Gold Fire Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi var. Yellow / Gold Back

Temperament

Peaceful and non-aggressive. Gold Fire Shrimp spend their days grazing among plants, substrate, and driftwood without bothering other aquarium residents. Watch their golden-yellow bodies move through green moss as they search for their next bite of biofilm.

Adult Size

Adults generally reach 1–1.5 in (2.5–3.8 cm). Females are typically larger and fuller-bodied than males. Their yellow coloration and golden dorsal stripe add a bright accent to planted aquariums; color intensity and stripe development vary between individuals.

Compatible Tankmates

• Small, peaceful fish such as ember tetras, chili rasboras, otocinclus, and pygmy corydoras; even small fish may eat baby shrimp
• Peaceful snails such as nerite and mystery snails
• Other dwarf shrimp with compatible water requirements
• Avoid: large or aggressive fish and any fish capable of swallowing a shrimp. Bettas may harass shrimp, depending on individual temperament.
• Keep different Neocaridina color varieties separate if maintaining the gold coloration is your goal. They can interbreed, and offspring may lose the selected color over generations.

Planted-Tank Role

A colorful addition to your freshwater clean-up crew. Gold Fire Shrimp graze biofilm, soft algae, and decaying organic matter from leaves, substrate, and hardscape without harming healthy plants. Java moss, java fern, and other dense planting provide extra grazing surfaces and shelter for young shrimp and freshly molted adults. They complement regular tank maintenance rather than replace it.

Feeding

• Supplement natural grazing with small portions of shrimp-specific pellets or wafers.
• Offer occasional blanched zucchini or spinach for variety.
• Adjust feeding to colony size and available biofilm; avoid adding food faster than the shrimp can consume it.
• Remove uneaten food before it fouls the water.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 65–80 °F (18–27 °C), with 72–76 °F a suitable target
• pH: 6.5–8.0
• GH: 6–8 dGH | KH: 2–8 dKH
• TDS: approximately 150–250 ppm; mineral composition and stable conditions matter more than chasing a single reading
• Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and introduce shrimp only to a fully cycled aquarium.
• Acclimate slowly and avoid sudden changes in temperature or water chemistry. Avoid copper-based medications that are unsafe for invertebrates.

Stocking Guidance

• Start with a group of 10–15 to establish a colony.
• A mature 5-gallon aquarium can support a starter colony; 10 gallons or more provides greater stability and room to grow.
• Provide dense cover and use a sponge filter or a shrimp-safe intake cover to protect young shrimp.
• Gold Fire Shrimp can reproduce entirely in freshwater. Females carry eggs that hatch into miniature shrimp, with no brackish-water stage required.
• Adjust stocking and feeding to filtration, available grazing space, and existing tankmates.

In-Store Pickup

Live Gold Fire Shrimp are available for in-store pickup only. Select Pickup at checkout.