Red Cherry Shrimp Care

Freshwater invertebrates might seem like a niche part of the freshwater hobby but in reality, they can be just as fulfilling and manageable as any freshwater fish. One invertebrate that really champions this quality is the Red Cherry Shrimp or RCS. It is bright red in color which is something that is rarely seen in the freshwater world. It is quite hardy and it is simply adorable to watch. If you are thinking of taking the plunge and keep these cute freshwater shrimps then here is everything you need to know about them.

Water Parameters: While Red Cherry Shrimp aren’t too demanding when it comes to the water parameters, they do prefer stability.  RCS can still survive in fluctuating conditions but if you want them to flourish and show off brilliant coloration, then you need to provide stable conditions. The temperature should be maintained at a constant value between 68°F and 80°F and a pH ranging from 6.5 and 7.6. They do their best when the water is on the harder side. The most important thing, however, is to ensure that the tank is mature and properly cycled. Any amount of ammonia or nitrite will decimate these little inverts very rapidly.

Food: Feeding Red Cherry Shrimp is perhaps the easiest thing to do. They just have such a varied diet. They readily accept commercial fish food like flakes and small pellets. You can also offer boiled and blanched vegetables. They also feed on decaying plant matter and algae. As such, it is very important to ensure that they aren’t overfed. Remove any uneaten food that is left after two hours.

Breeding: So far, RCS might seem like the perfect pet and it only gets better. They are one of the easiest aquatic species to breed. In fact, they will start breeding just fine as long as they are well-fed and looked after, however, if you want to establish a self-replenishing population of Red Cherry Shrimp, then you have to provide them with certain conditions. The aquarium should be heavily planted. It should also be properly cycled and that’s it.

Tank Size and Setup: RCS will thrive in a tank that is heavily planted and has plenty of cover. Sand substrate best replicate the natural habitat of the Red Cherry Shrimp. However, they will do just as well on most substrates. A darker substrate brings out their color quite nicely.  Provide plenty of moss and live plants as cover for the shrimp.  Baby shrimp can feed on the microorganisms living on the live plants and wood.  RCS breeding colonies should be kept in aquariums of at least 5 gallons.  The larger the aquarium, the easier it will be to maintain ideal water conditions.

Tank Mates:  If the primary goal of the aquarium is breeding a large colony of shrimp, avoid all tank mates in the aquarium.  The rule of thumb is: if the shrimp will fit in the fish mouth they will most likely eat it.  Adult shrimp are safe around most Nano fish 2” and smaller but the babies are not.  Baby shrimp, or shrimplets, can be as small as 1mm when born and will quickly become food to larger tank mates if there is not adequate cover. If you want to include RCS in a community tank, choose tank mates under 2”.  Some great tank mates for the RCS include Corydoras, guppies,  Otocinclus Catfish, small Tetras, Dwarf Gouramis, and freshwater snails.

A few helpful tips when setting up a Red Cherry Shrimp Aquarium:

• Avoid copper medication at all times as they are fatal for shrimp.
• Add 2-3 shrimp per gallon in a shrimp only tank and adjust accordingly if there are other tankmates
• They will shed their exoskeleton regularly. Do not remove them as they will feed on it to recover lost nutrients.
• Use sponge pre-filters on the filter inlets to prevent shrimplets from being sucked into the filter. Sponge filters are a great option.