Hey there! I’m super excited to share my comprehensive guide on breeding cherry shrimp. After years of experience breeding these colorful little creatures, I’ve learned all the tricks to help them multiply successfully. Let’s dive right in!
Essential Tank Setup for Breeding
Tank Size and Basic Requirements
- Minimum tank size: 5-10 gallons (10 gallons recommended)
- Stocking ratio: 2-5 shrimp per gallon
- Must be fully cycled before adding shrimp
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-80°F (optimal breeding at 80°F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- General Hardness (GH): 4-6 dGH
- Zero ammonia and nitrites
- Nitrates below 20ppm
Equipment Needed
- Heater with temperature control
- Sponge filter (avoid power filters – they can suck up babies!)
- LED lighting
- Dark substrate (makes shrimp feel secure)
- Water testing kit
Creating the Perfect Breeding Environment
Plants and Hiding Spots
We’ve found these plants work amazingly for breeding
- Java moss (absolute must-have!)
- Anubias
- Amazon sword
- Bucephalandra
Pro tip: The more plants, the better! Baby shrimp need lots of hiding places.
Substrate Choice
I recommend using
- Dark-colored gravel or sand
- Specialized shrimp substrate
- 2-3 inches depth for good plant growth
Feeding for Successful Breeding
Best Foods for Breeding
-
High-protein foods
- Shrimp pellets
- Algae wafers
- Repashy (45% protein content)
-
Fresh vegetables (blanched):
- Zucchini
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Green beans
Feeding Schedule
- Feed small amounts every other day
- Remove uneaten food after 2-3 hours
- One fasting day per week
The Breeding Process
Identifying Breeding Signs
You’ll know breeding is imminent when:
- Females develop a yellowish “saddle” (eggs in ovaries)
- Males become more active
- Female molts (breeding typically occurs after molting)
After Breeding
- Female carries eggs under tail
- Eggs take 20-35 days to hatch
- Each female typically carries 20-30 eggs
- Babies look like tiny adults when born
Common Breeding Problems and Solutions
Why Aren’t My Shrimp Breeding?
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Fluctuating parameters | Use testing kit regularly |
| Poor diet | Vary food sources |
| No males/females | Add more shrimp of missing gender |
| Young shrimp | Wait until 3-5 months old |
| Stress | Add more hiding places |
Tips for Baby Shrimp Survival
- Keep water parameters stable
- Provide lots of biofilm
- Use sponge on filter intake
- Maintain regular feeding schedule
- Keep predator fish away
My Personal Success Tips
After many breeding attempts, here’s what I’ve learned works best:
-
Patience is key: Don’t rush the setup process. A well-cycled tank is worth the wait.
-
Less is more: I’ve had better success with:
- Minimal water changes
- Light feeding
- Less interference
-
Quality over quantity: Start with high-grade shrimp for better offspring.
Final Thoughts
Getting cherry shrimp to breed isn’t rocket science, but it does require attention to detail. The key is creating a stable, comfortable environment and then mostly leaving them alone to do their thing!
Remember, if you’re struggling with breeding, double-check your water parameters first – that’s usually where the problem lies. And hey, if you need more specific advice, drop a comment below!
Did you find this guide helpful? Share your cherry shrimp breeding experiences or ask questions in the comments!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this guide in more detail?
Excellent for Planted Tanks
Dwarf shrimp LOVE planted tanks. They love the hiding space, they love the food plants engender, and they love what plants do for water chemistry. That being said, it is also important to decide what your goal is with your Red Cherry Shrimp – do you want to raise a single colony of adults or breed and increase your shrimp population? There are many nano fish that will coexist with adult shrimp, but will also eat newly hatched babies. Even smaller danios, rasbora or tetras might eat babies. For this reason, it is vital to have mosses and other hiding places; or even some of the cute bamboo shrimp hotels that can easily be covered with moss. Smaller snails are a good addition to the shrimp tank, nerites particularly, since they help clean detritus and won’t harm the shrimp. The best rule for fish is to keep only fish that get no larger than about ¾” as adults (chili rasboras, etc.) or none at all.
