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Cantaloupe Shrimp | Neocaridina Freshwater Aquarium – Superior Shrimp & Aquatics

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Cantaloupe Shrimp

Cantaloupe Shrimp

$42.50
$42.50
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Quantity: 5

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$42.50
🦐 How Many Do I Need?
1 gal5101520 gal
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Description
Reviews
Description
Cantaloupe Shrimp - Superior Shrimp and Aquatics
Neocaridina Shrimp

Cantaloupe Shrimp

A warm-toned Neocaridina with a soft orange to peach body colour and irregular mottled patterning -- a subtly complex colour expression in the orange Neocaridina spectrum.

Soft Orange to Peach Body Irregular Mottled Patterning Warm Toned and Subtly Complex Beginner Friendly Breeds in Freshwater Dark Substrate Recommended

Cantaloupe Shrimp are a Neocaridina colour variant with a warm, soft orange-to-peach base body and irregular mottled or blotched patterning that gives each individual a slightly different colour distribution -- a more complex and varied appearance than the solid, even-toned colour morphs like Yellow or Blue Dream. The mottled pattern reflects both the base body colour and variation in pigment concentration across the body, producing a warm, melon-toned animal whose colour reads as nuanced and natural rather than uniformly saturated. The pattern intensity and orange depth improve with selective breeding across generations and with iron availability in the diet. Like all Neocaridina: hardy, beginner friendly, breeds freely in freshwater without intervention. Do not house with other Neocaridina colour variants to prevent colour reversion in offspring.

6.8-7.8pH
6-14GH
2-8KH
65-78FTemperature
What to Expect

Colour, Pattern and Behaviour

Soft orange to peach body with individual variation in mottling -- the base colour is a warm, muted orange in the cantaloupe-peach range -- softer and less saturated than vivid orange Neocaridina like Pumpkin shrimp, with the mottled patterning adding irregular variation in colour intensity across the body surface. Each individual carries a slightly different mottle distribution, making a colony of Cantaloupe Shrimp more visually varied and less uniform than solid-colour morphs at the colony level. Colour deepens with successive generations in stable conditions -- the best colour expression develops progressively as each generation is produced under stable parameters and consistent nutrition. Selecting the most vividly coloured and most clearly patterned individuals as breeding stock across multiple generations moves the colony toward deeper orange tones and more defined mottling over time. Iron-responsive colour -- dietary iron deepens the orange -- consistent liquid fertiliser with iron in planted tank setups, and iron-containing shrimp food, both contribute to the depth and saturation of the orange body colour. Cantaloupe Shrimp in iron-deficient environments tend toward paler, more washed-out peach tones rather than the warmer, deeper orange of well-nourished individuals. Dark substrate for maximum colour contrast -- the soft warm orange reads most clearly against dark substrate. On pale or white substrate the peach-orange body blends with the background and the subtle mottled variation is less apparent. Hardy and beginner friendly -- full Neocaridina tolerance range -- identical in hardiness and parameter tolerance to all Neocaridina. Appropriate for first shrimp setups and for experienced keepers looking to add warm-toned colour variety to an established Neocaridina tank.
How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1Dark substrate and stable parameters before introduction -- dark aquasoil or dark sand, pH 7.0-7.4, GH 6-8, KH 3-5, temperature 72-75F. Run for at least one week before introduction and test daily to confirm stability.
2Drip acclimate over 45-60 minutes -- float for 15 minutes, then drip at one drop per second for 45-60 minutes before release.
3Dense moss and established biofilm surfaces -- fine-structure moss and biofilm-producing surfaces in place before introduction support shrimplet survival from the first breeding cycle.
4Feed iron-containing food and dose liquid iron in planted setups -- vary the diet between comprehensive shrimp food and occasional iron-supplemented treats. In planted tank setups, regular liquid fertiliser with chelated iron supports the dietary iron availability that deepens the characteristic orange body colour.
Bonus Tip

Cantaloupe Shrimp alongside Blue Velvet or Blue Dream Neocaridina in adjacent tanks -- kept separately to prevent cross-breeding -- creates a warm-cool display pairing where the soft orange-peach of Cantaloupe is viewed against or alongside the cool blue of the Blue line. The soft, naturalistic quality of the Cantaloupe mottling contrasts with the solid, even tone of the Blue morphs in a way that highlights both the warmth of the orange and the coolness of the blue more than either would reading in isolation.

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Browse more Neocaridina shrimp

Pair Cantaloupe with Orange Rili, Pumpkin, or other warm-toned Neocaridina for a warm-spectrum display. Browse our Neocaridina Shrimp collection.

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Reviews

Customer Reviews

Based on 23 reviews
87%
(20)
4%
(1)
9%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
87.0
95.2
D
Durc P Setzer
Inaccurate breeder pack

I ordered a breeder pack. There were only 5 or 6 females, not 8. I'm well versed in sexing them.

Only time will tell how the color is but the shrimp have nice thick shells and good conformation. No complaints about the shrimp, just wish the count was accurate.

Thanks for the feedback on the shrimp quality.

For any count discrepancies, our policy has a clear process: laid-out count photos on a plain surface with the empty bag and shipping label visible, sent to support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within 2 hours of delivery. We're happy to address legitimate count issues through that process, but a public review isn't a way to resolve a count concern, especially without documentation.

Feel free to reach out by email if you'd like us to look into it.

John
Superior Shrimp & Aquatics

O
Ostan Sundrud
Great Shrimp and Excellent Service

We love this variety. Lighting is important to get full effect of color. Shipped with care and well packed. Seller very responsive and won't hesitate to choose this again in a future order.

K
Katie Hutto
Great color even under my no nothing fluval spec

Great color even under my no nothing fluval spec light!

C
Cora
Beautiful little guys

All arrived alive and well. 2 days after shipment they are still all healthy. Their colors were already showing just a few hours after shipment :D

User picture
A
Anne
Great Quality

Big beautiful Shrimp! They haven't colored back up yet from shipping, but I can already tell they are going to be stunning from the green coloration they already have

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    Cantaloupe Shrimp
    $42.50
    $42.50
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