Green Jade Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi var. 'Green Jade'
Min Tank Size
10L
Adult Size
2.5 cm
Lifespan
2 years
School Size
6+
About
Green Jade Shrimp are a selectively bred color morph of Neocaridina davidi, the same species behind cherry shrimp, blue dream shrimp, and a dozen other popular variants. What sets them apart is their coloration: a deep, mossy green that ranges from olive to a rich jade depending on lineage and conditions. High-grade females show the most intense color, often with a near-opaque body that makes them stunning against light-colored substrate or Java moss. Males are typically smaller and less vivid, which is pretty standard for Neocaridina across the board.
They're hardy enough for beginners but do reward anyone willing to pay attention to water quality. 5 range. Temperature flexibility is one of their stronger points, tolerating anything from cool room-temperature tanks to warmer setups, though stability always matters more than hitting a specific number.
Feed them a varied diet: quality shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach, and occasional protein sources like frozen daphnia. They'll also graze constantly on biofilm and algae, which makes a mature, well-planted tank almost essential.
Breeding happens readily once they're comfortable, with berried females carrying eggs for around 25 to 30 days. The main challenge is maintaining deep green color across generations, which requires consistently selecting the darkest, most saturated individuals for breeding.
Plenty of hobbyists share their Green Jade breeding setups and colony progress online, so browsing actual tank builds can give you a realistic picture of what to expect.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Green Jade Shrimp together
Green Jade Shrimp are shoaling fish and need company of their own kind. Keep a group of at least 6. Smaller groups leave them stressed, washed-out in color, and prone to hiding.
Compatibility
These shrimp do best with small, peaceful fish that have no interest in eating them. Otocinclus, small rasboras like chili or exclamation point rasboras, and pygmy corydoras are reliable choices. Ember tetras generally work fine too. Avoid anything with a mouth large enough to swallow a shrimp whole, including most gouramis, betta fish (situational but risky), and any cichlid species. Mystery snails and nerite snails make excellent tankmates. Dedicated shrimp-only tanks actually yield the best colony growth and color development, since there's zero predation risk. If mixing with fish, provide dense planting and moss so shrimplets have somewhere to hide.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common mistake is adding shrimp to an uncycled or recently cycled tank. Even a small ammonia spike can wipe out an entire colony fast. Beyond that, copper is the silent killer. It shows up in some plant fertilizers and most ich medications, so always read labels carefully. Color maintenance is the other thing beginners underestimate. Without deliberately selecting the most intensely colored shrimp for breeding, populations drift toward pale or washed-out greens within a few generations. A mature tank with biofilm and live plants is far better for them than a bare, sterile setup.
Behavior & Aggression
Green Jade Shrimp are genuinely non-aggressive. They don't fight with each other, don't compete over territory, and spend most of their time foraging peacefully alongside tankmates. Males will chase females during mating, which looks frantic but isn't harmful. If shrimp are hiding constantly or not coming out to feed, that's a sign of stress from water quality or predation pressure, not aggression within the colony itself.
Things to Know
- Copper in any form is lethal, check all fertilizers and medications.
- Color fades over generations without selective breeding of deepest green individuals.
- Extremely sensitive to ammonia spikes, cycle tank fully before adding.
- Will interbreed with other Neocaridina varieties, keep color strains separate.
- Vulnerable to most fish, choose tankmates carefully.
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