The Ultimate Guide to Neocaridina Shrimp Colors and Strains

Neocaridina shrimp are some of the most popular freshwater shrimp in the aquarium hobby — and it's easy to see why. They come in an incredible variety of colors, patterns, and grades, making them perfect for both beginners and advanced breeders.

Here’s a complete list of Neocaridina strains and color variations you can find today:

🎨 Solid Color Strains

• Red Cherry Shrimp
  (The classic! Bright red to deep blood red depending on grade.)

• Sakura Red Shrimp
  (Higher grade, more uniform and intense red.)

• Painted Fire Red Shrimp
  (Top-grade red, almost no transparency.)

• Yellow Shrimp
  (Lemon-yellow body, bright and cheerful.)

• Golden Back Yellow Shrimp
  (Yellow shrimp with a vivid golden stripe along their back.)

• Blue Dream Shrimp
  (Deep royal blue coloration.)

• Blue Velvet Shrimp
  (Lighter, sky-blue variation.)

• Orange Sakura Shrimp
  (Bright, neon orange bodies.)

• Green Jade Shrimp
  (Rich green bodies, sometimes with a blueish hue.)

• Chocolate Shrimp
  (Dark brown, often with a reddish tone.)

• Black Rose Shrimp
  (Glossy black, deep and intense.)

• Snowball Shrimp
  (Opaque, milky white bodies.)

🧬 Patterned and Special Strains

• Rili Shrimp
  (Clear midsection with colored head and tail.)

  • Red Rili Shrimp (Red head/tail, clear middle.)

  • Blue Rili Shrimp (Blue head/tail, clear middle.)

• Orange Eye Shrimp
  (Newer rare strains with bright orange eyes, appearing in many colors like red, yellow, and blue bodies.)

• Skittle Shrimp
  (Mixed Neocaridina colors — a rainbow colony.)

🌟 Rare and Newer Strains

• Orange Eye Blue Shrimp
  (Vibrant blue bodies with neon orange eyes.)

• Orange Eye Red Shrimp
  (Bright red bodies with orange eyes.)

• Green Rili Shrimp
  (Green head/tail with transparent center.)

• Chocolate Rili Shrimp
  (Brown head/tail with clear midsection.)

• Bloody Mary Shrimp
  (Deep, blood-red shrimp where the shell is translucent but the tissue is so red it glows.)

• Fire Yellow Shrimp
  (More intense yellow version of Yellow Shrimp.)

⚡ Fun Fact:

Most Neocaridina color strains started from the wild-type Neocaridina davidi, which looks brownish and clear in the wild. Through selective breeding, we now have dozens of colorful variations!

🎯 Final Thoughts

No matter your tank setup or color preferences, there’s a Neocaridina shrimp perfect for you. From the classic Red Cherry to the newly emerging Orange Eye strains, these tiny creatures add endless color, personality, and life to your aquarium.

Tip: Want the best color? Always choose shrimp bred for deep color saturation and stable genetics!