Orange Cherry Shrimp - Neocaridina heteropoda

This small, but beautiful shrimp is great for controlling algae in aquaria. Females are a brilliant red color, while males have some red, but are noticeably duller in color. They are small - typically around 1/2 inch at the time of purchase - so be careful about who you are keeping them with; they can easily become a meal for an angelfish or other larger, but peaceful fish.

They are best kept in a small tank with small tetras and plenty of plants. They will take care of all types of algae quite well, and will also feed on excess food and plant matter that settles along the bottom of the tank. Because shrimp molt, they benefit from the addition of iodine about every month. Without iodine in the water, they are unable to break out of their old "shell". It is recommended that you keep about 1 shrimp per 1/4 gallon of water if possible, and for best algae-eating results.