Cherry shrimp colors and grades explained

Published October 18, 2026 · Updated October 18, 2026 · 5 min read

A young cherry shrimp with red speckles on a see-through body, standing on a green leaf — Photo: Sean Murray from Edinburgh, Scotland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)

Quick answer

Red cherry, blue dream, yellow and the other color names are all the same shrimp, Neocaridina davidi, bred for different colors. They need the same care. Red cherry shrimp are also sold in grades, from patchy Cherry and Sakura up to solid Fire Red, Painted Fire Red and Bloody Mary. Higher grades cost more, but guides give them the same care. Females are usually more colorful than males.

One species, many colors

All the shrimp sold as cherry shrimp, blue dream, yellow, orange, green or black rose belong to one species: Neocaridina davidi. The colors come from selective breeding. Shrimp Science lists red, orange, yellow, green, blue and clear forms, plus named varieties such as Red Cherry, Red Rili, Orange Pumpkin, Yellow Fire, Black Rose and Chocolate.

Wild Neocaridina look quite different. They are mostly see-through, with brown spots. Because all the colors are one species, they can share a tank without problems, as long as you don't mind the colors mixing over time.

A bright yellow Neocaridina shrimp standing on a piece of driftwood — A yellow Neocaridina shrimp. Photo: DirkBlankenhaus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

Red cherry grades

Red cherry shrimp are sold in grades. A grade describes how much red a shrimp has and how solid it is. Here they are from lowest to highest:

Grade	What it looks like
Cherry	Mostly see-through, with patches of light, pinkish red
Sakura	Redder and denser, but still patchy, especially near the bottom
Fire Red	Almost completely red and solid; the eggs and saddle become hard to see
Painted Fire Red	Deep, solid red with no see-through spots
Bloody Mary	A newer grade with very deep red; even the males are strongly colored

Grades are not an official standard. Sellers don't all use the names in the same way, and some add steps in between, such as "high-grade Sakura". