Yellow Cherry Shrimp 1-2cm

Yellow Cherry Shrimp

Yellow cherry shrimp are an absolute eye-catcher and staple species in the aquarium trade, they make for great entry-level invertebrates for novice aquarists who are wanting to branch out from just keeping fish. Their vibrant sunburst yellow colour comes from the art of selective breeding which means they are well suited for aquarium conditions. Because of the incredibly small size, ease of keeping, fast breeding and bright popping colours they are loved both by beginners and experienced aquarium enthusiasts. 

Yellow cherry shrimp and aptly named, they have a beautiful, bright yellow colour which is quite unique to these shrimp. The vibrancy that these shrimp have almost makes it seem like they were dyed but it is just the art of genetics.  There are multiple factors which can affect the intensity of colours such as genetics, water parameters and environmental conditions. These are great shrimp to populate a nano aquarium or to experiment with developing the grade to create more intense yellow shrimp. The yellow cherry shrimp can tolerate a wide range of aquarium conditions and thrive in both cold and tropical environments. They are also great clean-up crew members in nano community aquariums however their unique colours would make for a beautiful standalone shrimp display. 

Yellow cherry shrimp are great for nano desktop aquariums as they max out at around 5cm and breed very proficiently once settled in. Whilst differentiating males and females in these shrimp is possible as females tend to have a more curved body with the presence of a saddle, it would be quite easy to just get a group of these shrimp and let them breed naturally. These shrimp make them a popular species for novice breeders looking to make some easy profit. These yellow cherry shrimps are not found naturally in the wild as they are selectively bred invertebrates for the captive environment.

Tank Recommendations for your Yellow Cherry Shrimp

The yellow cherry shrimp only reach 5cm and can be kept easily in aquariums as small as 20 litres. Ideally, a 30-litre aquarium with some moss and a basic sponge filter would be a perfect environment for these shrimp as it ensures a safe method of filtration and provides cover for juvenile shrimp. Shrimp are not overly concerned with their aquascape, they can be kept on a multitude of substrates ranging from sand, aqua soil and gravel along with hardscape materials such as wood and rock. They will also greatly appreciate plants as this provides great coverage whilst also making them contrast really well. 

In a breeding setting aquarists commonly keep shrimp just a substrate of thin aqua soil as the dark soil contrasts the bright yellow shrimp. It is also easy to catch out the best-looking individuals to line-breed them further. Elevated temperatures of 25 degrees also enhance their metabolism meaning they grow faster and breed faster which is ideal for breeding settings. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

The yellow cherry shrimp remain small and can easily be predated by fish. It is usually recommended to keep these shrimp alone as even the smallest of fish will prey on newborn shrimp. Adult shrimp however can be kept with a wide range of nano fish with no issues and if there is adequate cover for baby shrimp to survive, they will grow fine as well.

Usually Compatible

Other strains of shrimp, Endler guppies, dwarf Corydoras and another fish max out at 5cm or less.

Sometimes Compatible

Much risk shouldn’t be taken with larger tank mates over 5cm as these will easily prey on these shrimp however success has been seen with other fish species such as larger danios and betta.

Rarely Compatible

Dwarf cichlids, tiger barbs, goldfish and other species would readily prey on the blue shrimp. 

Feeding your Yellow Cherry Shrimp

Feeding yellow cherry shrimp is extremely easy as they only require small amounts of food and accept a wide range of food as well. Generally, a small sinking pellet or algae tablet is a great food option. Along with this, they can be supplemented with blanched veggies such as pumpkin and zucchini.