- Algae. If you are looking for a good aquarium shrimp for eating algae, you’ve come to the right place. ...
- Biofilm. It is not uncommon for biofilm to grow on the surfaces of a fish tank. ...
- Blanched vegetables. A popular meal for blue shrimp is boiled vegetables. To cook them, simply add water to the boiling container.
- Algae wafers. Cichlids are algae addicts, and they will happily eat algae wafers for food. ...
- Plant hides. The Blue Velvet Shrimp have a beautiful coloration that is consistent throughout their bodies. ...
- Fish companions. While it may seem strange, Blue shrimp do eat their fish companions, and you should be aware of this if you are keeping one.
What do Blue Velvet shrimp eat?
As all shrimp, Blue velvet shrimp require little feeding as long as there are algae, biofilm (and some other microorganisms to feed on) present in your tank. If you have plants, you will always find them actively searching through them and grazing on them.
Are blue shrimp good for aquariums?
This truly unusual invertebrate makes the bottom levels of an aquarium stand out because of their blue color. Like many other shrimp this shrimp makes an excellent tank cleaner. They are efficient little live-in janitors that clear away any algae and biofilm that forms on your plants.
What can I Feed my shrimp?
If you want to mix things up a little bit you can also drop in some chunks of blanched veggies too. We recommend cucumbers and zucchini, but other foods like lettuce are fine as well. Be careful not to put in too much food. Overfeeding is not only bad for the shrimp, but it can cause ammonia levels to spike in your tank (which is not good).
Can Blue Dream shrimp be red in color?
A pure blue shrimp does not have any red color or variations. Blue Dream shrimp should produce offspring that are similar to the parents. The Blue Dream shrimp that have the red color is known as the Blue Jelly or the Blue Velvet.
What do you feed Blue Dream shrimp?
They love to feed off of naturally occurring biofilm and algae, especially in a planted tank. For this reason, they can be quite low maintenance; in fact, they can even help keep your tank clean! Blue Dream Shrimp can withstand a pretty wide range of water parameters, and are not an aggressive species.
How do you keep blue shrimp alive?
CARING - Blue Velvet Shrimp are easy to care for as they can adapt to a wide range of water parameters, they can be kept in either soft or hard water. We recommend keeping them in hard water with a gH of at least 8 for them to show their best color. Aquarium should be fully cycled before introducing any shrimp.
What do freshwater blue shrimp eat?
Just like their relatives, Blue Velvet Shrimp are great algae-eaters. They spend most of their time scavenging for organic matter such as algae and biofilm in the wild and will do the same in your tank.
What do you feed blue cherry shrimp?
In the aquarium blue cherries will also feed on algae and the tiny organisms living in plants and other organic material, but their diet will usually have to be supplemented. A high-quality shrimp food can be used as a staple. They will also accept blanched vegetables, frozen foods and all kinds of sinking fish foods.
How do you enhance the color blue shrimp?
ConclusionProvide a sufficient amount of special food for the shrimp.Give your shrimp natural food.Use a dark substrate and background in your shrimp tank.Let them age. The older the shrimp the more colorful they become. ... Keep them in good water condition.Do not let them stress.
How do you keep blue shrimp blue?
Recommended Tank ParameterspH level range: 6.4 to 8.0, ideal range: 6.8 to 7.5.Temperature range: 72° to 82° F.Water type: kH 0-8; gH 4-14; TDS 100-300.Notes from the owner: ... We have kept Blue Velvet Shrimp in a wide array of water parameters with great success.More items...
How can you tell if shrimp are hungry?
You can usually tell when shrimp are truly hungry, as they swarm about the tank, rather than grazing peacefully. If they are picking at plants, decor, and the substrate, they are generally content and don't require supplementation.
Can blue shrimp live with fish?
Within your aquarium they can only be kept with tank mates that do not have a taste for invertebrates. Your fish should not be large enough to fit this tiny shrimp into their mouths. Nano fish are their best mates. Any small fish that only eat micro-prey can be safely kept with Blue Velvet Shrimp.
How long does it take for blue shrimp to grow?
