Care Guide
Complete Guide to Red Cherry Shrimp Care
Everything you need to know about keeping cherry shrimp healthy, from water parameters to breeding.
Cherry shrimp are excellent scavengers, but the right supplemental foods can improve coloration, support healthy molts, and help your colony grow. Discover the 9 best foods that successful shrimp breeders rely on.
Aquascape Oasis Team
Planted Tank Specialists
The best food for cherry shrimp can improve coloration, support healthy molts, and help colonies thrive in planted aquariums.
Before we dive into the foods, remember: no food replaces a stable aquarium ecosystem. Download our free checklist for a healthier, lower-maintenance shrimp tank.
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Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are excellent scavengers, but one of the biggest misconceptions in the hobby is that they can survive on algae alone. While a mature aquarium provides biofilm, microorganisms, and decaying plant matter, supplemental feeding helps support healthy molts, vibrant coloration, and thriving colonies.
The best food for cherry shrimp depends on your goals. Some foods are better for everyday feeding, while others encourage breeding, improve coloration, or provide natural grazing opportunities.
Before we dive into our top picks, remember that no food can replace a stable aquarium ecosystem. If you're new to shrimp keeping, download our free checklist to learn how to build a healthier, lower-maintenance shrimp tank.
Algae Wafers for Shrimp, Snails & Bottom Feeders
37% protein sinking wafers — shrimp, snails & plecos love these.
Our 37% protein algae wafers are our top recommendation for daily supplemental feeding. They sink quickly to the bottom where shrimp, snails, plecos, corydoras, and other bottom feeders naturally feed.
Our Botanical Pack combines leaf litter, cholla wood, and tannin-rich materials to naturally improve your aquarium — promoting stronger shrimp, better biofilm growth, and improved breeding success.
Healthy cherry shrimp often display deeper, richer colors when provided with a varied diet. Color Burst Aquarium Shrimp Food is designed to support coloration while still serving as a quality supplemental food.
Indian Almond Leaves may not look like traditional shrimp food, but they are one of our favorite additions to a shrimp tank. As the leaves break down, they encourage biofilm and microorganisms that shrimp naturally graze on throughout the day.
Many successful shrimp keepers use cholla wood because it becomes covered in biofilm over time. Baby shrimp often spend hours grazing on the microorganisms that develop on the wood.
One of the biggest challenges with shrimp colonies is ensuring there is enough microscopic food available for babies. Bacter AE is popular because it helps provide food sources that even newly hatched shrimp can utilize.
Baby shrimp spend much of their time grazing on microscopic foods. Shrimp Envy Baby Food is designed specifically for young shrimp and can be useful in tanks with frequent breeding.
Want the full guide to shrimp colony success? Get the Free Checklist →
Hikari Shrimp Cuisine is widely available and inexpensive, making it a great option for beginners.
Ultra Fresh Shrimp Delight has become a popular premium food among shrimp keepers and works well as a staple food in many aquariums.
Remember: Food matters, but stability matters more.
Get the checklistIn a mature aquarium, cherry shrimp spend much of their day grazing on:
Supplemental foods should complement these natural food sources rather than replace them. Overfeeding can quickly lead to excess waste and water quality issues.
Key takeaway: A healthy shrimp tank often has enough natural food available that only small amounts of supplemental feeding are needed.
Want to learn more about shrimp care? Get the free stability checklist →
If we had to choose only one food to keep on hand, we would recommend Algae Wafers for Shrimp, Snails & Bottom Feeders as the best overall food for cherry shrimp. With 37% protein and a sinking design that reaches bottom feeders naturally, these wafers are our top pick for daily supplemental feeding.
However, some of the healthiest and most productive shrimp colonies we've seen also include natural grazing sources such as:
Food matters, but stability matters even more. If you want healthier shrimp, fewer unexplained deaths, and a colony that thrives long term, focus on building a balanced ecosystem first.
Quick answers to the most common questions about cherry shrimp nutrition and feeding schedules.
While cherry shrimp are excellent scavengers and can survive on biofilm and algae in a mature aquarium, they thrive best with supplemental feeding. A varied diet supports healthier molts, better coloration, and more successful breeding. In newer tanks with less biofilm, supplemental feeding is especially important.
In a mature, planted aquarium, feeding 2-3 times per week is often sufficient. Watch how quickly the food is consumed — if food remains uneaten after 2 hours, you're likely overfeeding. Adjust based on your colony size, tank maturity, and how much natural food is available.
Baby shrimp (shrimplets) primarily feed on biofilm and microorganisms. Products like Bacter AE and Shrimp Envy Baby Food can help ensure adequate microscopic food is available. For immune support, GlasGarten ShrimpFit helps keep your colony healthy and resilient. Cholla wood and Indian almond leaves also provide excellent grazing surfaces for babies.
Yes, shrimp-specific foods are formulated with the right nutrients for invertebrates. While shrimp will eat leftover fish food, dedicated shrimp foods provide better nutrition for molting, coloration, and breeding. Shrimp also benefit from natural grazing sources like leaves and wood that fish don't typically utilize.
Yes — overfeeding is one of the most common mistakes shrimp keepers make. Excess food decomposes, leading to ammonia spikes, poor water quality, and potential colony die-offs. It can also encourage pest snails and planaria. Feed small amounts and remove uneaten food after a few hours.
More guides to help you build a thriving shrimp colony and healthy planted aquarium.
The best foods, the right parameters, and a stable ecosystem — it all works together. Get the free checklist that successful shrimp keepers use to maintain healthy, breeding colonies year after year.
Learn the key metrics that keep your ecosystem balanced
Know exactly when and what to feed for optimal growth
Master GH, KH, TDS, and the numbers that matter
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