In case you have not heard, the Cherry Shrimp is one of the most popular invertebrates to keep as pets. These critters are from Taiwan, and they come in all shades of red. Since they are easy to keep and sport beautiful vibrant colors, Cherry Shrimps are the perfect choice for aquarists that are just starting.
In this guide, you will find out everything there is to know about Cherry Shrimp, from dietary needs, breeding, color grading, and more. So without further ado, let’s dig in.
The Basics of Cherry Shrimp
The Cherry Shrimp are also known as the Red Cherry Shrimp. This shrimp can be found in freshwater, and they are incredibly peaceful. Cherry Shrimp are popular because of their algae consuming capabilities.
You can add Cherry Shrimp to any tank, demanding little to no upkeep. While Cherry Shrimp can be found in various colors in the wild, they can only be found in the color red in the aquarium trade due to the effects of selective breeding.
Habitat
To keep Cherry Shrimp healthy and happy, you will need to emulate their natural living conditions in your tank. Your aquarium needs to be densely packed with lots of moss and places to hide. Cherry Shrimp use moss for grooming. Java moss is particularly suitable for Cherry Shrimps. Furthermore, the Cherry Shrimp refers warm waters, so you should add a heater. However, if you already have a heater in your room, then a separate heater will not be required.
Now, when it comes to adding a filter to your tank, do not get a powerful filter because that could suck the shrimp in. For this reason, you will need to opt for a sponge filter instead.
Last but not least, you will require a 5-gallon tank at minimum for your Cherry Shrimp. If you intend to keep a larger number of Chery Shrimp, you will need a larger tank.
Diet
Cherry Shrimps are omnivores that eat plant and meat matter. Since Cherry Shrimps are scavengers, you can feed them anything because they are not exactly fussy about their diet.
You can implement high-quality pellets as a part of their diet and supplement it with frozen foods and vegetables. Remember, when you plan on feeding the Cherry Shrimp, make sure to get rid of excessive feed to prevent it from adversely affecting the water chemistry.
Tank Mates
As mentioned earlier, Cherry Shrimps are quite peaceful. They will not hurt other fish if you plan on keeping a few in your tank. But then again, they do not have any way to defend themselves, so you need to be careful about pairing them with hostile fish.
If you want tank mates for your Cherry Shrimp, here are a few worth considering:
- Small Tetras
- Small Plecos
- Catfish
- Freshwater Snails
As a rule of thumb, do not add predatory fish to your tank for the safety of your Cherry Shrimp.
Breeding
Cherry Shrimp are straightforward to breed. As long as you look after them, they will reproduce. The breeding process can be broken down into the following steps:
- Pre-Breeding
- Breeding
- Hatching
Hopefully, this short guide to Cherry Shrimp answers all your questions about these unique and friendly invertebrates. Since Cherry Shrimp are hardy critters, perfect for those that want to start small as aquarists.
