What tank size does a Blue Velvet Shrimp need?

A Blue Velvet Shrimp needs an aquarium of at least 19 litres (5 US gallons) with a footprint at least 30 cm (11.8 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Blue Velvet Shrimp need?

Blue Velvet Shrimp does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 6.5–8 and a general hardness of 4–14 °dGH.

What group size does a Blue Velvet Shrimp need?

Blue Velvet Shrimp is a social species — keep a group of at least 10 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Blue Velvet Shrimp suitable for beginners?

Yes — Blue Velvet Shrimp is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Blue Velvet Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Atyidae

InvertsDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

📷 Roth 1312 · CC-BY-4.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Blue Velvet Shrimp — Neocaridina davidi — 📷 Roth 1312 · CC-BY-4.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The blue velvet shrimp is a solid-blue selectively bred strain of Neocaridina davidi, the very same species as the red cherry shrimp. It is among the hardiest and most beginner-friendly dwarf shrimp in the hobby: a peaceful, always-busy biofilm grazer that tolerates a wide range of water chemistry and breeds freely in a stable, mature planted tank. Its deep blue body shows best against dark substrate and green moss. Because it is genetically identical to other Neocaridina colours, it must not be housed with different colour strains.

Care

Keep a colony in a mature, stable planted nano tank with gentle flow, moss and biofilm, and steady GH for clean molting. Very sensitive to copper and to ammonia or nitrite spikes; acclimate slowly. Do not mix with other Neocaridina colour strains or offspring revert to wild brown.

Diet

Omnivorous grazer that lives off biofilm, soft algae, detritus and leaf litter. Offer blanched vegetables and a small pinch of prepared shrimp food a few times weekly, never more than the colony clears quickly.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Saddle and berryStrong · at 12–18 mm body length — under 10 mm nothing shows
The ovaries show through the shell behind the head as a pale yellow or green patch shaped like a saddle. Those are unfertilised eggs, and their appearance is what tells you she is mature. Once she is carrying, they move under the tail and are fanned by her swimmerets.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Blue Velvet Shrimp need?: A Blue Velvet Shrimp needs an aquarium of at least 19 litres (5 US gallons) with a footprint at least 30 cm (11.8 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Blue Velvet Shrimp need?: Blue Velvet Shrimp does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 6.5–8 and a general hardness of 4–14 °dGH.
What group size does a Blue Velvet Shrimp need?: Blue Velvet Shrimp is a social species — keep a group of at least 10 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Blue Velvet Shrimp suitable for beginners?: Yes — Blue Velvet Shrimp is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature18–28°C

Optimal temp.20–26°C

pH6.5–8

Hardness (GH)4–14°d

Carbonate (KH)1–8°d

Adult size3.5 cm

Min. volume≥ 19 L

Min. tank length≥ 30 cm

Group size≥ 10

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~1.5 yrs

Try in the calculator