Neocaridina or Caridina - what's the difference?
When you start to take an interest in aquarium shrimp, you quickly come across two names:
NeocaridinaandCaridina.
Almost all popular freshwater shrimp in the hobby belong to one of these groups. To the novice, they may look quite similar, but in practice they differ in several important respects.
The choice between Neocaridina and Caridina affects everything from water values and equipment to how easy it will be to succeed with the shrimp.
In this guide, we go through everything you need to know.
Short summary
If you want the simple answer:
Neocaridina
✓ Easier to hold
✓ Withstands greater variations
✓ Suitable for beginners
✓ Often thrives in ordinary tap water
Caridina
✓ Often more exclusive colors and patterns
✓ Requires more stable water values
✓ Suitable for experienced shrimp keepers
✓ Often requires RO water and mineralization
For most people buying their first shrimp, Neocaridina is the obvious choice.
What is Neocaridina?
Neocaridina is the group that contains many of the most popular beginner shrimp.
Example:
• Bloody Mary
• Ride Sakura
• Blue Dream
• Blue Velvet
• Yellow
• Orange Sakura
• Green Jade
• Black Sakura
All of these are different color variants of the same species:
Neocaridina davidi
Through many years of selective breeding, growers have produced the colors we see today.
Benefits of Neocaridina
There's a reason almost everyone starts here.
Durable
Neocaridina handle minor mistakes better than most other shrimp.
Customizable
They work in many different water values.
Easily propagated
If they thrive, they often begin to reproduce without much effort.
Affordable
Generally, they cost less than more advanced Caridina varieties.
Perfect for beginners
They let you focus on learning the shrimp hobby instead of constantly chasing perfect water values.
What is Caridina?
Caridina is a larger group that includes many of the most sought-after shrimps in the world.
Example:
• Crystal Red Shrimp (CRS)
• Crystal Black Shrimp (CBS)
• Blue Bolt
• Panda
• King Kong
• Wine Red
• Red Bolt
• Fancy Tiger
• Galaxy Fishbone
Many of these have spectacular patterns and colors not found in Neocaridina.
This is also why they have become so popular among experienced growers.
Why is Caridina harder?
Unlike Neocaridina, many Caridina want very specific water values.
They often prefer:
• Lower pH
• Very low KH
• Softer water
• Stable temperature
• High water quality
Small changes that Neocaridina barely notice can sometimes affect more sensitive Caridina.
That doesn't mean they're impossible to hold.
But they require more knowledge and more control.
Tap water or RO water?
Here comes one of the biggest differences.
Neocaridina
In many places, regular tap water works just fine.
As long as the water values are reasonable and stable, it often goes very well.
Caridina
Many growers use RO water (reverse osmosis) instead.
The clean water is then mineralized to exactly the values the shrimp need.
It gives maximum control but also means more work.
Active soil or regular soil?
Here, too, the groups differ.
Neocaridina
Can be held at:
• Sand
• Gravel
• Inert soil
• Many types of bottom material
Caridina
Often kept on active soil which helps to:
• Lower the pH
• Keep KH close to zero
• Create more stable conditions
Active soil is therefore very common in Caridina aquariums.
Which shrimp are the prettiest?
There is no right answer.
Many people think that Bloody Mary and Blue Dream are among the best-looking shrimp available.
Others prefer advanced Caridina such as:
• Blue Bolt
• Galaxy Fishbone
• King Kong
• Red Bolt
The taste varies.
The most important thing is to choose a species that suits your level of experience.
Can you keep Neocaridina and Caridina together?
Technically, it sometimes works.
In practice, it is rarely recommended.
The problem is that they often want different water values.
If you adapt the aquarium for Neocaridina, it will not be optimal for many Caridina.
If you adapt it for Caridina, it will not be optimal for Neocaridina.
Most people therefore choose a separate aquarium for each group.
What do we recommend?
If you are new to the shrimp hobby:
Start with Neocaridina.
Learn:
• Water changes
• Feeding
• Water values
• Propagation
• Maintenance
When you have a stable colony that reproduces, you have acquired the skills needed to later try Caridina.
This is exactly how most successful shrimp farmers started.
Conclusion
Neocaridina and Caridina are both amazing groups of freshwater shrimp.
The difference is not about which is better.
The difference is about which one suits you right now.
If you want a hardy, easy-care and colorful shrimp that works in most aquariums, Neocaridina is the best choice.
If you want to take the next step in the hobby and work more actively with water values, breeding and specialized care, Caridina can be an exciting challenge.
In the next article, we will go through how big an aquarium you really need to succeed with shrimp.
