Neocaridina profile
Black Rose shrimp
Neocaridina davidi var. Black Rose
Black Rose shrimp are a dark black Neocaridina davidi line. They are peaceful, hardy and beginner-friendly in a stable, fully cycled aquarium.
Quick verdict
Suitable for: Beginners with a fully cycled, stable aquarium. Watch especially: stability over perfect values.
Quick care card
Use this card as a starting point. Always check whether your aquarium is stable enough for sensitive species.
18 - 28 °C
6.5 - 8
6 - 15 °dH
3 - 10 °dH
150 - 350 ppm
From 20 liters
Easy
Peaceful group shrimp that grazes throughout the day
Biofilm, algae and light supplemental shrimp food
Breeds readily in freshwater with direct development
Beginners with a fully cycled, stable aquarium
Important
Do not add these shrimp to a fresh or unstable aquarium. Most problems are caused by ammonia, nitrite, copper, water that is much colder than the tank, or rapid changes in pH, GH, KH and TDS. Do not mix different Neocaridina color lines if you want to preserve color-stable offspring.
Care in practice
These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.
A safe practical range is 18-27 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-8.0, GH 6-12, KH 2-8 and TDS roughly 150-300 ppm. For active breeding, stable middle values usually work better than chasing extremes: around 22-24 degrees, neutral to slightly alkaline water and enough GH/KH for healthy molts. Test especially when you see molting problems, losses after water changes or declining breeding activity.
Use a well-cycled aquarium from 20 liters; 30 to 40 liters is easier to keep stable for a growing colony. Inert substrate, a sponge filter or protected intake, moss, fine plants, leaves and mature biofilm make the tank safer for adults and shrimplets. Dark substrate and plenty of cover reduce stress and make the color stand out more.
These shrimp graze all day on biofilm, algae, detritus and microorganisms. Add small amounts of quality shrimp food, leaf litter or blanched vegetables and remove leftovers if they remain. Overfeeding is more dangerous than skipping a day, because rotting food can quickly raise ammonia, nitrite and bacterial load.
Keep them in a group, preferably at least 10 to 20 animals, so the colony has enough males and females. They are peaceful, visible and active when the aquarium is calm. Sudden hiding often points to stress, predators, unstable water values or a recent disturbance.
A species-only tank is safest for maximum breeding. Small calm fish and snails can often live with adult shrimp, but almost all fish will eat shrimplets if they get the chance. Do not combine this color line with other Neocaridina colors if color purity matters, because offspring can drift back toward wild-type colors over generations.
These shrimp breed fully in freshwater. Females carry eggs under the abdomen for about 3 to 4 weeks, and the young hatch as tiny fully formed shrimp. No brackish-water stage is needed. A mature aquarium with biofilm, moss, fine food for shrimplets and a protected filter intake gives the best survival. Avoid large cleanups, hungry fish and sudden water changes while the colony is breeding.
Common mistakes are adding shrimp to an immature tank, correcting water values too quickly, using replacement water that is much colder than the aquarium, letting food rot, using medication or fertilizer containing copper, leaving filter intakes unprotected and mixing different Neocaridina color lines while expecting color-stable offspring.
Background and identification
Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.
Neocaridina davidi is native to East and Southeast Asia. Black Rose is a selectively bred aquarium line, not a separate wild species.
Black Rose shrimp have a dark brown-black to deep black body. Females are usually larger and darker than males. Color can look stronger on light plants and pale hardscape, while dark substrate gives security.
Red, blue, yellow, orange, green, black, chocolate and Rili shrimp are usually color lines of Neocaridina. Their care is broadly similar, but color lines should be kept separate if you want predictable offspring. Crosses between colors are biologically harmless, but they often produce wild-type brown or gray young after a few generations.
Full species profile
Black Rose shrimp are selected for a very dark brown to black body color within Neocaridina davidi. Care is the same as for other Neocaridina color lines.
Appearance
Good Black Rose shrimp show strong dark coverage with little transparency. Males are often slimmer and less saturated, while mature females can become nearly black.
Water parameters and stability
A safe practical range is 18-27 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-8.0, GH 6-12, KH 2-8 and TDS roughly 150-300 ppm. Stable middle values are better than chasing exact numbers. Stability matters more than perfection.
Aquarium setup
Use a mature aquarium with inert substrate, a sponge filter or protected intake, moss, fine plants, leaves and plenty of surfaces for biofilm. Dark substrate and cover reduce stress and can improve visible color.
Feeding
They mainly graze on biofilm, algae, detritus and tiny food particles. Supplement lightly with shrimp food, leaf litter and occasional blanched vegetables. Remove leftovers before they pollute the water.
Behavior and tank mates
Black Rose shrimp are peaceful group shrimp. Keep at least 10 animals, preferably more. Calm snails and very small peaceful fish may work with adults, but fish often eat shrimplets. A shrimp-only tank is best for breeding.
Breeding
They breed in freshwater with direct development. Females carry eggs for roughly 3 to 4 weeks, and the young hatch as miniature shrimp. Biofilm, moss and a shrimp-safe filter intake are key for survival.
Color and selection
Keep Black Rose shrimp separate from other Neocaridina colors if you want to preserve the dark line. Selection is important because weaker animals may show brown, clear or wild-type patches.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about Black Rose shrimp.
Sources and review
Last reviewed: June 13, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.