Tips
My Personal Shrimp Keeping Tips
Everything on this page is based on my personal experience after years of breeding freshwater shrimp. These are the methods that have consistently worked for me. There are many ways to keep shrimp successfully, and everyone develops their own techniques over time, but following these methods has helped me build healthy colonies and successfully breed both Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp.
I hope these tips help you enjoy the hobby as much as I have.
Aquarium Setup for Caridina Shrimp
When setting up an aquarium for Caridina shrimp, I recommend using an active substrate such as Brightwell Rio Escuro or Fluval Stratum. Personally, I prefer Brightwell Rio Escuro because it lasts longer and doesn't leach ammonia like many other active substrates.
For water, I always start with distilled water or RO (reverse osmosis) water. I then remineralize it using Bee Shrimp Mineral GH+ until the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) reaches approximately 150 ppm. A TDS meter is an inexpensive tool that I consider essential for shrimp keeping.
Once the water is prepared, I add nitrifying bacteria along with a small amount of Brightwell Florin Multi. The Florin Multi helps feed the beneficial bacteria while the aquarium cycles.
For filtration, I recommend using a sponge filter. Add a small piece of driftwood and easy-to-grow plants such as Java Moss, Bucephalandra, Anubias, or Java Fern. Avoid plants that require planting in the substrate, as active substrates are better left undisturbed.
Use a moderate LED light on a timer for approximately 6 hours per day.
Now comes the hardest—but most important—part.
Be patient.
Allow the aquarium to cycle for approximately two months before adding shrimp. During this time, beneficial bacteria will establish themselves, algae will begin to grow, biofilm will develop, and you will often notice copepods and other tiny organisms appearing. These are all excellent signs that your aquarium is becoming a healthy ecosystem.
After the two-month cycle, perform a 90% water change using water that matches your aquarium's TDS and temperature. Wait about one additional week before introducing your shrimp.
Aquarium Setup for Neocaridina Shrimp
Neocaridina shrimp are much more forgiving than Caridina shrimp and can thrive in a wider range of water conditions.
While they can live on many different substrates, I've had my best success using CaribSea Eco-Complete. Unlike active substrates, Eco-Complete does not lower pH and does not break down over time, making it an excellent long-term choice.
For water, I use conditioned tap water treated with Seachem Prime to remove chlorine and chloramine. I then remineralize the water using Shrimp Mineral GH/KH+ until the TDS reaches approximately 200 ppm.
Next, I add nitrifying bacteria along with a small amount of Brightwell Florin Multi to help establish the biological filter.
For filtration, I recommend using a sponge filter along with a small piece of driftwood. Unlike Caridina tanks, Neocaridina aquariums can also include decorative rocks because these shrimp prefer a slightly higher pH.
Plants that root into the substrate grow very well in Eco-Complete, making it an excellent choice for planted aquariums.
Use a moderate LED light on a timer for approximately 6 hours each day.
Again, patience is key.
Allow the aquarium to mature for approximately two months. Once ammonia and nitrite have reached zero and biofilm, algae, and other micro-life have developed, perform a large water change, wait one more week, and then introduce your shrimp.
Water Parameters I Aim For
These are the water parameters that have consistently worked well for me.
| Parameter | Caridina | Neocaridina |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 68–72°F | 70–76°F |
| pH | 5.8–6.5 | 6.8–7.8 |
| GH | 4–6 | 6–8 |
| KH | 0–1 | 2–5 |
| TDS | 120–160 ppm | 180–220 ppm |
Remember that stable parameters are more important than chasing the perfect numbers.
Acclimating New Shrimp
Shrimp should never be acclimated the same way as fish.
Fish usually require only temperature acclimation, but shrimp are much more sensitive to changes in TDS, pH, temperature, and water hardness.
I strongly recommend using the drip acclimation method.
Place the shrimp and their shipping water into a clean container. Using airline tubing, slowly drip water from the aquarium into the container.
During acclimation, monitor the TDS and pH of the water in the container. Once those values closely match the aquarium, gently net the shrimp and place them into their new home.
Whenever possible, avoid pouring shipping water into your aquarium.
Feeding
If your aquarium has been properly cycled for two months, there is usually no need to feed newly added shrimp during their first week.
A mature aquarium contains plenty of biofilm, algae, and microorganisms for shrimp to graze on naturally.
One thing I've learned over the years is that shrimp almost always prefer grazing on biofilm instead of prepared foods.
Adding food too soon often results in uneaten food, which can reduce water quality.
Once feeding begins, remember that less is more. Only feed what your shrimp can consume within a few hours.
Water Changes
One of the biggest mistakes new shrimp keepers make is performing water changes without matching water parameters.
Whenever performing a water change, I recommend matching:
- Temperature
- TDS
- pH (as closely as possible)
For established shrimp tanks, I generally recommend changing 10–20% of the water each week.
Large water changes are perfectly safe as long as the replacement water closely matches the aquarium's parameters.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes when starting out. These are some of the most common ones I see.
- Adding shrimp before the aquarium has fully cycled.
- Overfeeding.
- Chasing perfect water parameters instead of keeping them stable.
- Cleaning sponge filters with untreated tap water.
- Making large water changes without matching TDS.
- Adding fish that prey on baby shrimp.
- Constantly rearranging the aquarium and disturbing biofilm.
Avoiding these mistakes will greatly improve your chances of long-term success.
My Favorite Beginner Plants
Some of my favorite plants for shrimp aquariums include:
- Java Moss
- Christmas Moss
- Bucephalandra
- Anubias Nana Petite
- Java Fern
- Subwassertang
These plants provide excellent surfaces for biofilm growth while also giving baby shrimp places to hide.
Final Thoughts
There are many different ways to keep freshwater shrimp successfully, and every hobbyist eventually develops their own methods.
The information on this page isn't meant to say my way is the only way—it's simply the approach that has consistently worked for me after years of breeding shrimp.
My biggest piece of advice is simple:
Be patient.
A mature aquarium is the single greatest factor in long-term shrimp success.
I hope these tips help you enjoy shrimp keeping as much as I have.
Happy Shrimp Keeping!
— Bryan
Founder, BK Shrimp Keeping