Snowball Shrimp are a Neocaridina colour variant carrying a bright, opaque white body -- the lightest, most neutral colour in the entire Neocaridina catalog and the colour that reads as the highest contrast against dark substrate of any morph. Where all other Neocaridina colour morphs carry warm or cool-toned pigmentation, Snowball carries white -- a non-colour that amplifies every other colour around it by contrast. A single Snowball shrimp in a colony of vivid red Fire Red Cherry reads as immediately and clearly distinct from every other animal in the tank; a Snowball alongside Black Rose on pale substrate creates the simplest and most graphic two-colour combination achievable in the hobby. The name reflects the round, bright white quality of a well-graded individual in good light -- the white is not translucent or pale blue-tinged but a clean, opaque white that reads as clearly white from any angle. Hardy, beginner friendly, breeds freely in freshwater. Do not house with other Neocaridina colour variants to prevent colour reversion.
6.8-7.8pH
6-14GH
2-8KH
65-78FTemperature
What to Expect
Colour and Behaviour
Opaque snow-white -- the lightest and most neutral colour in the Neocaridina catalog -- the white of Snowball shrimp at its best is clean, clearly white, and fully opaque -- not the pale translucent quality of Blue Jelly or the off-white of lower-grade white morphs, but a bright, solid white that reads as the same white from any angle and under any typical aquarium lighting. The internal organs are not visible through the body tissue in well-graded individuals, and the white holds consistently across the entire body without any warm or cool tonal inflection.
Maximum contrast on dark substrate -- reads as the brightest point in any tank -- against dark substrate, an opaque white shrimp produces the maximum possible contrast between body colour and background of any Neocaridina morph -- greater than vivid red, greater than saturated blue, greater than vivid orange. The white body reflects all available light while the dark substrate absorbs it, making Snowball shrimp visible at a greater distance and more immediately eye-catching than any other morph at the same tank distance.
The ideal pairing morph -- amplifies every other colour it is placed alongside -- white is the colour that makes every other colour appear more vivid by comparison. A small number of Snowball shrimp in a display colony of any other morph -- ten Snowball in a colony of fifty Fire Red Cherry, for example -- makes the red of the surrounding colony appear more saturated than the same colony viewed without the white reference point. Snowball serves as a visual calibration element that the eye uses to assess the saturation of every other colour in the scene.
Colour improves with selective breeding -- select most opaque, least tinted offspring -- the defining quality distinction between Snowball individuals is how cleanly white the colour is -- whether it carries any cream, blue, or transparent toning versus a clean, clearly neutral white. Select the most opaque, most clearly neutral-white individuals as breeding stock to progressively improve colony whiteness across generations.
Hardy and beginner friendly -- full Neocaridina parameter tolerance -- Snowball carry the same broad parameter tolerance and robust constitution as all Neocaridina. Fully appropriate for beginners and for experienced keepers adding a contrast element to an established multi-colour display.
How to Set It Up
Getting Started
1Dark substrate and stable parameters before introduction -- black aquasoil or dark sand, pH 7.0-7.4, GH 6-8, KH 3-5, temperature 72-75F. Run for at least one week and confirm stability with daily testing.
2Drip acclimate over 45-60 minutes -- float bag for 15 minutes, then drip at one drop per second for 45-60 minutes before release.
3Dense moss and established biofilm surfaces before shrimp arrive -- Java Moss, Christmas Moss, or Flame Moss provides biofilm foraging and shrimplet shelter from the first breeding cycle.
4Feed varied diet and remove uneaten portions within two hours -- comprehensive sinking food every one to two days. Consistent appetite across the colony is a reliable health indicator.
Bonus TipSnowball shrimp in a Skittles Pack or multi-morph display tank serve a function beyond their own colour -- they provide a visual anchor that makes every other colour in the tank more vivid and more clearly saturated than a display without them. Three to five Snowball shrimp distributed among a colony of twenty Fire Red Cherry or Blue Dream produces a display where the white individuals draw the eye first and the vivid colour of the surrounding animals reads as more saturated by comparison. The practical ratio of five to ten percent Snowball in a mixed display produces the maximum colour amplification effect without the white becoming the visual dominant of the colony.
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Browse more Neocaridina shrimpPair Snowball with Fire Red Cherry, Black Rose, or Blue Dream for maximum colour contrast. Browse our Neocaridina Shrimp collection.
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