Beginner guide
Plan a first shrimp tank: choose animals, compare equipment and check whether the aquarium is ready.
No baby shrimp: identify the stage to investigate
First distinguish not seeing eggs, seeing berried females but no visible young, and young that later disappear. Record what you actually observed and when. These situations call for…
Shrimp deaths after a water change: what to check
Deaths after a water change call for investigation of both the replacement water and the other maintenance. The timing does not establish that the change itself, copper or pH caused…
First month with shrimp: checks and a simple log
After stocking, check animals and equipment daily, record feeding and maintenance and test more when something changes. The aim is to spot deviations early. Rearranging the tank every…
Cleaning a sponge filter while preserving its function
Clean a sponge filter when debris restricts flow. If bubbling falls, also inspect the airline, check valve and air distributor: the sponge is not always the cause. Restore performance…
Choose and adjust a shrimp water-change routine
Choose water changes from the development of your tank, not a fixed percentage alone. Measure before and after maintenance, record the actual volume and check prepared replacement…
Shrimp care during a holiday: feeding and equipment checks
Base holiday care on a routine that already works in your tank. Arrange someone to check filter operation, temperature, water level and animal behaviour. Do not compensate for time…
Catappa leaves: grazing surfaces without overloading the tank
Catappa leaves provide extra grazing surface and may tint the water brown. They remain decomposing organic material. Start with a small clean piece, observe the tank and add more only…
Feeding in the first month: learn to assess portions
For a new Neocaridina group, start with a small visible portion of suitable shrimp food and observe actual uptake. Use an established tank with grazing surfaces. Extra powder does not…
New shrimp hiding: observe or investigate?
Hiding can occur after a move. Avoid dismantling the aquarium to find every animal, but check water, filtration and the animals you can see. There is no fixed period during which…
Drip-acclimating shrimp: steps and limitations
Drip acclimation gradually adds suitable aquarium water to the water in which shrimp arrive. It can help bridge differences, but cannot make an unsuitable receiving tank appropriate or…
Buying shrimp: check the animals, seller and water
Buy shrimp only when you know the species or line and the receiving tank suits it. Look at the whole group, ask about recent losses and have the seller explain water preparation.…
Build biofilm without polluting the shrimp tank
Allow clean, suitable surfaces to develop in a functioning aquarium: plants, wood, rocks and filter material. Avoid cleaning everything at once. Trying to force biofilm with excess…
Choosing moss and plants for a shrimp tank
Java moss, Anubias nana and Java fern are useful initial choices when their size and requirements fit your tank. They provide structure without requiring a demanding planted setup.…
Rocks and wood for shrimp: assess before use
Assess rocks and wood by origin, water effects and safe positioning. A trade name such as Seiryu, lava rock or spiderwood is not a safety certificate. Choose known aquarium-suitable…
Inert substrate or active soil: match the water plan
For a Neocaridina tank using suitable tap water, usually choose a substrate that does not deliberately change that water. A pH-lowering active soil may fit a planned bee/Taiwan Bee…
Installing a sponge filter: connections, flow and checks
Connect an air-driven sponge filter to a suitable pump and airline, protect the airline against water backflow and check that water actually moves through the filter. Bubbles confirm…
What equipment does a first shrimp tank need?
Start with a suitable tank, reliable filtration, a thermometer, appropriate tests and equipment for water preparation and maintenance. Choose the shrimp and investigate available water…
Choosing a suitable location for a shrimp aquarium
Choose a location away from direct sunlight, with appropriate support for the filled aquarium and enough maintenance space. Then measure the actual water temperature there. Furniture…
A 20-litre shrimp aquarium: understand its limitations
An established 20-litre tank can be workable for a small Neocaridina-only setup when water, filtration and maintenance are appropriate. When choosing a first shrimp tank, prefer at…
How many shrimp should you start with? A 10-20 shrimp guide
Start with 10-20 healthy Neocaridina shrimp , such as cherry shrimp, in a mature, appropriately sized aquarium. LICG recommends a starting group in this range and prefers at least 30…
Shrimp with fish, or a separate shrimp tank?
If you want to establish a Neocaridina colony and follow its young, preferably start without fish. This removes fish predation as a risk and makes feeding and behaviour easier to…
Best freshwater shrimp for beginners: 5 choices compared
Choose one color line of Neocaridina davidi as a practical first breeding-colony choice. Choose Amano shrimp when you mainly want larger algae grazers and do not need freshwater…