Red Blue Rili Shrimp Care Guide - Setup, Feeding & Breeding

Red Blue Rili Shrimp are a striking freshwater colour morph of Neocaridina davidi, recognised by patches of red on the head and tail separated by a translucent, bluish or lightly coloured section through the body. Pattern quality varies considerably, and individual shrimp can range from strongly contrasted to softly marked. Females are generally larger and more intensely coloured than males.

Red Blue Rili Shrimp are a selectively bred colour form of Neocaridina davidi, a species native to freshwater streams, ponds and shallow waterways in Taiwan and parts of mainland East Asia. The red-and-blue rili pattern is an aquarium strain rather than a naturally occurring wild form.

A group of Red Blue Rili Shrimp should have at least a 20-litre aquarium, with a footprint of around 30 cm by 25 cm or larger; a bigger tank provides greater stability and allows the colony to expand. Use a mature, fully cycled aquarium with gentle filtration and protect filter intakes so young shrimp are not drawn in. Fine inert or shrimp-safe substrate, mosses, fine-leaved plants, driftwood, rocks and other textured surfaces provide grazing areas and shelter, especially after moulting.

Females reach about 3 cm (1.2 inches), while males usually grow to around 2.5 cm (1 inch).

These shrimp graze continuously on algae, biofilm, microorganisms and decaying plant material. Supplement their natural grazing with a quality shrimp food containing minerals, along with occasional blanched vegetables such as courgette, spinach or carrot. Small amounts of leaf litter and appropriately sized mineral-rich foods can also support healthy moulting and growth; remove uneaten portions before they decay.

Red Blue Rili Shrimp are peaceful and can be kept with other calm, small invertebrates such as Amano Shrimp, other compatible Neocaridina colour morphs and nerite snails. Small non-predatory fish, including Otocinclus, celestial pearl danios and small rasboras, may work in a mature, well-planted aquarium, although they can still eat baby shrimp. Avoid larger fish, dwarf cichlids, bettas, gouramis, loaches and any species that actively hunts small crustaceans.

Red Blue Rili Shrimp breed readily in established freshwater aquariums when stable conditions and regular food are provided. Females carry eggs beneath the abdomen, where they are fertilised and retained until fully formed miniature shrimp hatch after roughly three to four weeks. The young are independent immediately and need biofilm, fine foods and dense cover. The offspring may show a mixture of red, blue, transparent and lower-grade patterns rather than reproducing the parent coloration exactly.

Females are typically larger, broader through the abdomen and more strongly coloured than males. Mature females may also show a visible saddle behind the head or a clutch of eggs beneath the abdomen, while males are slimmer and often more translucent.