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Common Name:	blue shrimp, blue neocaridina
Scientific Name:	Neocaridina sp. "blue"
Size:	2.5-3.5cm
Temperature:	wide range, but best kept at 70°F-80°F
Water Parameters:	Can live under conditions that are soft and slightly acidic (ph 6.6-7.0) to very hard and alkaline (ph 7.0-8.4 and above). Very adaptable shrimp. Is most productive and does best in soft to medium hard water with a ph in the alkaline range. Might not reproduce at all in water that is too acidic.
Food:	Algae, fish food (flake, pellets etc)
Origin:	China
Larval Development Type:	Completely Suppressed: Larvae assume a benthic lifestyle after hatching, i.e. they are miniature versions of the adults. There is no planktonic larval stage.

This Neocaridina sp. is commonly imported and sold as "blue shrimp" or "blue neocaridina." As seen in the last three pictures above the imported animals are usually a nice blue color. However, the blue color is not passed on to their offspring. The first three pictures show F1 (first generation) offspring of imported blue animals and as one can see there is not even a hint of blue on them. The fourth picture is an F2 juvenile and it's also lacking blue coloration. Hence, the blue color of the imported animals must be artificial. Either the shrimp are fed some type of food color that permanently colors the tissue of the shrimp or the shrimp have a food item in their habitats that gives them the blue coloration. Whatever the color is, it's definitely not natural and not hereditary. All the "blue shrimp" offered for sale are either this species or one of many closely related Neocaridina sp. that have been colored blue in the above described manner. Either way, in addition to the fact that these imported animals are usually in a terrible shape and die within a few days or weeks, none of them will produce blue offspring if you are lucky enough to keep them alive and get them to breed. Currently, there is no real blue shrimp in the hobby anywhere in the world.

Having said that the captive-bred offspring look very attractive even without the blue body coloration of the imported animals. The different white and black patterns on this shrimp's body give it a very ornate look. In contrast to the imported blue shrimp, the captive-bred animals are very hardy and as easy to breed as the red cherry shrimp.

This shrimp will hybridize with all other Neocaridina species and should be kept separately from them.