Neocaridina Davidi var Blue Dream, Bred in SA

Quick Facts:

• Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi (Blue Dream variant)
• Common Name: Blue Dream Shrimp
• Origin: Selectively bred from wild Neocaridina davidi
• Size: 2.5–3.5 cm
• Lifespan: 1.5–2 years
• Temperament: Peaceful, social
• Difficulty Level: Easy

Tank Requirements

• Tank Size: 10+ litres (best in 20+ litre setups for stability)
• Temperature: 18–26°C
• pH Range: 6.5–7.5
• Water Hardness: 6–12 dGH
• Filtration: Sponge filters or gentle-flow filters to prevent shrimp from being sucked in.
• Substrate: Dark substrates help enhance their blue color. Active substrates can be used but aren’t necessary.
• Plants & Hiding Spots:
  • Mosses (Java Moss, Subwassertang) – Great for baby shrimp and biofilm growth.
  • Hardy plants (Anubias, Bucephalandra, Java Fern) – Provide cover and help maintain water quality.
  • Driftwood & Leaf Litter – Create biofilm for shrimp to graze on.

Behavior & Tank Mates

• Peaceful and active grazers. They spend most of their time searching for food on plants, substrate, and hard surfaces.
• Best kept in groups of 6+ for social interaction.
• Safe tank mates:
  • Small, peaceful fish like ember tetras, chili rasboras, and celestial pearl danios.
  • Other dwarf shrimp like Cherry Shrimp and Amano Shrimp.
  • Snails (Nerite Snails, Mystery Snails, etc.).
• Avoid aggressive or large fish like cichlids, bettas, or large barbs that may eat shrimp.

Diet

Blue Dream Shrimp are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet:

• Natural Biofilm & Algae (forms on tank surfaces, essential for healthy shrimp).
• High-quality Shrimp Pellets or Wafers (e.g., shrimp-specific foods with minerals).
• Blanched Vegetables (spinach, zucchini, carrot).
• Protein Treats (occasional bloodworms or brine shrimp).
• Calcium Sources (cuttlefish bone, crushed eggshells) for healthy molting.

Breeding

• Easy to breed in stable water conditions. No special setup needed.
• Females carry eggs (“berried”) for ~3–4 weeks.
• Hatchlings are miniature versions of adults and don’t require a larval stage.
• Best survival rates in heavily planted tanks with biofilm and moss for hiding.

Care Tips

Keep stable water parameters (avoid sudden changes).
Regular small water changes (10–20% weekly) to maintain water quality.
Avoid copper in fish medications and fertilizers, as it’s toxic to shrimp.
Provide natural grazing surfaces like moss and driftwood.