Chocolate Shrimp Neocaridina 2cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Chocolate Shrimp is a deep brown to near-black colour form of Neocaridina davidi, giving a rich, earthy contrast to bright green plants and pale sand. Bred from wild shrimp native to Taiwan and southern China, it shares the hardiness and constant grazing of the familiar cherry shrimp. Suits beginners, nano tanks and planted community aquaria with small, peaceful fish.
- Adult Size: Around 2.5–3 cm (1–1.2 in); females larger and darker
- Lifespan: 1–2 years
Origin
- Native to: Taiwan and southern China (captive-bred colour form)
- Habitat: Slow, densely planted streams and ponds
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous grazer
- Preferred Foods: Biofilm, algae, shrimp pellets, blanched courgette, spinach, spirulina
- Feeding Habits: Small feed every day or two; remove uneaten food within hours; biofilm does most of the work
Tank Mates
- Best with: Otocinclus, pygmy corydoras, small rasboras, nerite snails, other dwarf shrimp
- Avoid: Cichlids, loaches, bettas, larger fish that eat shrimp
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Completely peaceful
- Territoriality: None; happiest in groups of ten or more with plenty of moss
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Challenges: Needs a mature, cycled tank; intolerant of ammonia, nitrite, copper and sudden parameter swings
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, neutral to moderately hard
- Temperature: 18–26°C (64–79°F)
- pH: 6.5–8.0
- Hardness: 6–15 dGH
- Flow: Slow; sponge filter ideal
- Tank Size: Minimum 20 litres for a colony of six or more
Final Notes
Chocolate shrimp breed as freely as any Neocaridina: females carry eggs for three to four weeks and release fully formed young, so a small group soon becomes a colony. Keep one colour form per tank, because different Neocaridina colours interbreed and the offspring lose their colour. Avoid copper medications, keep water changes small and regular, and add moss or leaf litter for grazing and moulting cover. A striking, easy-going shrimp.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.