how well I get along with some of my cousins, I guess you can say it depends. With non Neocaridina species, I am pretty much okay but any Neocaridina species should not be tanked with me. We get along so well that we should be separated from each other to avoid cross-breeding. These shrimp should not be in the same tank that I occupy; Blue Pearl, (Nectarine), Neocaridina Heteropoda, Red Cherry, Snowball, Yellow, Blue Pearl and Algae shrimp.