Green Jade Shrimp (Neocaridina Davidi) Species Profile & Care Guide
The Green Jade Shrimp is a more popular choice for shrimp hobbyists because they are relatively easy to care for and breed. They stand out superbly against a dark substrate. These shrimp also make a stunning and compelling addition to an aquarium. These shrimp are highly active as they scavenge around the tank, cleaning up leftover food and fish waste. They enjoy grazing on naturally occurring algae and biofilm, especially in a planted tank.
These shrimp are relatively low maintenance and can help keep your tank clean. Green Jade Shrimp can endure a pretty wide range of water parameters and are not aggressive and are also very versatile, making these shrimp an excellent option as tank companions.
Green Jade Shrimp is one of the latest colour variants of Neocaridinas. And are a result of selective breeding of the Red Cherry Shrimp and come in a variety of different greens. Some individuals have bright green striping and spotting over translucent yellow, while others may be bright green of varying shades or have a lighter green colouring. In contrast, other specimens are a deep emerald.
| Quick Facts | |
| Scientific Name | Neocaridina Davidi |
| Other Names | Green Neocaridina |
| Family | Atyidae |
| Genus | neocaridina |
| Origins | Southeast Asia |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | All Levels |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | livebearer |
| Lifespan | 1.5 - 2 years |
| Water Conditions | |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| Temperature | 65 - 84 ℉ (18.3 - 28.9 ℃) |
| PH | 7.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 4 - 8 |
| KH | 3 - 15 |
| TDS | 200-300 |
Natural Habitat of the Green Jade Shrimp
The Green Jade Shrimp originates from Taiwan in Southeast Asia. They inhabit ponds and streams generally with plenty of vegetation and often with rocks and wood as a natural substrate. However, because of the popularity of colourful freshwater shrimp, this has led to them being available in other countries via the aquarium trade.
Other Neocaridina of interest
Diet
Green Jade Shrimp will readily accept a broad assortment of foods, and in planted tanks will mainly survive off of biofilm and algae that they have scavenged. However, if there are too many shrimp in your tank, the available algae and biofilm may be more scarce as the plants will not produce enough for them. You can supplement their diet with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and other speciality shrimp food.
Sexing the Green Jade Shrimp
Differentiating male from female Green Jade Shrimp can be somewhat tricky until the shrimp begin to mature. Female Green Jade Shrimp have slightly larger tails and display a "saddle" structure on the upper body, behind their head, this is where the eggs are stored before fertilisation. When female shrimp are "berried", the saddle shape will appear more pronounced. Once the shrimp are fully-grown, the males will be smaller and slimmer than the females.
Breeding the Green Jade Shrimp
It is effortless to breed Green Jade Shrimp, and as long as the water parameters are to their liking, they will produce frequently.
It is recommended to purchase at least eight shrimp to guarantee that there is enough male to female pairs for successful breeding. When female shrimp have eggs available for fertilisation, they will moult and release pheromones that send the males into a frenzy.
You must remember that if you are keeping shrimp with other species of fish, or possibly aggressive shrimp species, this may affect reproduction. If the shrimp feel vulnerable or do not have places in your tank to hide, they probably won't breed.
After the shrimp have finished breeding, the eggs will gestate for around two to three weeks. The female will then give birth to miniature versions of the parents.
The shrimp fry will feed on the same food sources like their parents, and will frequently moult during their early stages of life. Leave moulted shells in the tank, as the shrimp fry will consume them for extra minerals like calcium this will help with their growth.
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