1
/
of
1
Blue Crown Aqua
Orange Eye Snowball Neocaridina
Orange Eye Snowball Neocaridina
Regular price
$9.99 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$9.99 USD
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Quantity
Couldn't load pickup availability
Share
Snowball shrimp (Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis or Neocaridina davidi) are a popular variety of freshwater dwarf shrimp known for their translucent, milky-white bodies. They are highly regarded by aquarium hobbyists for being hardy, peaceful, and prolific breeders.
Key Characteristics
- Appearance: They feature a "snowy" or "pearly" white color. Their name specifically refers to their pure white eggs, which resemble tiny snowballs when carried by the female.
- Size: Adults typically reach about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–3.8 cm) in length.
- Lifespan: With proper care, they live for approximately 1 to 2 years.
- Behavior: They are non-aggressive, active scavengers that spend most of their time grazing on algae and biofilm.
Aquarium Care Requirements
- Tank Size: A minimum of 5 gallons is recommended for a small colony, though they can thrive in larger setups.
-
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C), with 72°F often cited as an ideal minimum.
- pH Level: 6.2 to 8.0.
- Hardness: GH 3-10 and KH 1-8.
- Substrate: A dark substrate is highly recommended to help their white color "pop" and to keep the shrimp from fading their coloration as a camouflage response.
- Filtration: A sponge filter is ideal to prevent small shrimplets from being sucked into the intake.
Diet and Breeding
- Diet: Omnivorous. They feed on naturally occurring algae and biofilm, but should be supplemented with high-quality shrimp pellets, spirulina, and blanched vegetables like spinach or zucchini.
- Breeding: They are easy to breed in freshwater. Females carry eggs for about 30–45 days before they hatch into miniature versions of the adults.
- Interbreeding Warning: They will interbreed with other Neocaridina species (like Cherry or Blue Dream shrimp), which may result in offspring with "wild" brown or muddled coloration.
Compatibility
Snowball shrimp are best kept in shrimp-only or invertebrate tanks to ensure maximum survival of young. If kept in community tanks, choose small, peaceful fish such as Neon Tetras, Otocinclus Catfish, or Kuhli Loaches. Avoid large or aggressive fish like cichlids or goldfish that will prey on them.
