Snowball Shrimp (Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis or Neocaridina davidi variant)

Snowball Shrimp (Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis or Neocaridina davidi variant) are hardy, beginner-friendly freshwater dwarf shrimp known for their translucent, milky-white bodies. They get their unique name because the females carry bright white eggs that look exactly like tiny snowballs. They are peaceful scavengers, highly prolific breeders, and make an excellent addition to nano tanks and community aquariums.

💧 Ideal Water Parameters

Snowball Shrimp are incredibly adaptable but thrive best under stable, fully cycled aquarium conditions.

Temperature: 18°C – 26°C (65°F – 78°F)

pH Range: 6.5 – 8.0

gH (General Hardness): 4 – 14 dGH

kH (Carbonate Hardness): 1 – 8 dKH

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 150 – 300 ppm

Nitrogen Cycle: Ammonia and Nitrite must be strictly 0 ppm; Nitrates should stay under 20 ppm.

Diet and Feeding

These shrimp are opportunistic omnivores that spend all day cleaning your tank.

Natural Biofilm: They primarily graze on algae and microscopic biofilm.

Prepared Foods: Supplement with high-quality shrimp pellets, spirulina powder, or algae wafers.

Fresh Veggies: They love occasional treats of blanched zucchini, spinach, or carrots.

Caution: Never overfeed; remove uneaten food within a few hours to prevent water fouling.

🌿 Tank Setup & Compatibility

Substrate: Use a dark sand or gravel substrate. Their stark white bodies pop beautifully against dark backgrounds.

Plants: Provide dense live plants like Java Moss or Christmas Moss to offer shelter for newborns and surface area for biofilm.

Filtration: Always use a gentle sponge filter. Power filters can easily suck up and kill tiny shrimplets.

Tank Mates: Keep them with other peaceful, non-aggressive species like snails, neon tetras, or otocinclus catfish.

Avoid larger fish like cichlids, loaches, or puffers that will eat them.

Copper Warning: Copper is highly toxic to invertebrates. Always verify that any aquarium medications or plant fertilizers are copper-free.

Breeding

Ease: They are incredibly easy to breed in freshwater and do not require brackish water.

Process: Mature females develop a white "saddle" behind their head before transferring fertilized, pure white eggs to their bellies.

Gestation: The female will fan the eggs for 3 to 4 weeks until they hatch into fully formed, microscopic copies of the adults.

Crossbreeding: They will interbreed with other Neocaridina species (like Cherry or Blue Dream shrimp). This crossbreeding usually results in wild, muddy-brown colored offspring.