Shrimpadilly FAQ & Starter Shrimp Care Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of shrimp do you keep?
Shrimpadilly focuses primarily on Neocaridina freshwater shrimp — colourful little cleanup crews known for their personalities, fascinating behaviour, and ability to turn ordinary planted tanks into tiny underwater worlds.
Current and upcoming lines may include:
- Fire Reds
- Orange Sunkists
- Chaos Skittles
- Cinderback Hulks
Availability changes as colonies grow, molt, reproduce, and continue making questionable life choices.
Are freshwater shrimp beginner friendly?
Yes — especially Neocaridina shrimp.
They’re peaceful, endlessly entertaining, and surprisingly easy to care for once your tank is stable.
That said, shrimp do best in:
- established aquariums
- stable water conditions
- planted tanks
- environments without aggressive fish
They are tiny drama queens when it comes to sudden water changes.
How many shrimp should I start with?
We usually recommend starting with at least:
- 6–10 shrimp for small colonies
- 10–20 if you’d like to build a thriving breeding colony more quickly
Shrimp feel safer in groups and are far more active when they have friends to commit tiny crimes with.
Do shrimp clean aquariums?
They help — but they are not magical janitors.
Shrimp love:
- biofilm
- algae
- leftover food
- decaying plant matter
They contribute to a healthy ecosystem, but they still need proper feeding and tank maintenance.
Can shrimp live with fish?
Sometimes.
Many fish see baby shrimp as expensive snacks.
Shrimp tend to do best with:
- snails
- other shrimp
- tiny peaceful fish
Heavy planting and moss help shrimp feel secure and improve baby survival rates.
What water parameters do shrimp need?
Neocaridina shrimp generally do well in:
- Temperature: 68–76°F (20–24°C)
- pH: roughly 6.8–7.6
- Stable parameters are more important than chasing perfection
Sudden swings in temperature or water chemistry are much harder on shrimp than slightly imperfect numbers.
Do you ship?
At this time, Shrimpadilly is focusing primarily on local pickup and limited availability while colonies continue growing.
Shipping may become available in the future.
Where are you located?
Shrimpadilly is based near Sarnia / Petrolia, Ontario, Canada.
Why are shrimp so addictive?
We ask ourselves this daily.
One minute you buy six shrimp for algae control.
The next minute you’re whispering “look at his tiny little hands” at 2 a.m.
Shrimpadilly Starter Care Guide
Tiny Lives. Big Personalities.
Freshwater shrimp are one of the most rewarding additions to a planted aquarium.
They’re curious, hardworking, strangely relaxing to watch, and occasionally involved in deeply suspicious behaviour.
This guide will help you create a healthy, stable environment for your future tiny underwater roommates.
1. Start With a Cycled Tank
This is the most important step.
Shrimp should never be added to a brand-new, uncycled aquarium.
A healthy shrimp tank needs:
- beneficial bacteria
- stable water conditions
- biofilm growth
- time to mature
A tank that has been running for several weeks is far safer than a freshly filled aquarium.
2. Plants Make Everything Better
Shrimp LOVE planted tanks.
Plants and moss provide:
- hiding places
- biofilm surfaces
- grazing areas
- security for babies
- improved water quality
Great beginner shrimp plants include:
- Java Moss
- Christmas Moss
- Hornwort
- Anubias
- Java Fern
- Floating plants
More moss = more shrimp happiness.
3. Feed Lightly
Shrimp are tiny.
Overfeeding is one of the fastest ways to create water quality issues.
Good foods include:
- shrimp pellets
- algae wafers
- blanched vegetables
- biofilm-rich surfaces
- specialized shrimp foods
If food sits untouched for hours, you’re probably feeding too much.
4. Stability Matters More Than Perfection
Shrimp dislike sudden changes.
Avoid:
- huge water changes
- sudden temperature shifts
- rapidly changing water parameters
Small, consistent maintenance is usually best.
Tiny creatures. Tiny nervous systems.
5. Molting Is Normal
Shrimp regularly shed their exoskeletons as they grow.
This is called molting.
A freshly molted shrimp may:
- hide for a while
- look pale
- act vulnerable
Do not remove molts from the tank right away — shrimp often eat them to reclaim minerals.
Nature is efficient and slightly horrifying.
6. Babies Will Hide
If your shrimp breed, don’t panic if you barely see the babies at first.
Tiny shrimplets spend much of their time:
- hiding in moss
- grazing on biofilm
- avoiding becoming snacks
A heavily planted tank dramatically improves survival rates.
7. Snails Are Usually Friends
Most common aquarium snails coexist peacefully with shrimp.
Many shrimp keepers intentionally keep:
- bladder snails
- ramshorn snails
- Malaysian trumpet snails
They help process leftover food and contribute to the ecosystem.
They may also stage population explosions if overfed.
Final Thoughts
A good shrimp tank isn’t just decoration.
It becomes a tiny living ecosystem full of movement, personalities, strange rituals, and occasional political unrest around algae wafers.
Enjoy the process.
Observe often.
And never underestimate a shrimp with confidence.
— Shrimpadilly
Tiny lives. Big personalities.