They behave like adults and easily feed by themselves. It takes them approximately 75 days to become adults. After that, they are ready to breed.
Can shrimps eat fish food?
What Do Shrimp Eat? Shrimp are scavengers and eat a huge variety of foods as they travel along their native waterways. A shrimp will eat anything that doesn't eat it first. Including, but not limited to, algae, other dead shrimp, left over fish food, living plants, and any decaying organic matter.
Will shrimp eat fish flakes?
Omnivorous shrimp are extremely cosmopolitan when it comes to eating. If it's organic they will eat it. Standard fish flakes and pellets are quickly snatched up.
What vegetables can I feed my shrimp?
Vegetables such as Zucchini, Lettuce, Spinach, and Carrots are commonly used. When preparing these vegetables, place them in boiling water until they are soft, 2-3 minutes for leafy vegetables and longer for carrots and zucchini.
How do you keep shrimp alive at home?
Keep Shrimp Alive With These Five Simple StepsKeep shrimp well aerated. Shrimp breathe oxygen just like me and you. ... Keep the water cool. ... Keep the water clean. ... Watch your water intakes to keep shrimp alive. ... Use a dip net.
Are shrimp hard to keep alive?
Shrimp are easier to keep than fish in many ways, but they are much more sensitive to changes in their water chemistry. Please note that they are very sensitive to copper and many other metals; excessive iron fertilization to achieve red plants or water supplements containing copper can result in swift death.
How long will shrimp stay alive in bucket?
They will easily last over night. I have kept shrimp in my styrofoam lined bait bucket outside in the shade for up to days with my $6 electric aerator.
How do you keep live shrimp alive overnight?
7:298:41HOW 2 TUESDAY #17 - How To Keep Shrimp Alive - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse an aerator keep them make sure the stone is at the bottom make sure you got fresh batteries.MoreUse an aerator keep them make sure the stone is at the bottom make sure you got fresh batteries.
Description
The blue dream shrimp, also called blue velvet shrimp, was bred by breeders from Japan and Germany. The progenitor of the aquarium species is the freshwater shrimp Neocaridina heteropoda.
Living In Nature
It is impossible to see blue crustaceans in their natural environment, this is an artificial species. But the progenitors – Neocaridina heteropoda shrimp, discovered in 1938, are common in China, Taiwan, on the Korean Peninsula. When living in nature, they prefer to inhabit slowly flowing rivers, overgrown ponds.
Care and Maintenance
Blue dream shrimp is not capricious in keeping, does not require much space. What capacity the tank should depend on the number of inhabitants. For 12-15 shrimps, a volume of 20 liters is enough.
Lighting
Artificial light is a must. Moreover, it is important not so much for crustaceans as for vegetation. The duration of daylight hours should be at least 8 hours.
Vegetation
The blue dream shrimp prefers to live in dense thickets, so planting plants in the aquarium is mandatory. Plant ferns, Javanese moss, hornwort, and water lettuce. Algae must be present. The use of fertilizers is unacceptable: crustaceans will die.
Priming
The optimal substrate for a shrimp aquarium is small pebbles or sand. The thickness of the soil layer must be at least 4 cm.
Décor
When arranging the tank, it is necessary to take into account the places where the shrimp will hide. A complex relief with many decorative elements is preferred. Use driftwood, grottoes, pottery, piles of stones. Dried nettle, hazel, oak leaves can be put on the bottom, bamboo stems can be used as decoration.
Description of Blue Velvet Shrimp
Blue Velvet Shrimp are gorgeous to look at. Their coloration can vary through a range of blue (from light blue to intense blue but not dark) depending upon genetics, substrate, and diet (read my article how to enhance shrimp color).
Difference between Blue Velvet Shrimp and Blue Dream Shrimp
In shrimp keeping hobby, there is a lot of confusion about Blue color and different names. Actually, I would say – a complete mess!
The Origin of Blue Velvet Shrimp and Blue Dream Shrimp
Some shrimp breeders claim that Blue dream Neocaridina originates from Carbon Rili Neocaridina shrimp. They are bred from there to obtain a blue color. A pure blue shrimp does not have any red color or variations. Blue Dream shrimp should produce offspring that are similar to the parents.