Red Cherry Shrimp are non-aggressive and active during both the day and night. Often one can see them grazing on algae, on the hunt for detritus in the gravel, mating, and swimming from plant to plant during the day. 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. Female Red Cherry Shrimp tend to hide in the dark when it is close to spawning time and, if startled, may abandon their eggs. The more hiding places and the safer the shrimp feels, the more likely they will lay a full 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.
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 rough temperature of 14-30 degrees C (57-86), most comfortable at a moderate room temperature of about 72 degrees. They are omnivores and typically live 1-2 years under ideal conditions. Avoid copper based medications with cherry shrimp.
Fortunately, Red Cherry shrimp adapt to a wide variety of conditions in the hobby aquarium. They can be kept in a desktop aquarium with as little as 2 gallons, but 8-12 gallons will allow for a more active colony, more breeding, and a livelier population. Shrimp love plants and hiding spaces, so it is important to include frill plants that allow them to sit on, groom, and feel safe. This is especially critical after molting, one of the most vulnerable times for the shrimp. They are also ravenous about eating the film of algae and micro-organisms that form on plant leaves, spending hours grooming their favorites. Shrimp also love to groom and hide in mosses, whether in a clump or tied onto a rock or wood.
The Secrets to Breeding 1,000’s of Cherry Shrimp!
FAQ
How do you get cherry shrimp to breed?
Inducing Red Cherry Shrimp to breed only requires a sexed pair of shrimp, stable water parameters, and a food source. Male Red Cherry Shrimp are smaller and less colorful than the females. Females often have a yellow “saddle” that is the eggs developing in her ovaries.
Why are my cherry shrimps not breeding?
Check that your parameters are in range, including pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and temperature. Here is a handy parameter checking tool for Neocaridina (cherry shrimp). Try to sex your shrimp. If you can’t determine their sex, then they may not be old enough or you may have all one sex.
How to encourage your shrimp to breed?
- Provide a suitable environment: Shrimp need a clean and stable environment to thrive and reproduce. …
- Feed them a balanced diet: Shrimp need a varied and balanced diet to reproduce successfully.
How long does it take for cherry shrimp to breed?
How to breed red cherry shrimp?
It is actually fairly simple to breed Red Cherry Shrimp in the home aquarium if one pays attention to three major steps: 1) Inducing breeding, 2) Ensuring health and comfort while carrying the eggs, and 3) Raising the young. Inducing breeding can be done by keeping the water conditions stable.
Do cherry shrimp breed automatically?
Breeding cherry shrimps is fun, and it is easier too comparirong with other shrimp species. If you ensure the basic things that cherry shrimps need, they’ll breed automatically. You don’t have to provide any extra care. However, for optimum breeding and getting the maximum amount of shrimp offsprings, you’ll need to follow some guidelines.
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.
Do red cherry shrimp need a shaman to breed?
Red Cherry Shrimp (RCS) could be some great new friends to keep and breed at home. Although RCS can reach up to 1.5 inches (4cm) in length in adulthood, these low-maintenance critters don’t need any special tanks, foods, dances, or shamans to breed. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know, so you can start breeding your RCS in no time.
Why are cherry shrimp not breeding?
Here are some possible reasons why cherry shrimp may not be breeding: Cherry shrimp are sensitive to changes in water parameters. A sudden change in temperature, pH, or hardness can stress them and affect their breeding. Cherry shrimp require a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients.
How do I choose a tank for cherry shrimp breeding?
When selecting a tank for cherry shrimp breeding, the right tank size is essential. A 10-gallon tank or larger is recommended. The tank size will depend on how many shrimp you plan to keep. In general, you need to have at least 5 gallons for every 10-12 cherry shrimp. Here are some additional factors you have to consider: