Bloody Mary shrimp – a cocktail of beauty and unpretentiousness for an inexperienced aquarist

Bloody Mary shrimp are a colorful addition to any freshwater aquarium, particularly for beginning aquarium keepers. These shrimp, which are well-known for their vivid red color, liven up your tank with little work on your part. They are ideal for novices who wish to explore the world of aquatic pets without too many hassles because of their laid-back temperament.

The hardiness of Bloody Mary shrimp is one of their main attractions. They are a great option for novice aquarists as they can adjust to a variety of water conditions. You can appreciate their beauty without having to spend hours maintaining them thanks to their low maintenance needs.

Bloody Mary shrimp have an eye-catching appearance, but they are also very calm.

Aspect Details
Species Bloody Mary Shrimp
Appearance Bright red coloration, translucent body
Size About 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Tank Requirements Small to medium-sized tank, at least 5 gallons
Water Conditions pH 6.5-7.5, temperature 72-78°F (22-26°C

Natural habitat and tree of the genus

The southern parts of Asia are home to the Neocaradina Davidi in the wild. It can be found in the Korean Peninsula, Japan, China (including Taiwan), and other countries in this region in lakes and slowly moving rivers.

Untamed Davidi Neocaradina

In this region of the world, freshwater bodies are distinguished by an abundance of vegetation and banks covered in a thick layer of tropical forest that is home to a diverse range of species. Falling from branches that dangle over the water, leaves coat the bottom and provide a substantial portion of the shrimp’s diet along with algae. Furthermore, humic and tannin compounds found in leaf litter prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms.

The body of the wild Neocaridina Davidi is translucent and has a gray or gray-green hue. Through crossing and selection, they bred the Cherry shrimp, which is nearly entirely red, from some individuals with tiny red spots. Red Sacura was one of the genetic lines that breeders were able to obtain through additional manipulations with Cherry. Its red color is brighter and more vibrant than that of its predecessor.

Through the crossing of appropriate Sakura representatives, they created a breed whose internal organs were pigmented red instead of the shell. Her name was Mary Bloody. This breed is distinguished by its small stature and shortened funnel-shaped head.

Difference between male and female

Bloody Marys of both sexes have the same color intensity if Cherry males are paler in color than females. However, identifying the female is not difficult.

The following indications point to being a member of the weaker sex:

  1. Relatively large size (3 cm versus 1.5 for the male);
  2. Rounded abdomen instead of flat;
  3. The presence of a yellow or green triangular spot on the back of the head – a saddle (the ovaries are located here).

Female Bloody Marys almost always have caviar on them, indicating that they are pregnant. The shrimp places the eggs under its abdomen after first placing them on the saddle. The saddle and the eggs are the same color.

Keeping conditions

Since Neocaridina Davidi is a gregarious animal, it should be kept in groups of five or larger.

If not, the shrimps adopt a reclusive lifestyle, neutralizing the visual impact of their presence. Considering the high fertility of these crustaceans, it is advised to choose a larger aquarium (starting at 10 liters) even though the minimum volume of water for one individual is 1 liter.

Water

Neocaridina make no demands regarding the water’s quality. Additionally, the following prerequisites need to be fulfilled:

In order to prevent recently hatched babies from getting trapped in the filter, the water is filtered, but only slowly.

Use of conditioners, medications, snail remedies, and other preparations based on this element should be avoided. This does not hold true for plant microfertilizers with small amounts of copper in them.

If you want to replicate the chemical composition of the tropical waters that are native to Neocaridina, you can put Indian almond leaves or bark in your aquarium. Oak bark will work as well.

Vegetation

Thick thickets are a crucial component of a shrimparium.

Plants serve a variety of purposes:

  1. Serve as a shelter for shrimp after hatching or molting.
  2. Process waste products of animals, contributing to the improvement of the environment.
  3. Used by shrimp as food.

The best are Cladophora spherical, hornwort, Riccia floating, and different kinds of ferns. Additionally, you’ll need mossy thickets, such as Christmas or Java moss. They hide there like newly hatched shrimp consuming biofilm.

Diet

Because they are omnivores. They are fed bloodworms, fish meal, blanched spinach, zucchini, and vegetable porridge, among other things. Crustacean food is specifically designed to provide a balanced diet. Moreover, shrimp in the aquarium consume filamentous and other types of algae. If not, include spirulina-containing sinking tablets in the diet.

Feed pets once every one to two days in an amount that they can finish in two hours. Overdosing poses a risk to disease development and water quality degradation.

The Bloody Mary shrimp’s eye-catching bright red color and low maintenance requirements make it an excellent choice for beginning aquarists. These shrimp are easy to maintain in a range of water conditions due to their adaptability and eye-catching appearance. An excellent addition to any beginner’s tank, the Bloody Mary shrimp blends elegance and simplicity, perfect for those who are new to aquariums or simply want to add some color.

Breeding

Shrimp reach sexual maturity at 3–4 months of age. When conditions are ideal, they reproduce fairly quickly; in females, pregnancies nearly always follow one another. They carry anywhere from 15 to 30 eggs in a single cycle. 35–40 days elapse between fertilization and hatching.

Although Bloody Mary’s coloring is more consistent than Cherry’s, it is still necessary to reject people with weak coloring.

It is impossible to cross this breed with other colored shrimp because the progeny will soon revert to their original "wild" color.

For aquarium beginners in particular, bloody mary shrimp are a colorful and captivating addition. Aquarists love them because their vivid red color gives underwater scenes a beautiful pop of color.

These shrimp are a great option for novices because they are not only aesthetically pleasing but also remarkably low maintenance. Because they have few dietary and water requirements, they can be kept in a variety of setups and give aquarists the freedom to enjoy their hobby stress-free.

One of the best first steps toward creating a vibrant and well-balanced aquarium is selecting Bloody Mary shrimp. They’re ideal because of their adaptability and low maintenance requirements.

Video on the topic

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Anton Popov

A professional aquarist with over 15 years of experience. Main specialization - marine aquariums and creating optimal conditions for keeping rare species of fish and corals. I am fond of aquascaping, actively participate in international competitions. I love to share knowledge and experience to help others create the beauty of the underwater world at home.

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