Sapphire Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Sapphire Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Sapphire shrimp are a selectively bred color morph of Neocaridina davidi, a popular freshwater dwarf shrimp species widely kept in aquariums. They’re especially valued for their deep blue to indigo coloration, which can appear almost metallic under good lighting.

Key Characteristics

• Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi
• Common Name: Sapphire shrimp
• Size: ~2–3 cm (¾–1¼ inches)
• Lifespan: 1–2 years
• Color: Rich blue (ranging from lighter sapphire to darker navy tones)
• Temperament: Peaceful, non-aggressive
• Difficulty Level: Beginner-friendly

Care Requirements

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 20–26°C (68–78°F)
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• GH (General Hardness): 6–8 dGH
• KH: 2–5 dKH
• TDS: ~150–250 ppm

Consistency is more important than perfection, avoid sudden swings.

Tank Setup

• Tank Size: 5 gallons minimum (larger preferred for stability)
• Substrate: Dark substrate helps enhance their blue coloration
• Plants: Mosses (Java moss, Christmas moss), stem plants, floating plants
• Filtration: Sponge filter or intake with pre-filter to protect shrimplets
• Hiding Spots: Essential for molting and young shrimp survival

Feeding

Sapphire shrimp are omnivorous scavengers:

• Biofilm and algae (primary diet)
• High-quality shrimp pellets or wafers
• Blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, cucumber)
• Occasional protein (once or twice a week)

Avoid overfeeding—small amounts 2–3 times per week is enough in established tanks.

Breeding

• Very easy to breed in stable freshwater setups
• No special conditions needed (no saltwater stage)
• Females carry eggs (“berried”) under their abdomen
• Hatchlings (shrimplets) are miniature versions of adults

Note: To maintain the deep sapphire coloration, selective breeding is important. Otherwise, offspring may revert to wild-type (brownish/clear).

Tank Mates

• Best kept in species-only tanks
• Safe with:
  • Small, peaceful fish (e.g., chili rasboras, otocinclus)
  • Snails
• Avoid:
  • Larger or aggressive fish (they’ll eat shrimp or babies)

Common Issues

• Color fading: Poor genetics, stress, or unsuitable substrate
• Molting problems: Usually due to mineral imbalance (GH/KH too low or high)

Pro Tips

• Add leaf litter (Indian almond leaves) for biofilm and natural tannins
• Stability is key,shrimp are sensitive to rapid changes
• A well-established tank (cycled for several weeks) is critical