Neocaridina Shrimp
Dark Fire Red Cherry Shrimp
A deeper, darker expression of the Fire Red Cherry line, with the same full-body opaque red coverage, pushed further toward a richer, heavier red that reads as more intense and more saturated than standard Fire Red Cherry at every viewing distance.
Dark Fire Red Cherry Shrimp are a selectively developed Neocaridina morph representing the deepest end of the Fire Red Cherry colour spectrum. Where the standard Fire Red Cherry expresses full-body opaque red with no translucency, the Dark Fire Red Cherry pushes further, with a red that is deeper, heavier, and richer in tone, with a density of pigmentation that reads as clearly distinct from standard Fire Red Cherry stock at normal tank-viewing distance. The difference is not in the pattern or coverage, which is the same full-body opacity as Fire Red Cherry, but in the depth and weight of the red itself. In the red cherry grading lineage this represents the highest colour expression available in the opaque red line and a more saturated and more commanding presence than even the best standard Fire Red Cherry specimens. Hardy, prolific, and fully beginner friendly on standard Neocaridina parameters.
6.8–7.8pH
6–14GH (dGH)
2–8KH (dKH)
65–78°FTemperature
Colour & Grade
Deeper and Darker than Fire Red Cherry
Same full-body opaque coverage as Fire Red Cherry, with meaningfully deeper and heavier red pigmentation. The coverage pattern of the Dark Fire Red Cherry is identical to the Fire Red Cherry: full body, no translucency, internal organs fully obscured. What distinguishes the Dark Fire Red Cherry is the depth of the red itself. The pigmentation is denser and richer, producing a red that reads as heavier and more saturated. Side by side with standard Fire Red Cherry, the difference is clearly visible: the Dark Fire Red Cherry is unmistakably darker and more intense in tone.
The deepest available expression in the opaque red Neocaridina line. Within the red cherry grading hierarchy the progression runs from Sakura through Painted Fire Red to Fire Red Cherry, with each step representing denser pigmentation and fuller coverage. Dark Fire Red Cherry sits at the top of this progression, with the same full-body opacity as Fire Red Cherry but with the red pushed to its deepest and most saturated expression. It is the endpoint of the opaque red line rather than a different direction within it.
Distinct from Bloody Mary and Dark Bloody Mary, which are wine-toned rather than deep red. The Bloody Mary line has a characteristic translucent carapace with a glowing wine-red body tone derived from the Chocolate Shrimp lineage. The Dark Fire Red Cherry is opaque throughout, with no translucency, and the red is a deeper, richer version of classic cherry red rather than a wine or burgundy tone. Both are high-end red morphs but they are visually distinct in character.
Dark substrate is essential to show the depth of the red most clearly. The heavier, deeper red of the Dark Fire Red Cherry reads most powerfully against dark fine-grain substrate (black sand or dark gravel). Against pale substrate the depth of the red is partially absorbed into the background and the distinction from standard Fire Red Cherry becomes less apparent. Dark substrate is the single most impactful setup choice for maximising the visual impact of this morph.
Breeds true in a dedicated colony. Dark Fire Red Cherry maintained as a single-morph colony will produce offspring expressing the same deeper red consistently. As with all Neocaridina, housing with other colour morphs produces offspring reverting toward wild-type colouration over successive generations. Isolate from all other red morphs including standard Fire Red Cherry to preserve the deeper colour expression across generations.
Care
Standard Neocaridina Parameters
No special requirements beyond standard Neocaridina care. pH 6.8 to 7.8, GH 6 to 14, KH 2 to 8, temperature 65 to 78°F. Dechlorinated tap water is suitable in most regions. No RO water, active substrate, or specialised mineralisation required. The same setup that maintains any other Neocaridina morph maintains Dark Fire Red Cherry without adjustment.
Diet contributes to colour expression over time. Consistent feeding with spirulina-rich foods, varied proteins, and quality shrimp pellets supports the depth of red pigmentation in subsequent generations. A varied diet including Snowflake Food, Veggie Wafers, and Almond Leaves for biofilm supports both colour and colony health.
Display TipDark Fire Red Cherry Shrimp on black fine sand with dense green planting including Java Moss, Bucephalandra, or Subwassertang is the setup where the depth of the red reads most clearly. The darker, heavier red of the Dark Fire Red Cherry against black substrate and bright green plant colour produces a contrast that is more dramatic than the same setup with standard Fire Red Cherry. A group of Snowball or Snowball Shrimp as a contrast element amplifies the red further by providing a neutral white reference that makes the depth of the Dark Fire Red Cherry's pigmentation immediately apparent.
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