The complete SA shrimp keeping guide
Neocaridina, Caridina, municipal vs borehole water, and where to buy shrimp in every province.
11 min read
Freshwater shrimp keeping has exploded in South Africa over the past decade — from a niche breeder hobby to something you can order by courier from Cape Town to Pretoria. If you searched shrimp keeping South Africa, buy Neocaridina South Africa, or Caridina shrimp SA, this guide covers what forums used to gatekeep: which type to start with, how SA tap water affects your colony, and where to buy shrimp safely.
Neocaridina vs Caridina: when to start with each
The two families matter because they need completely different water. Mixing advice between them is the main reason beginners kill shrimp.
Neocaridina (the beginner path)
Cherry shrimp, blue dreams, and other Neocaridina davidi colour morphs tolerate a wide pH and hardness range. They breed readily, eat biofilm and commercial shrimp foods, and forgive small mistakes. If you have never kept shrimp, start here — full stop.
Caridina (advanced path)
Crystal red shrimp (Crystal Red Bee / CRS) and Taiwan bee variants need soft, acidic, stable water — usually remineralised RO or distilled water, not straight Gauteng tap. They cost more, breed slower, and die fast if parameters drift. Move to Caridina after six months of stable Neocaridina colonies and consistent test results.
Amano shrimp — the algae crew
Amano shrimp are not decorative breeders (larvae need brackish water) but are excellent algae eaters in planted tanks. Hardy in community setups; keep them with peaceful fish that will not eat moulting shrimp.
Water parameters for SA tap water
South Africa is not one water profile. Municipal supply, borehole, and rainwater harvesting all show up in hobby groups — often in the same suburb.
Municipal tap water
Major metros (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha) treat water to potable standards with chlorine or chloramine. Always use conditioner. Gauteng and much of the interior tend toward moderate to hard, alkaline water (pH 7.2–8.2, GH often 8–15 dGH). That is ideal for Neocaridina and challenging for Caridina without modification. Coastal zones can be softer — still test, do not assume.
Borehole water
Common in estates and rural plots. Borehole water may be soft and acidic (good starting point for Caridina after iron and bacterial testing) or very hard with dissolved minerals. Run a full GH/KH/pH/TDS panel before adding shrimp. Never mix borehole and municipal in the same tank without knowing both profiles — TDS shocks kill moulting shrimp instantly.
Temperature
Shrimp prefer 20–24°C for Neocaridina, slightly cooler at the top of range for Caridina in summer. Unheated tanks work in KZN coastal rooms; inland winters need a heater set to 22°C. Avoid placing tanks in braai rooms or sunny stoep areas — SA summer spikes above 28°C trigger bacterial blooms.
Recommended remineralizers
If you run RO or distilled water (standard for Caridina keepers), you rebuild GH and KH with remineralizers. Products commonly available from SA shrimp sellers and online:
- Salty Shrimp GH/KH+ — balanced for Neocaridina in soft-water setups
- Salty Shrimp Bee Shrimp GH+ — Caridina-focused, raises GH without pushing KH too high
- Benibachi or local breeder mixes — sold by SA breeders; match the breeder's target TDS when possible
Target TDS for Neocaridina on remineralised RO: roughly 200–300 µS. Caridina CRS: often 120–180 µS depending on line. Buy a digital TDS pen (R150–R300) — it pays for itself in dead shrimp avoided.
Common shrimp diseases and prevention
Bacterial infection (white/opaque patches, lethargy)
Often triggered by heat spikes and poor oxygen. Increase flow gently, lower temperature, remove dead shrimp immediately. Serious outbreaks may need quarantine and specialist advice — avoid random fish antibiotics; many kill invertebrates.
Vorticella and external parasites
Looks like white fuzz on the shell. Improve water quality first. Commercial shrimp-safe treatments exist — follow SA seller dosing notes; copper-based ich meds are lethal to shrimp.
Failed moults
Usually GH too low (not enough calcium for the new shell) or TDS crash during water changes. Remineralise properly; match change water TDS to tank TDS. Offer blanched calcium-rich foods (spinach, specialized shrimp foods).
Planaria and hydra
Introduced with plants or wild-collected hardscape. Prevention: dip plants, buy tissue culture when possible. Treatments exist but read shrimp safety — no-planaria products vary in toxicity.
Prevention habits
- Quarantine new shrimp 2 weeks in a small cycled tub
- Never pour bag water into your tank
- Weekly small water changes, not monthly huge ones
- Sponge filters — shrimp safe, gentle flow, biofilm surface
- Keep fish that do not eat shrimp unless the tank is species-only
Breeding basics
Neocaridina breed without coaxing if water is stable and predators are absent. Females saddle (yellow/green eggs visible), moult, release pheromones, males frenzy, berried female carries eggs 3–4 weeks, tiny shrimplets appear fully formed. Feed powdered foods and biofilm; dense moss (Java moss, Christmas moss) raises survival rates.
Caridina breeding is slower — select for line purity, cull weak colour, maintain stable soft water for generations. Most SA CRS keepers breed in dedicated species tanks, not community displays.
Colour morphs cross if kept together (cherries + blue dreams → wild brown offspring). Separate lines if you sell for profit.
Where to buy shrimp in South Africa
Shrimp are courier-friendly livestock — small bags, low oxygen demand, fast shipping. Search live stock by province:
Compare sellers on FishHub Shops and prioritise verified sellers for first courier orders. Read our courier guide for acclimation and DOA policies.
Setting alerts for out-of-stock morphs beats refreshing WhatsApp groups daily: open any species page and tap alert — free on FishHub.
Quick Neocaridina setup checklist
- 10–20L cycled tank (bigger is more stable)
- Sponge filter + heater if room drops below 18°C nights
- Moss, driftwood, leaf litter for biofilm
- Test GH/KH/pH — adjust only if needed for Neocaridina
- Start with 10–20 shrimp, no hungry fish
- Condition all tap water; drip-acclimate courier arrivals 1–2 hours
Ready for plants too? Continue with the beginner aquascaping guide or return to starting your first fish tank.