Chocolate Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Parámetros de cuidado

Temperatura

18–26 °C

pH

6.5–8

Dureza GH

6–15 dGH

Tamaño adulto

2–2.5 cm

Tanque mínimo

20 L

Capa de nado

Bottom — grazing plants and hardscape

Dificultad

Fácil

Temperamento

Extremely peaceful

Descripción de la especie

Chocolate Shrimp is the rich brown morph of Neocaridina davidi that Taiwan breeders stabilized in the early 2000s from darker wild-type individuals — the same foundation stock that later produced blue dream, black rose and other dark lines, which is why chocolate tanks occasionally surprise their owner with blue or black offspring. The best chocolates are a deep, warm, fully opaque brown, darker toward the back and tail, reading almost like tiny chestnuts moving over the substrate. As always with this species the care is simple: 2-2.5 cm of shrimp at 18-26 °C, pH anywhere from 6.5 to 8.0, moderate hardness, and a tank matured enough to grow the biofilm it grazes all day. It is an excellent choice for aquarists who find the bright cherry colors gaudy — the chocolate tone suits natural, wood-heavy biotope scapes. Breeding is the standard N. davidi routine: a three-week egg carry in freshwater, miniature hatchlings, no special feeding beyond fine powder in a mature system. Keep it away from other colors and it stays true.

Biotopo natural

Hábitat

Any stable freshwater community aquarium

Corriente

Gentle current

Oxígeno disuelto

Moderate oxygen

Paisaje y equipo

Sustrato

Fine inert gravel or shrimp-safe sand

Decoración dura

Java moss and driftwood for grazing

Plantas

Dense moss and fine-leaf plants

Temperamento, dieta y compañeros

Sociabilidad

Groups of 10 or more

Dieta

Algae and biofilm grazer; color foods keep hues intense

Compañeros recomendados

• Other dark Neocaridina lines — Blues and blacks descend from chocolate — expect sport offspring
• Small peaceful community fish — Adults safe; moss for babies
• Otocinclus catfish — Calm tankmate with identical needs
• Freshwater snails — Peaceful scavenger companions

Evitar con

• Bright N. davidi colors — Crosses muddy both lines
• Copper-based medications — Lethal to all invertebrates
• Large-mouthed fish — Active shrimp hunters

Cría y notas

Dimorfismo sexual

Females are deeper-bodied with a darker saddle; males smaller, slimmer and lighter brown.

Método de cría

Standard N. davidi freshwater breeding — the female molts, mates, then fans 20-30 eggs for about three weeks. Because chocolate is a foundation dark line, some offspring emerge blue or black; breeders either cull or separate them.

Preguntas frecuentes