The Diet of Blue Velvet Shrimp
Keep in mind that shrimp are scavengers. Therefore, you can feed them with almost anything. As all shrimp, Blue velvet shrimp require little feeding as long as there are algae, biofilm (and some other microorganisms to feed on) present in your tank.
Keeping Blue Velvet Shrimp
They do not need a large aquarium. Ideally, a 10-gallon tank will suit them perfectly. However, they can live and thrive in a 5-gallon tank. Though, in this case, you will have to be in constant control over your water parameters because all dwarf shrimp prefer consistency and in small tanks, everything can go wrong very fast.
Breeding Blue Velvet Shrimp
The Blue Velvet shrimp can breed very quickly. You only need to set the right conditions for this to happen. As I have already said, your water parameters must be stable and ensure that there is enough food in the tank, especially during the breeding period.
Blue Velvet Shrimp Tankmates
In the wild, shrimp are one of the most favorite fish foods. So keeping them with other types of fish is a bad idea. Almost every kind of fish will feed on shrimp. Nonetheless, if you still want to keep your shrimp with fish, I would recommend reading my article ”How to keep shrimp in a community tank”, it will increase their chances of survival.
How big do they get?
Blue dream shrimps grow to a maximum size of two inches. However, the average size is about 1 to 1.5 inches in length.
Is blue dream shrimp aggressive?
No. they are a non-aggressive shrimp species. They are small peaceful creatures that live in large groups and tend to stay hidden in the daytime.
Blue dream shrimp behavior
When it comes to the behavior of them, there is not much to talk about. These shrimps are pretty straightforward. They always spend their time scavenging food ignoring other creatures.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a shrimp is around 1 to 2 years. However, this depends on the quality of care they receive in the aquarium.
Blue dream shrimp care
Blue dream shrimps are pretty easy to care for. If you provide ideal water conditions with high-quality food, these shrimps will thrive and even multiply quickly.
How to feed blue dream shrimp?
Blue dream shrimps need a very small amount of food. Overfeeding is a common cause of death for these species.
What fish can live with blue dream shrimp?
As blue dream shrimp is a peaceful species, any peaceful fish, shrimp, or snail that is similar or small-sized can live with these shrimps.
Species Summary
The Blue Velvet Shrimp ( Neocaridina davidi) is a unique freshwater species that is popular in the aquarium trade. Sometimes called the Blue Shrimp, their bright blue coloring stands out no matter what other animals are in their tank.
Appearance
The appearance of the Blue Velvet Shrimp is very standard with the exception of its bright color. They have a typical shrimp body with three pairs of walking legs and two maxillipeds (that they use for grabbing things).
Size
Blue Velvet Shrimp are typically 1.5 to 2 inches in length when fully grown. Their size is primarily influenced by genetic components as well as the quality of care they receive during development.
Blue Velvet Shrimp Care
Blue Velvet Shrimp care is quite easy. These critters are very low-maintenance and don’t require any special attention from their owners.
Food & Diet
The diet of Blue Velvet Shrimp is very simple. These critters are scavenging omnivores that spend their time looking for algae and any other organic matter they can get their hands on (like biofilm).
Behavior & Temperament
When it comes to the behavior of Blue Velvet Shrimp there’s not a whole lot to talk about! These shrimp are very simple and spend their time scavenging.
Tank Mates
Due to their peaceful nature, finding tank mates for Blue Velvet Shrimp doesn’t have anything to do with them. Instead, you’re looking for creatures that won’t view them as food!
What is a Blue Velvet Shrimp?
The Blue Velvet Shrimp, or Blue Dream, is a color morph of the Cherry Shrimp ( Neocaridina davidi ).
Blue Velvet Shrimp Appearance
The first thing you notice about this spectacular shrimp is their color. In addition to blue, other unusual color morphs of the Cherry Shrimp include green, yellow, and orange.
Tank Mates For Blue Velvet Shrimps
In the wild these shrimp mostly keep to themselves and live among other bottom dwellers. They live alongside the native fish which include small cyprinids, catfish, and loaches.
