Product Details

Blue Dream Shrimp – Neocaridina spp.

The Blue Dream Shrimp is a striking captive-bred freshwater shrimp selected for deep blue, navy, sapphire or blue-black colouration. Usually associated with Neocaridina davidi colour lines, this shrimp is peaceful, active and ideal for mature planted aquariums. It is an excellent biofilm and algae grazer, but it should be treated as a proper aquarium inhabitant with stable water, safe tank mates and regular feeding rather than a simple clean-up animal.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Blue Dream Shrimp
Other Names: Blue Dream Neocaridina, Blue Velvet Shrimp, Blue Sakura Shrimp, Blue Cherry Shrimp, Blue Freshwater Shrimp
Scientific Name: Neocaridina spp.
Likely Trade Species: Neocaridina davidi colour strain
Invertebrate Type: Freshwater Dwarf Shrimp
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Wild Neocaridina shrimp are small freshwater shrimp from East Asia, where they live among plants, leaf litter, stones, roots and biofilm-covered surfaces. Blue Dream Shrimp are captive-bred aquarium colour strains, so their blue colour is an ornamental trait rather than a wild-type feature.

In the aquarium, they do best in mature planted setups with moss, fine-leaved plants, wood, leaf litter, gentle filtration and plenty of grazing surfaces. A well-established aquarium with natural biofilm is strongly recommended, especially for newly introduced shrimp and young shrimplets.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Blue Dream Shrimp usually show blue, dark blue, navy, sapphire or blue-black body colour. Colour quality varies by grade, line, sex, age and stress level. Females are often larger, deeper-bodied and more strongly coloured than males, while males are usually smaller, slimmer and may appear paler or more translucent.

Adults usually reach around 2–3 cm. Colour may fade temporarily after transport, moulting or stress, then improve once the shrimp are settled into a stable aquarium.

Aquarium Suitability:

Blue Dream Shrimp are well suited to planted nano aquariums, shrimp colonies, peaceful aquascapes and carefully chosen community tanks. They graze constantly on biofilm, soft algae, fine food particles and microorganisms growing across plants and décor.

They are not suitable for new aquariums, aggressive fish tanks, predator communities, copper-treated aquariums, unstable setups or tanks with fish that will harass or eat shrimp. For best breeding results, a shrimp-only aquarium is ideal.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 20–30 litres for a shrimp-only colony, with larger aquariums offering better long-term stability. For mixed community aquariums, 45–60 litres or more is preferred.

Keep in groups, ideally 6–10 or more to start a visible colony. Larger groups behave more naturally, graze more confidently and are more likely to breed once settled.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 18–26°C
pH: 6.5–8.0
Hardness: Moderately soft to hard; stable GH and KH are important
Additional Notes: Stability is more important than exact numbers. Blue Dream Shrimp need a fully cycled aquarium with ammonia and nitrite at zero and low nitrate. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, pH, hardness or TDS. Use dechlorinated water and avoid copper-based medications, copper-contaminated water and unsafe fertiliser overdoses.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Invertebrate

Blue Dream Shrimp are peaceful and can be kept with other peaceful dwarf shrimp, small snails and carefully chosen nano fish. Suitable fish tank mates include very small rasboras, small peaceful tetras, Otocinclus, pygmy Cory-type catfish and other calm species that are unlikely to harass adult shrimp.

Avoid loaches, puffers, larger cichlids, angelfish, gouramis, large tetras, most barbs and any fish large enough to eat them. Even peaceful fish may eat baby shrimp, so a shrimp-only aquarium is best for maximum colony growth.

If you want to preserve the blue colour line, avoid mixing Blue Dream Shrimp with other Neocaridina colour strains, as crossbreeding can produce wild-type brown, clear or mixed-colour offspring over time.

Feeding:

Blue Dream Shrimp graze constantly on biofilm, soft algae and tiny food particles, but they still benefit from targeted feeding. Offer quality shrimp pellets, algae wafers, biofilm foods, blanched courgette, spinach, nettle or other shrimp-safe vegetables. Occasional protein-rich foods can be offered sparingly.

Feed very small amounts and remove uneaten food. Overfeeding can quickly cause water-quality issues, planaria, hydra or pest snail blooms in shrimp aquariums.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

Blue Dream Shrimp spend much of their time grazing over plants, moss, wood, leaves, stones and substrate. They are peaceful, social and often more visible when kept in a good-sized group. After moulting, shrimp may hide briefly while their new shell hardens.

Females may carry eggs under the abdomen, known as being berried. The young hatch as miniature shrimp rather than a free-swimming larval stage, so they can grow in freshwater if the aquarium is mature, safe and not overstocked with fish.

Care Notes:

Add Blue Dream Shrimp only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Use a sponge filter or cover filter intakes with a fine guard to protect adults and shrimplets. Provide moss, plants, wood and leaf litter for grazing and shelter. Acclimate slowly, as shrimp are sensitive to sudden changes.

Avoid copper medications, untreated tap water, rapid parameter swings, aggressive fish and heavy-handed cleaning that removes all biofilm. A little natural algae and biofilm is beneficial in a shrimp aquarium.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common / Captive-bred colour strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the shrimp you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, blue colour, colour coverage, shell clarity, sex and markings can occur between individual shrimp.