Cherry Shrimp Identification Guide
Recognize the Cherry Shrimp by its small segmented body, arched back, and solid red color in selectively bred forms.
Read the full Cherry Shrimp encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Small, segmented, arch-backed crustacean body rather than a finned fish shape
- Selectively bred "Cherry" strains show a solid, opaque red color, while wild-type individuals are translucent brown-green
- Long, thin antennae extending forward from the head, plus a pointed rostrum between the eyes
- Five pairs of walking legs and small pleopods (swimmerets) visible along the underside of the abdomen
- Fan-shaped tail (telson and uropods) used for a quick backward escape flip
- Tiny adult size, typically under 1.5 inches (3.5-4 cm), with females larger and rounder than males
Common look-alikes
- Amano Shrimp is larger, translucent grey-green, and marked with a broken dashed line along each side rather than solid red.
- Ghost (glass) Shrimp are almost completely clear with no red pigment and a more elongated, slender body.
- Other Neocaridina color morphs (yellow, blue, orange) are the same species and shape, distinguished from Cherry Shrimp only by their different solid body color.
Where you'll see one
Wild-type ancestors originate from streams and ponds in Taiwan; selectively bred Cherry Shrimp are now kept worldwide in freshwater aquaria with dense plants, where they graze on biofilm and algae over surfaces.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Cherry Shrimp from an Amano Shrimp?
Look at color and pattern: Cherry Shrimp are solid opaque red, while Amano Shrimp are larger, translucent grey-green, and marked with a broken dashed line along the body.
How do I tell a male from a female Cherry Shrimp?
Females are larger with a more rounded, deeper underside (used to carry eggs) and typically show more intense, solid coloration than the smaller, slimmer males.