Bloody Mary shrimp

Neocaridina profile

Bloody Mary shrimp

Neocaridina davidi "Bloody Mary"

Neocaridina
Easy
Breeds readily in freshwater when the tank is mature and stable

Bloody Mary shrimp complete the red Neocaridina range next to Red Cherry, Sakura Red, Fire Red and Painted Fire Red. Keep them in a mature, stable tank with biofilm, gentle maintenance and no sudden corrections.

Written by Vincent
Published
Last reviewed

Review Reviewed against species-specific sources, hands-on experience and known water-parameter ranges.

Quick verdict

Suitable for: Beginners who want a hardy deep red Neocaridina line. 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.

Temperature

18 - 26 °C

pH

6.5 - 8

GH

6 - 12 °dH

KH

2 - 8 °dH

TDS

150 - 300 ppm

Aquarium

From 20 liters

Difficulty

Easy

Behavior

Peaceful active group shrimp with deep red coverage

Feeding

Biofilm, algae, leaves and small portions of complete shrimp food

Breeding

Breeds readily in freshwater when the tank is mature and stable

Best match

Beginners who want a hardy deep red Neocaridina line

Important

Do not mix Bloody Mary with other Neocaridina colors if color stability matters. Crosses often produce less predictable or wild-type offspring.

Care in practice

These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.

Water parameters and stability

Safe practical range: 18-26 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-8.0, GH 6-12, KH 2-8 and TDS around 150-300 ppm.

Aquarium setup

Use at least 20 liters, preferably larger, with moss, wood, leaves, plants and a shrimp-safe filter intake.

Feeding

Keep biofilm as the base and feed lightly with shrimp food, leaves, vegetables or algae-focused foods.

Group size and behavior

Start with 10 to 20 shrimp from the same line so the colony has enough genetic and social base.

Combining with fish or shrimp

Snails and calm nano fish can work, but a species tank gives the best breeding and color selection.

Breeding and juveniles

Females carry eggs and release miniature shrimp. Biofilm and low predation decide how many young survive.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes are mixing colors, starting with too few shrimp, using an immature tank, overfeeding and selecting only by shop-light color.

Deep dive

Background and identification

Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.

Origin and natural habitat

Bloody Mary is an aquarium-bred Neocaridina davidi color line, not a wild species locality.

Appearance and identification

Deep red color, often darker and fuller than standard Red Cherry. Females are usually larger and more intense.

Similar species and color lines

Darker than Red Cherry in many lines; care remains the same Neocaridina care model.

Full species profile

Bloody Mary shrimp are a deep red Neocaridina davidi line. Their care is the same stable, mature-aquarium routine used for other Neocaridina, but line keeping matters if you want reliable color.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common questions about Bloody Mary shrimp.

Sources and review

Last reviewed: June 16, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.

Taxonomy
Water values
Practical experience
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