A lot of people have become interested in keeping dwarf shrimp in their home aquariums, usually in planted ones, over the past few years. Keeping dwarf shrimp is fun, rewarding, and good for the plants in the tank. But be careful—once you get hooked on these interesting animals, it’s hard not to want to try keeping other, less unusual fish. The Neocardinia davidi var. red cherry is one of the most popular, colorful, and comparatively cheap types for beginners. red.
Cherry shrimp scientifically known as Neocaridina davidi have become a hugely popular freshwater shrimp species amongst aquarium hobbyists. Their bright red coloration and peaceful temperament make them an excellent addition to planted tanks and nano aquariums.
But what really draws people to cherry shrimp is their ability to quickly and prolifically breed in captivity. A single female cherry shrimp can produce 20-30 babies every 4-6 weeks under optimal conditions. This allows you to easily establish a large, sustainable colony in your tank.
However, successfully breeding cherry shrimp requires an understanding of their reproductive cycle and ideal conditions for spawning In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how often cherry shrimp breed and maximizing their reproduction rate
An Overview of the Cherry Shrimp Lifecycle
Cherry shrimp have a relatively short lifespan of 1-2 years. During this time, they pass through several distinct life stages
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Eggs: Cherry shrimp eggs are carried externally attached to the female’s swimmerets under her tail. The eggs are green or yellow in color.
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Larvae: After 1-2 weeks, the eggs hatch into tiny free-swimming larvae. At this stage, they drift in the water column.
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Juveniles: Within a few days after hatching, the larvae metamorphose into juvenile shrimp that resemble small adults. They are transparent with a visible saddle (immature ovaries).
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Subadults: At 2-3 months old, juveniles become subadults. The females develop more color, and the saddle turns yellow as it fills with eggs.
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Adults: At 3-5 months old, subadults reach sexual maturity and become adults. Females are bright red, especially when berried (carrying eggs).
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Senescence: After 12-24 months, breeding slows down in females, and overall health declines until death.
When Do Cherry Shrimp Reach Breeding Maturity?
Cherry shrimp reach sexual maturity and begin breeding at around 3-5 months of age. The key factor determining their readiness to spawn is size rather than age.
Females must reach at least 20 mm in length from the tip of the rostrum to the end of the telson. Males are sexually mature at a smaller 15 mm size.
You can promote faster growth and earlier maturity by providing optimal water parameters, plenty of hiding places, and a high-quality diet rich in protein and algae.
What Is the Cherry Shrimp Reproduction Rate?
Under ideal conditions, cherry shrimp can reproduce at a rapid rate. Here’s an overview of their reproduction cycle:
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Females breed every 4-6 weeks after reaching maturity.
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Each pregnancy results in 20-30 eggs on average.
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The eggs hatch after 1-2 weeks.
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The larvae mature into juveniles after just a few days.
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Juveniles reach breeding maturity at 3-5 months.
So in the span of 2-3 months after giving birth, the female’s babies are already mature and reproducing. Within 6-8 months, you can have 3 or more generations breeding simultaneously in your aquarium.
As you can see, the population grows exponentially if conditions enable maximum survival rates. You can easily maintain a colony of 100+ shrimp with a single starter group of 10.
What Factors Affect Cherry Shrimp Breeding Frequency?
While the standard reproduction rate is every 4-6 weeks, several environmental factors can influence the time between breeding cycles:
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Temperature: Warmer temps of 72-78°F speed up the reproduction cycle. Colder temps below 70°F slow it down.
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Diet: Poor nutrition leads to less frequent breeding. A high-quality diet fuels more regular reproduction.
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Water Changes: Regular water changes provide clean, mineral-rich water to support breeding.
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Molting: Females breed shortly after molting. Irregular molting slows reproduction.
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Health Issues: Diseased, stressed, or egg-bound females may skip reproduction cycles.
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Age: As females near the end of their lifespan, breeding happens less often.
By optimizing all these factors, you can maximize cherry shrimp breeding frequency. Expect them to spawn like clockwork every 4 weeks in a thriving, healthy colony.
Step-by-Step Guide to Breeding Cherry Shrimp
Follow this step-by-step guide to successfully breed cherry shrimp:
1. Set Up the Breeding Tank
Cherry shrimp need pristine water conditions to breed frequently. Set up a dedicated 10+ gallon breeding tank with:
- Sponge filter for gentle water flow
- Substrate like sand or fine gravel
- Plenty of plants and hiding spots
- Moderately hard water with pH around 7
- Temp from 72-78°F
- Cycled tank with 0 ammonia and nitrites
2. Acclimate and Introduce Shrimp
Slowly acclimate shrimp over 30-60 minutes to avoid temperature shock. Carefully net shrimp from bag to tank. Start with at least 5-6 adults (3:1 female to male ratio).
3. Feed a Varied Diet
Provide a mix of blanched veggies, algae wafers, biofilm, shrimp pellets, calcium-rich foods. Varied nutrition is key for breeding.
4. Watch for Saddled Females
Observe females daily. Those with a yellow/green saddle (eggs visible on back) will breed soon. Isolate saddled females if desired.
5. Let Females Incubate Eggs
After breeding, berried (egg-carrying) females will hide. Leave them alone, and ensure stable parameters. Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks.
6. Raise Babies Separately (Optional)
Move berried females to a nursery tank for maximum baby shrimp survival away from adults. Or let babies grow up with adults.
