Crystal red shrimp

Care at a glance

The crystal red is the enthusiast's shrimp: white and red in crisp bands, bred in grades ranging from a few euros to hundreds per animal. It is considerably more sensitive than the cherry shrimp and needs a tank set up specifically for it.

In practice that means soft, acidic water — often RO water with a dedicated mineral mix — an active substrate that keeps the pH down, and a tank that has had months to mature. Swings are the leading cause of death, so change small amounts of water and test regularly. Copper is lethal, even in traces from plant fertiliser or fish medication. Get it right and they breed steadily.

Good to know

• Needs a mature, stable tank

Best not combined with

• Giant freshwater shrimpMacrobrachium rosenbergii

Related species

• Ghost shrimpPalaemonetes paludosus
• Olive nerite snailNeritina reclivata
• Bamboo shrimpAtyopsis moluccensis
• Racing nerite snailVittina turrita
• Mystery snailPomacea bridgesii
• Nerite snail (zebra)Neritina sp.