Blue cherry shrimp — sold as Blue Dream (deep opaque blue) and Blue Velvet (lighter sky blue) — are the same hardy species as red cherries (Neocaridina davidi), just a different colour line. Everything that makes cherries beginner-friendly applies here; the only extra skill is keeping the blue blue across generations.
Quick care card
| Difficulty | Easy — same as red cherry |
| Temperature | 20–26°C |
| pH / GH | 6.8–7.6 / GH 6–8 |
| Tank size | 19 L+ (38 L recommended) |
| Lifespan | 1–2 years |
Tank setup for maximum blue
Two tricks make blues glow: a dark substrate (blue shrimp fade on pale sand — they partially adapt colour to surroundings) and dense greenery for contrast. Follow the standard shrimp tank setup with black gravel, a sponge filter and plenty of moss.
Feeding
Identical to any Neocaridina: biofilm as the staple, plus quality pellets 2–3× a week — the full menu is in our shrimp foods guide. Slight underfeeding always beats overfeeding.
Breeding — and keeping the line blue
A berried Blue Dream female from our own tanks — eggs visible under the tail.
Blues breed exactly like reds: berried females carry 20–30 eggs for 3–4 weeks, shrimplets hatch fully formed. Two rules keep the colour strong:
- Never mix colour lines — blue × red = brownish wild-type offspring within a couple of generations. One colour per tank.
- Cull toward blue — rehome the palest offspring every month or two, keep the deepest blue breeders. Same method as our red cherry grading guide.
Tank mates
Snails, otocinclus, small tetras and amano shrimp are all safe — the full tested list is in top 12 cherry shrimp tank mates. Skip bettas and barbs.
FAQ
Blue Dream vs Blue Velvet — which should I buy?
Blue Dream for the deepest navy blue; Blue Velvet for a brighter sky tone. Care is identical — pick the shade you love.
Why did my blue shrimp turn pale?
Usually stress, pale substrate, or mixed-line genetics. Check water first (troubleshooting guide), then look at your substrate colour.
Get true-blue stock
Colour longevity starts with well-bred genetics: our Blue Dream and Blue Velvet lines are bred in Sydney and shipped Australia-wide with a Live Arrival Guarantee.
