Rili Shrimp Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Feeding & Breeding

Rili Shrimp are small freshwater dwarf shrimp recognised for their striking broken pattern of translucent or clear sections combined with red, orange or other coloured patches. The popular red Rili form has a vivid red head and tail separated by a pale central area, creating a clean, high-contrast appearance.

These peaceful invertebrates spend much of their time grazing across plants, wood, rocks and aquarium glass. Their tiny walking legs and specialised mouthparts constantly pick at biofilm, algae and settled organic particles, making their activity surprisingly engaging to watch.

Neocaridina davidi are adaptable members of the freshwater shrimp family and are closely related to other popular Neocaridina colour varieties. Rili Shrimp are not a separate species; their pattern has been produced and maintained through selective breeding.

In nature, Neocaridina davidi inhabit shallow streams, ponds and slow-moving freshwater environments where leaf litter, submerged vegetation and biofilm provide shelter and food. Their small size and peaceful habits make them especially popular in planted aquariums and dedicated invertebrate displays.

Rili Shrimp are a selectively bred colour morph of Neocaridina davidi, a species native to freshwater habitats in Taiwan and parts of mainland East Asia. The Rili pattern itself was developed in the aquarium hobby rather than occurring as a distinct wild population.

A mature aquarium of at least 20 litres is suitable for a small colony, with a larger footprint preferred over a tall tank; approximately 30 × 25 × 25 cm is a useful minimum dimension guideline. Use a gentle sponge filter or protect the intake of another filter, and provide dense mosses, fine-leaved plants, floating cover, driftwood and smooth rocks for grazing and shelter. A fine inert or shrimp-safe substrate works well, and stable, clean, oxygenated freshwater is more important than elaborate equipment.

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

Rili Shrimp graze naturally on algae, biofilm, microorganisms and decomposing plant material. Supplement this with a quality shrimp food containing minerals and plant matter, offered in small portions. Blanched spinach, courgette, kale and other suitable vegetables can be given occasionally, while dried leaves such as Indian almond or beech provide a long-lasting grazing surface. Remove uneaten fresh food promptly.

Rili Shrimp are best kept with other peaceful Neocaridina, Amano Shrimp and small, non-predatory snails such as Nerite and Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They can sometimes be housed with tiny, calm fish such as Otocinclus, small rasboras, ember tetras and clown killifish, although vulnerable shrimplets may still be eaten. Avoid bettas, larger tetras, gouramis, cichlids, most loaches and other fish or invertebrates that can hunt adult shrimp or their young.

Rili Shrimp breed readily in a mature, stable aquarium. Females carry fertilised eggs beneath the abdomen for around three to four weeks, gently fanning them until they hatch. The young emerge as fully formed miniature shrimp, with no separate larval stage. Provide plenty of moss, fine-leaved plants and other surfaces for grazing, and avoid tankmates that may eat the babies. Juveniles develop the adults’ red-and-clear pattern gradually, although their colour quality can vary.

Females are generally larger and deeper-bodied than males, with a broader abdomen for carrying eggs. They are often more strongly coloured, while males tend to be smaller, slimmer and more translucent, although colour quality varies between individual Rili Shrimp.