FastAquatics

Short answer

Neocaridina (Cherry, Blue Dream, Yellow Sunkist) tolerate a wide pH 6.5-8.0, hard water, and any beginner setup. Caridina (Crystal Red, Crystal Black, Taiwan Bee) need soft acidic water (pH 5.8-6.5, KH 0-1, GH 4-6, TDS 100-150) on active substrate. Neocaridina is the beginner shrimp; Caridina is the advanced project.

In depth

Both genera produce stunning aquarium shrimp, but they are not interchangeable. The difference comes down to water chemistry and the kind of setup each one requires.

Neocaridina davidi (the easy one)

  • pH: 6.5-8.0 (very forgiving)
  • GH: 6-12 (medium-hard water)
  • KH: 2-10 (any normal alkalinity)
  • TDS: 150-300 ppm
  • Temperature: 65-80F
  • Substrate: any inert substrate (sand, gravel, fluorite)
  • Common cultivars: Red Cherry, Sakura, Painted Fire, Bloody Mary, Blue Dream, Blue Velvet, Yellow Sunkist, Green Jade, Black Rose, Carbon Rili

Caridina cantonensis (the advanced one)

  • pH: 5.8-6.5 (acidic)
  • GH: 4-6 (soft water)
  • KH: 0-1 (almost no carbonate)
  • TDS: 100-150 ppm (RO/DI required)
  • Temperature: 68-75F
  • Substrate: active buffering substrate (ADA Amazonia, Brightwell Shrimp Substrate, Fluval Stratum)
  • Common cultivars: Crystal Red, Crystal Black, King Kong, Wine Red, Taiwan Bee, Pinto, Galaxy

Will they crossbreed?

No. Neocaridina and Caridina are different genera and produce no offspring when housed together. You can technically keep them in the same tank if your parameters land in their narrow overlap (pH 6.5, GH 5-6, soft KH), but the parameter window is so tight that one will fail. Most experienced shrimp keepers run separate tanks.

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