Black Rili Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

📍 Taiwan / Germany selective breeding

Black Rili Shrimp are a striking color morph of Neocaridina davidi, featuring a bold contrast between jet-black and translucent/white banding on the body and legs. This selective breeding creates a distinctive striped or 'rili' pattern that makes them highly sought after by aquarists. They are hardy, peaceful, and excellent for planted tanks and community setups.

Size1.5"

Min Tank5g

School10+

peaceful

Zonebottom

Care Guide

Diet

Black Rili Shrimp are detritivores that graze constantly on biofilm, algae, and decaying plant matter. Supplement with high-quality shrimp pellets (Shirakura, Mosura) 2-3 times weekly, and offer blanched vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or cucumber weekly. They thrive in established tanks with ample biofilm.

Behavior

These shrimp are active grazers, spending most of their time foraging on substrate and plants. They molt regularly as they grow, and females will berth (carry eggs) when conditions are stable. Colony dynamics are peaceful; they gather in groups but do not school in the traditional sense.

Breeding

Black Rili Shrimp breed readily in neutral to slightly alkaline water (pH 6.5-8.0) without special conditioning. Females produce 20-30 shrimplets per cycle, which are born fully-formed and immediately independent. No parental care is needed; simply maintain stable parameters and adequate food sources for high survival rates.

Tank Mates

Ember Tetra

Small, peaceful fish that ignore shrimp and share similar water parameters

excellent

Otocinclus

Algae-eating fish that coexist peacefully with shrimp colonies

excellent

Chili Rasbora

Tiny, non-aggressive fish that pose no threat to adult or juvenile shrimp

excellent

Amano Shrimp

Larger shrimp species that coexist peacefully; may compete for food

good

Red Cherry Shrimp

Compatible Neocaridina variety; may interbreed, producing mixed color offspring

good

Dwarf Gourami

Generally peaceful but may occasionally nip at shrimp; monitor behavior

caution

Common Diseases

Molting Failure / Incomplete Molt

Symptoms

Shrimp unable to shed exoskeleton completely, appearing stuck or deformed; lethargy and loss of appetite

Treatment

Increase water hardness (GH 6-12) through mineral supplementation; ensure adequate calcium via cuttlebone or mineral additives; maintain stable parameters and reduce stress

Vorticella (Ciliate Infection)

Symptoms

White, fuzzy coating on body and appendages; lethargy; difficulty molting

Treatment

Perform 30-50% water changes daily; add Indian almond leaves or alder cones for tannins; improve water quality and reduce organic waste; avoid copper-based treatments (toxic to shrimp)

Bacterial Infection / Muscular Necrosis

Symptoms

Discoloration, lesions on body, loss of limbs, sudden death in otherwise healthy shrimp

Treatment

Perform frequent water changes; maintain pristine water quality (0 ammonia, <20 ppm nitrate); isolate affected individuals if possible; avoid antibiotics (harmful to shrimp); ensure adequate nutrition

Copper Toxicity

Symptoms

Sudden death, erratic swimming, loss of color, inability to molt

Treatment

Perform immediate 50% water change; never use copper-based medications or fertilizers; verify tap water source is copper-free; use copper-free plant fertilizers only