Blue Velvet Shrimp Breeding and Eggs
If you have a large colony of Blue Velvet Shrimp, and your water temperature is ideal, then your shrimp will breed on their own without any help.
Typical Behavior
The Blue Velvet is an extremely peaceful shrimp that poses no threat to their tank mates.
Species History
The Cherry Shrimp was first described in 1918 under the scientific name Neocaridina denticulata sinensis.
Other Shrimp To Consider
This little shrimp is a truly delightful addition to most aquariums. But if you are having trouble finding one, these other shrimp make a great substitute.
1. Hikari Shrimp Cuisine
Hikari is a long-lived company known for its excellent, delicious fish foods in the aquarium hobby, and their Shrimp Cuisine is no different. These tiny sinking pellets are great for breeding crystal and cherry shrimp because they’re tiny enough to be eaten by both babies and adults.
2. Xtreme Shrimpee Sinking Sticks
While most shrimp foods dissolve quickly into tiny particles to make sure the babies can get a bite, all the excess nutrients floating around in the aquarium can lead to cloudiness and dangerous water quality issues if you’re not careful.
3. Sera Shrimp Natural Sinking Granules
In the aquarium hobby, we often try to simulate an aquatic animal’s original environment and diet as closely as possible. That’s why Sera came out with the Sera Shrimps Nature Food that uses a mixture of natural ingredients with no dyes or preservatives.
4. Fluval Bug Bites Shrimp Formula
The proteins in shrimp and fish food usually come from fish and crustaceans, but don’t forget that insects are also a naturally occurring part of a shrimp’s diet.
5. Repashy Gel Food
As tiny scavengers with tiny stomachs, shrimp prefer to constantly graze all throughout the day. That’s why Repashy gel food makes it onto our list. Simply mix the powder with hot water to form a nutritious gel food that stays water stable for up to 24 hours and yet is soft enough for shrimp to easily grab a bite.
6. Zoo Med Nano Banquet Food Blocks
Vacation food blocks are usually thought of as a specialty fish food you only feed if you’re going out of town for a while and don’t want to hire a pet sitter.
7. Vegetables
Canned or blanched vegetables are a readily available food that helps increase the plant content in your shrimp’s diet. One of their favorites is canned green beans because of the nutritious content, soft texture, and ability to sink immediately.
Overview
Size
Recommended Tank Parameters
- pH level range: 6.4 to 8.0, ideal range: 6.8 to 7.5
- Temperature range: 72° to 82° F
- Water type: kH 0-8; gH 4-14; TDS 100-300
- Notes from the owner:
Compatibility
- Safe: Small, peaceful fish and invertebrates. Good choices are: 1. Other dwarf shrimp 2. Small, peaceful fish 2.1. Asian Stone Catfish 2.2. Bushynose Plecos 2.3. Corydora Catfish 2.4. Danios 2.5. Guppies 2.6. Hillstream Loaches 2.7. Otocinclus (safe to keep with breeding shrimp as well) 2.8. Ram Cichlids 2.9. Tetras (small tetras only) 3. Filter Shrimp 3.1. Vampire Shrimp 3.2. Singap…
Feeding
- Blue Velvet Shrimp require very little food. When we say very little, we mean that one fish flake the size of a dime every day is enough for 10 or more shrimp. Overfeeding is a common cause of death, so do not feed them more than they can eat in two hours. In established tanks where there is plenty of algae and biofilm, dwarf shrimp may not need ex...
Breeding
- Blue Velvet Shrimp are VERY easy to breed. In fact, you don't have to do anything but provide the shrimp with good conditions, cover your filter intake with a pre-filter (such as a sponge), and keep them in a tank without any fish (with the exception of Otocinclus catfish - they are fine to keep with breeding shrimp). Females will carry between 30 and 50 eggs at a time in a cluster beneath …
What to Expect from Us
- We generally ship young adult shrimp that are already of breeding age. Our Blue Velvet shrimp are all a bright cerulean blue color, with no other markings or colors. Some of the younger shrimp have not reached their full potential yet and will grow into a brighter blue color as long as they are comfortable in their new environment. Lower intensity lighting and dark substrate also helps the…