Camarones Bloody Mary (0,75”)

Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi var. “Bloody Mary”

Maximum Size and Lifespan:
Bloody Mary Shrimp reach about 1–1.25 inches in length. With proper care, they typically live 1.5 to 2 years, though some may reach close to 3 years under ideal conditions.

Recommended Aquarium Size, Water Changes, and Care:

• Tank size: A 5-gallon tank is the minimum recommended, though larger setups are more stable for maintaining healthy colonies.

• Water changes: About 20–30% weekly with dechlorinated, remineralized water if using RO. Stable water parameters are more important than frequent large changes.

• Water parameters: pH 6.5–7.8,

• temperature 68–78°F (20–25°C). They prefer stable, clean water and don’t tolerate sudden swings.

• Care: Provide plenty of live plants, mosses, and hiding places like cholla wood or caves. A sponge filter is ideal to avoid sucking in baby shrimp.

Tankmates:
Best kept in a species-only tank or with very peaceful nano fish that won’t harass or eat them (e.g., small rasboras, ember tetras, otocinclus catfish). Avoid larger or aggressive fish such as cichlids, barbs, and bettas, which may prey on them. Snails (like nerites and mystery snails) make excellent companions and will help equate to the bioload.

Diet:
Bloody Mary Shrimp are omnivores and will graze on biofilm, algae, and detritus. Supplement with:

• High-quality shrimp pellets or granules

• Botanicals, Java Moss, Catapa Leaves are great sources for biofilm

• Blanched vegetables (zucchini, and cucumber)

• Occasional protein foods (algae wafers, bloodworms)
  Feed sparingly—small amounts once a day or every other day—to avoid overfeeding and water quality issues.

Overview:
The Bloody Mary Shrimp is a selectively bred variety of Neocaridina davidi, known for its deep, uniform red coloration that appears slightly translucent compared to Cherry Shrimp strains. They are hardy, adaptable in community settings with care, and popular among aquarists for their beauty and algae-grazing behavior.

Natural Environment:
Although the Bloody Mary is a man-made strain, its wild ancestors (Neocaridina davidi) are native to Taiwan and parts of East Asia, living in streams, ponds, and freshwater bodies with dense vegetation and rocky substrates. They thrive in slow-moving, clean waters where biofilm and algae are abundant.

Breeding:
Breeding Bloody Mary Shrimp is straightforward in a stable, well-cycled aquarium. Females carry 20–30 eggs beneath their abdomen for about 3–4 weeks before releasing fully formed miniature shrimp. No special intervention is required, but providing dense plant growth or moss increases fry survival. Maintaining stable water parameters and avoiding predatory tankmates ensures the colony thrives and grows naturally.