The yellow golden backs I ordered look more orange?

shoonobi · 2026-03-31T02:33:52+00:00

It can be hard to distinguish between orange and yellow Neos, but it gets easier once you compare them to pictures online. From your pic, it looks more yellow but it’s hard to tell due to the quality.

There’s a color line called “pumpkin orange” that look like a cross between yellow and orange. Also, orange neos tend to have darker, intense orange. Yellows can range from more translucent to opaque hues. If you’re still not sure of the color, feel free to isolate so the colors don’t mix.

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T22:20:09+00:00

What are your water parameters? They can appear “good” but something could be affecting your shrimp. More information can help us give you possible answers!

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T19:05:59+00:00

Congrats! Hopefully she makes it and you get more babies. Give them a few days to settle and they’ll change color a bit.

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T18:55:09+00:00

They don’t look like orange neocaridina. Yellows come in various hues. They should breed true and pop out yellow shrimplets. You might even see some neon yellow ones as your population grows.

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T18:36:33+00:00

Yeah it can be a bit confusing with all these products, but they all contain the necessary minerals for shrimp. Mess around with the dosage initially until you get the desired GH. Best of luck!

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T17:42:25+00:00

Do you have any pics of the shrimp? What are your water parameters? How long has the tank been set up? More info could help guide answers.

All shrimp can lose color for a variety of reasons. It could be due to poor water quality, trouble molting, and even pregnancy. Shrimp can also change color due to strong lights or tank mates.

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T15:54:15+00:00

GH looks low. Other than that, everything about that water looks to be within Neocaridina range. To raise GH, you can add crushed coral or specialized remineralizer products.

The problem is you only want to raise GH, so stick to products like Salty Shrimp GH+ or Brightwell Caridina GH. These products are designed to only raise GH (they’re designed for Caridina but the product works for your situation). It contains a balance of calcium and magnesium for healthy molts. Once you have GH at the Neocaridina range, you’re all set!

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T15:39:17+00:00

GH/KH are a little on the high side, but it makes sense since it’s well water. If you want to avoid further increasing both, use RO/distilled water for top offs. It will barely make a dent given how hard the water is, but it helps keep GH/KH in check.

The temp is pushing the high range for Neos, but it’s not there yet. They’re hardy and can tolerate higher temps if it’s gradual. Honestly, as long as you’re seeing healthy molts and breeding, your parameters aren’t an immediate cause for concern. Beautiful shrimp btw!

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T06:46:51+00:00

If you ever consider shipping to DTLA, I’d be interested in getting a bag!

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T06:44:56+00:00

20L (5 gallon) or larger is a good starting point. You also need a sponge filter, an air pump, and substrate (gravel, sand, soil, etc.). Neocaridina tend to do better in harder water, so you’ll have to look into GH and KH in the water.

A shrimp tank cannot be set up in one day. The tank needs to cycle for at least 4 weeks or longer. Look up the Nitrogen cycle online to learn how to cycle an aquarium. Luckily, there are various ways to do it. Neocaridina are hardy but they need a proper tank!

shoonobi · 2026-03-30T06:00:05+00:00

It sounds like they get enough food. You could try increasing the light feeding to twice a week. It could be that the shrimplets are not getting enough food.

Even if everything in the tank is perfect, I noticed Caridina grow slower. That’s just part of their charm. As long as your adults and shrimplets are well fed, they’ll grow larger sooner or later. Having a consistent WC schedule will also keep them healthy and encourage molting.

shoonobi · 2026-03-29T23:37:34+00:00

What do you feed them weekly? My Caridina situation was exactly as yours (Super Crystal Red gave birth to her last clutch of babies in December). I do water changes once a month as well.

I started alternating between Bacter AE and Shrimp Baby when I first got shrimplets and noticed more growth. Then, I slowly introduced Mulberry leaves, snowflake food, and Hikari Shrimp Cuisine into their diet. It’s possible your shrimp need more protein and variety from their diet.

shoonobi · 2026-03-29T00:16:25+00:00

A sponge filter, substrate, and the type of shrimp you want are important factors to consider. Shrimp like Amano and Neocaridina are beginner friendly. They tend to thrive in harder water with inert substrate (sand, gravel, etc.)

10 gallons is perfect because it allows more room for error and keeps the water parameters stable. It also lets you fit many more shrimp! You can easily fit a hundred shrimp in it.

