Green Jade Shrimp Breeding Guide

Green Jade is a Neocaridina davidi color morph that breeds readily in freshwater but needs strict culling to hold its green, which fades over generations.

Overview

Green Jade is a color morph of Neocaridina davidi, a freshwater dwarf shrimp of the family Atyidae native to China and Taiwan. Like all Neocaridina, it is the same species as every other morph and breeds in plain freshwater, but holding its deep green color demands careful selective breeding. Adults reach roughly 3-4 cm and live about 1-2 years.

Telling Males from Females

Females grow larger (up to about 4 cm), are more strongly colored, and have wider tails; males are smaller (about 2.5-3 cm) and more translucent. A mature female shows a yellowish saddle of developing eggs on her back. A group of at least ten shrimp reliably includes both sexes.

Breeding Conditions

A sexed group in a predator-free tank reproduces on its own. Reported limits are 16-28 C (60-82 F), most comfortable 22-24 C (72-76 F), pH 6.5-8.5, GH at least 6 dGH (110 ppm) and KH at least 2 dKH (40 ppm). Mineral-rich water is required for successful molting; soft water can cause failed molts. Maturity is reached at about two months.

Eggs & Young

The berried female carries 20-30 eggs on her swimmerets after molting and mating; they darken over roughly 2-3 weeks until they hatch. There is no larval stage; young emerge as tiny copies of the adults, around 1 mm long, and adults do not eat their own young.

Maintaining Color

Green is one of the less stable Neocaridina colors and fades quickly without management. Breeders cull pale or off-color individuals strictly so that only the deepest-green shrimp reproduce. Mixing different morphs produces offspring that revert toward wild-type brown, so green colonies are kept isolated.