Following those steps, your cherry colony will be multiplying rapidly in no time! Cull overcrowding when needed, and enjoy watching generations flourish.
Troubleshooting: Why Are My Cherry Shrimp Not Breeding?
If your cherry shrimp have stopped breeding or you never see babies, review this troubleshooting guide:
Problem: No males in the tank.
Solution: Purchase more shrimp, at least 5-6. Ensure a 1:3 male to female ratio.
Problem: Water parameters fluctuating.
Solution: Stabilize pH between 6.5-7.5. Keep ammonia and nitrites at 0 ppm.
Problem: Females not growing large enough.
Solution: Feed more protein-rich foods like blanched spinach to promote growth.
Problem: Aggressive fish eating babies.
Solution: Remove predators. Add more plants and moss for hiding.
Problem: Females egg-bound.
Solution: Raise GH to at least 6 to encourage molting. Add mineral supplements.
Problem: Old aged, low-quality lineage.
Solution: Remove old shrimp. Purchase young shrimp from reputable breeder.
Cherry shrimp offer a fun, rewarding breeding project for aquarists of all levels. Their prolific reproduction cycle allows you to rapidly generate large colonies.
To maximize breeding frequency, focus on these key points:
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Set up an optimized breeding tank
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Select healthy, young adults
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Maintain excellent water quality
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Feed a high quality, varied diet
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Provide plenty of hiding spots for mothers
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Raise babies separately (optional)
Follow the tips outlined in this guide, and you’ll soon have a vibrant, exponentially growing cherry shrimp colony in your aquarium!
Red Cherry Shrimp Characteristics
Red Cherry Shrimp reach about 4 cm (1. 6 inches). They prefer clean water with a ph of 6. 5-8. 0, and a temperature range of 14 to 30 degrees C (57 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit). It is most comfortable when the room temperature is around 72 degrees. They are omnivores and typically live 1-2 years under ideal conditions. Be sure to keep all foods, supplements, or chemicals that have copper out of your shrimp tank.
Fortunately, Red Cherry shrimp adapt to a wide variety of conditions in the hobby aquarium. Their home can be as small as 2 gallons, but 8 to 12 gallons will make the colony more active, encourage more breeding, and make the population more lively. Because shrimp like plants and places to hide, you should give them frill plants that they can use to sit on, groom themselves, and feel safe. This is especially critical after molting, one of the most vulnerable times for the shrimp. They also love to eat the film of algae and microorganisms that forms on plant leaves and will spend hours grooming their favorites. Also, shrimp love to touch up and hide in moss, whether it’s in a bunch or stuck to a tree or rock.
Excellent for Planted Tanks
Dwarf shrimp LOVE planted tanks. They love the places plants give them to hide, the food they grow, and the way plants change the chemistry of water. Also, you should think about what you want to do with your Red Cherry Shrimp. Do you want to keep a single colony of adults or breed them to get more of them? Many nano fish will live with adult shrimp, but they will eat the new babies that hatch. Even smaller danios, rasbora or tetras might eat babies. Because of this, it is important to have moss and other places to hide, like the cute bamboo shrimp hotels that are easy to cover with moss. Small snails, like nerites, are good to have in a shrimp tank because they help clean up waste and won’t hurt the shrimp. Fish that get no bigger than ¾” as adults (chili rasboras, etc.) are the best ones to keep. ) or none at all.
Red Cherry Shrimp are non-aggressive and active during both the day and night. During the day, you can see them mating, swimming from plant to plant, eating algae, and looking for trash in the gravel. Periodically, the shrimp will shed its exoskeleton, leaving a husk of itself drifting around the plant. It is important not to remove this, because the shrimp will consume it and replenish needed minerals. When it’s almost time to spawn, female Red Cherry Shrimp hide in the dark. If they get scared, they may abandon their eggs. The more places the shrimp can hide and feel safe, the more likely it is that they will lay a whole clutch of eggs. One can tell the gender of a Red Cherry Shrimp by looking at their size and color. In this case, males are smaller and less colorful. Females often have a yellowish saddle on their back, which are actually eggs developing in the ovaries. Juvenile Red Cherry Shrimp are almost impossible to sex until they are larger and can show color.
The Truly FASCINATING Life Cycle of the Humble Red Cherry Shrimp
How do red cherry shrimp breed?
A female and male Red Cherry Shrimp. When the male finds the female they will breed. The male will deposit his sperm in the female. Once the sperm is deposited the female will pass her eggs threw the sperm on their way to the underside of her tail.
What is the best water temperature for cherry shrimp breeding?
The ideal cherry shrimp breeding temperature range is 72-78°F. Also, the water needs to have a pH range of 6.5-7.5 and a water hardness of 4-6 dGH. A sound filtration system is essential for cherry shrimp breeding. It’ll help to remove excess waste and maintain good water quality.
Can you breed cherry shrimp in an aquarium?
Cherry shrimp breeding has become increasingly popular in the aquarium hobby because of its beautiful and vibrant colors. Breeding these crustaceans can not only be a rewarding experience for aquarium enthusiasts, but also provide a source of income. However, understanding the basics of breeding is crucial for success.
When do red cherry shrimp reach maturity?
Red cherry shrimp usually reached maturity at around 75 days old with a length of about 2.3±0.2 cm. When they reach maturity, we can see: Orange-colored ovaries through the cephalothorax region of the females ( 1). That the males have an appendix masculina on the second pleopod ( 2).