The Orange Sunkist Shrimp is a peaceful, highly active biological cleaner that serves as a cornerstone for any aquarium cleanup crew. They spend their entire day systematically grooming every surface of your tank, grazing over substrate grains, rocks, and driftwood to devour microscopic hair algae, organic biofilms, and leftover fish food before it can degrade and foul your water chemistry.
They are 100% safe for even the most delicate live aquarium plants, including soft carpet mosses, tissue-cultured micro-flora, and thin-leaved stem vegetation. They will never damage healthy plant tissue; instead, their lightweight, continuous grazing keeps foliage free of debris, which actively optimizes natural photosynthesis. They breed readily in freshwater, allowing your customers to easily establish a beautiful, multiplying colony of bright citrus jewels over time.
🌡️ Invertebrate Specifications & Water Parameters
Parameter | Specification | Technical Notes |
Scientific Name | Neocaridina davidi var. "Orange" | Stable, high-grade line selected for premium citrus opacity |
Common Names | Orange Sunkist Shrimp, Orange Pumpkin Shrimp, Neon Orange Shrimp | Top-tier trade names with exceptional online buyer search traffic |
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 warm, opaque orange shells glow with stunning intensity, especially when paired with dark aquascaping soil.
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.