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Encyclopedia / Shrimp / Zhangjiajie shrimp
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Variations

3 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Zhangjiajie shrimp

Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis · Zhangjiajie, Green neocaridina, Dark green shrimp, Dark green shrimp neocaridina

Peaceful and hardy; good for community tanks with small fish.

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UnknownAdult size ?
UnknownTemperature ?
UnknownpH ?
UnknownSmallest tank ?
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Tank mates
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This one is best kept on its own, or with its own kind.

Not recommended
  • Vampire crab should be kept without other species, and it needs a land area too.
Not recommended
  • African clawed frog should be kept without other species.
Not recommended
  • Axolotl should be kept without other species.
Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ?Unknown
Group size ?10 or more
Temperament ?Peaceful
Swims at ?Bottom
Care level ?Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 1.5–2.5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful and hardy; good for community tanks with small fish.

Food

Biofilm, algae wafers and blanched vegetables.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

MaleSmaller and slimmer, with a straight underside
FemaleLarger with a deeper, rounder belly and a visible saddle when ready to breed
TipCompare size; berried females carry eggs under the tail
How hard to tellModerate

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Berried livebearer-style (free-swimming shrimplets) · Easy

Fully formed shrimplets after about 3 weeks.

Pairing

Keep a group of 15-20 and let them pair up; females moult and then mate within a day or two.

Setup

10-20 L planted tank with moss and a sponge filter; hardy in most tap water.

What starts it

Warm water and regular feeding.

Eggs

20-30 eggs for about 3-4 weeks.

Raising the fry

Shrimplets look like tiny adults and graze biofilm; give powdered food and moss and avoid strong flow.

Common mistakes
  • Cross-breeding with other Neocaridina colours
  • Copper in medicines
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionHunan Province, southern China
Rivers and lakesStreams around Zhangjiajie
HabitatClear, cool hill streams with plants and stones
Native rangeAbout 150 km across
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The story of the zhangjiajie shrimp

A small Neocaridina shrimp described from China in 1996 (Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List). In the hobby its name is used for the bred white and blue 'pearl' shrimp lines from Germany.

Chinese carcinologist Yixiong Cai described this dwarf shrimp in 1996 from the Zhangjiajie area of Hunan. Several popular hobby strains, including white and blue forms, have long been sold under its name.

First described by Yixiong Cai in 1996. Named for Named after Zhangjiajie in Hunan, China.

  • It belongs to the same genus as the cherry shrimp, Neocaridina.
  • Its young hatch as tiny copies of the adults, so it breeds easily in fresh water.
  • Its home region is famous for the towering sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Sources

3 facts checked with sources