Chocolate Shrimp (Neocaridina Davidi)
Chocolate Shrimp are very hardy and can adapt to many different water conditions, making them easy to look after. Chocolate Shrimp are scavengers which make them very useful in planted aquariums as they will work diligently to clean up the leftover waste in any aquarium.
These Shrimp are very sociable and peaceful, and you can keep them with varying species of Shrimp in the same tank, small non-aggressive fish, as well as most snails.
Chocolate Shrimp is closely related to the Bloody Mary Shrimp and the Black Rose Shrimp and closest to its original form. These Shrimp, however, are bred over generations for a more solid brown and are the latest colour variation to enter the market.
Their brown colouring can vary from a light brown to almost black colour, and some may even show a dainty blue shimmer.
Chocolate Shrimp accompany the same grading guide as Red Cherry Shrimp. Sakura, Cherry and Fire. The Sakuras grade is a more translucent brown, having only minor lines of dots of transparency through its carapace. The Cherry grade is translucent with specks of brown across its body, and the Fire is entirely brown with no apparent lines anywhere on its body. Painted Fire is referred to completely opaque Fire grades, and its saddles and eggs are only visible when viewed through special lighting.
Make sure you keep different colours of Neocaridina separate to avoid interbreeding, resulting in wild-type offspring in the 2nd generation and after that. There are certain exceptions where interbreeding will not throw out wild-types, but they will change the intensity and colouring over time.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neocaridina Davidi |
| Other Names | Brown Shrimp, Sakura Chocolate, Fire Chocolate, Chocolate Sakura Shrimp |
| Classification | Malacostraca |
| Order | Decapoda |
| Family | Atyidae |
| Genus | neocaridina |
| Origins | China, Taiwan, Vietnam |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | All Levels |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | livebearer |
| Lifespan | 1 - 2 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 4 - 14 |
| KH | 0 - 10 |
| TDS | 100 - 200 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 64 - 84℉ 17.8 - 28.9℃ | |
Feeding
Like all Shrimp, Chocolate Shrimp are bottom feeders that will happily consume almost anything. They have a special love for biofilm, but because our aquariums are usually too 'clean' to contain enough of it, you'll have to supplement this with high-quality dried fish or shrimp food.
These Shrimp will also appreciate the occasional treat of blanched vegetables such as courgette, broccoli and zucchini, as well as cucumber.
Placing dried leaves such as Indian Almond leaves or Mulberry leaves into your aquarium is also very beneficial for your Shrimp.
Sexual Dimorphism
Chocolate Shrimp, like all Neocaridinas, is slightly harder to sex until they mature. Once they are fully developed, the females will be larger than the male and have a rounder underbelly, whereas males will have a straight underbelly.