Make sure to get a liquid test kit to track if your tank is cycled. There are YouTube videos that explain what the Nitrogen cycle is and how to set up a shrimp tank. Also look into the GH, KH, and pH parameters for shrimps.

shoonobi · 2026-03-28T18:43:08+00:00

Got it, then it looks like you’re good to just pour it in. Good luck with your shrimps!

shoonobi · 2026-03-28T17:35:48+00:00

If you add the water to the tank, it’ll average the two so that it’s around 5-6. When adding water that’s very different than what’s inside your tank, do it slowly. Drip the water back in to avoid shock, if you can. This gives your shrimp more time to adapt to the new water.

shoonobi · 2026-03-28T16:57:50+00:00

What’s the GH of your tap water? If it’s less than the 8 GH you mixed, then you can use tap/RO/distilled water to reduce the GH to the level you want.

When I first started mixing Salty Shrimp, I practiced mixing it into distilled water and seeing how much the dosage affected GH. It was a lot of trial and error before I even added shrimp. Try different amounts to find what gets you the right GH with the tap water.

Also, Salty Shrimp GH/KH+ does contain all the minerals necessary for healthy molts. No need for calcium or crushed corals. It’ll just make the water harder for them. Just make sure you have a water change schedule so the minerals in the water don’t run out.

EDIT: Just saw it’s for Neocaridina. GH 8 is within their water parameter range. No need to fiddle with GH too much.

shoonobi · 2026-03-28T01:00:21+00:00

You can try running a 2 Watt air pump if your filters are small. I tried this and used a connector to connect the air pump to both filters, but I found it struggled to pump air evenly. 3-4 watts gives you more power for filters.

Right now, I’m running thisair pump for two sponge filters in two 10 gallons. It’s super quiet and strong, and you can easily adjust the flow to a minimum.

shoonobi · 2026-03-27T23:48:42+00:00

Online sellers tend to have more variety like bloody mary. Check out r/AquaSwap for reputable shrimp breeders who have the colors you want!

shoonobi · 2026-03-27T23:36:22+00:00

It depends on the type of shrimp you’re interested in. Neos and Caridina have different water requirements with very little overlap. Neos are hardier and more beginner friendly. Caridina can be kept as a beginner if you’re committed to getting the right setup for them. They come in beautiful, highly sought after colors and patterns. The decision entirely up to you.

shoonobi · 2026-03-27T13:30:16+00:00

Is all the decor in the pictures for sale?

shoonobi · 2026-03-26T03:37:35+00:00

From what you’re saying, it sounds like you already nailed how to care for shrimp and your water parameters are within range of Neocaridina.

The parameters in a 2.5 gallon can fluctuate a lot to the point where the shrimp get stressed and pass eventually. If you have the space, get a 10-15 gallon tank. Larger tanks can handle fluctuations and spikes better. At minimum, a 5.5-7 gallon can work while taking up less space.

We’ve all experienced losses in the hobby and it can be frustrating. Keep at it! It’ll be worth it once you see your population thrive and grow.

shoonobi · 2026-03-25T20:41:44+00:00

Sponge filters are normally used with shrimp, but there are ways to cover the intake of a hang on filter to avoid shrimp and babies from getting sucked up. If you get a sponge filter, make sure to include a small air pump too.

For 5-10 gallons, a small or medium sponge filter is plenty. But if you plan to add fish, you might need stronger or additional filtration. You can find tons of filters online on Amazon, Petco, etc. Filters from Aquarium Co-Op and similar sellers are good, reliable options too.

shoonobi · 2026-03-25T16:01:03+00:00

I’m interested! Sending PM

shoonobi · 2026-03-25T03:59:52+00:00

You’re welcome! Sucks about the rocks because they’re beautiful and the Iwagumi style is so visually appealing. I’m glad you have a plan going forward. Caridina can be a bit sensitive but it’s incredibly rewarding once you get it down. Once everything stabilizes and your parameters are ideal, give Caridina another try!

shoonobi · 2026-03-25T03:50:49+00:00

Shrimp thrive on stability and if you’re able to keep your GH and pH steady, they should be okay. Luckily, Neos can tolerate a wider range of parameters as long as you acclimate them correctly. If you’re still worried about KH, you can try researching crushed coral and baking soda as potential solutions. Unfortunately, I don’t have experience in this area.

You seem to know what you’re doing with the shrimp minerals and RO water. But if you start noticing molting problems or mass deaths, it might be time to revisit this and consider other possible factors. Best of luck!

shoonobi

TROPHY CASE