🌿 Tireless Organic Scavenger & 100% Plant-Safe Utility
The Painted Fire Red Shrimp is a peaceful, non-stop biological cleaner that functions as an essential asset to your aquarium's cleanup crew. They spend their entire day systematically grazing over the substrate, hardscape stones, and driftwood, consuming microscopic hair algae, organic biofilms, and leftover fish flakes before they can decay and break down your water parameters.
They are 100% safe for even the most delicate live aquarium plants, such as soft carpet mosses, liverworts, and thin stem flora. They will never damage healthy vegetation; instead, their lightweight grazing keeps plant leaves clean and free of debris, which actively optimizes natural photosynthesis. They breed readily in freshwater, allowing your customers to easily establish a thriving, bright red colony over time.
🌡️ Invertebrate Specifications & Water Parameters
Parameter | Specification | Technical Notes |
Scientific Name | Neocaridina davidi var. "Painted Fire Red" | Highest aesthetic grade of the solid red color line |
Common Names | Painted Fire Red Shrimp, PFR Shrimp, High-Grade Cherry Shrimp | High-traffic search terms with exceptional online buyer intent |
Maximum Size | 1.0 – 1.2 inches (2.5 – 3.0 cm) | Ideal compact nano size for specialized shrimp setups and community tanks |
Diet | Omnivore / Scavenger | Natural algae, biofilm, high-quality shrimp pellets, and blanched vegetables |
Behavior | Completely Peaceful | Safe to house alongside other dwarf shrimp, snails, and peaceful nano fish |
🛠️ Lighting, Temperature & Maintenance Guide
Lighting Requirements: Highly Adaptable. They do not require specific lighting for their health. However, a quality full-spectrum LED fixture will make their thick, opaque red armor pop with incredible intensity, especially when contrasted against deep green mosses and dark aquascaping soils.
Temperature Parameters: Thrives and maintains active breeding habits within a stable temperature range of 18°C – 26°C (64°F – 78°F). Maintaining temperature stability prevents unwanted molting stress.
Water Chemistry & Molting Health: Requires a pH range of 6.5 – 8.0, with a preferred gH of 6–8 and kH of 2–5. Maintaining proper mineral hardness (TDS around 150–250) is essential to provide the necessary calcium required for healthy shell shedding, preventing structural failures during growth.
Tankmates & Predation Caution: Due to their small size, they are best kept in specialized shrimp tanks or with very peaceful, tiny tankmates such as small snails, Otocinclus, or micro-rasboras. Large or aggressive fish will easily view them—especially their small newborn shrimplets—as a food source.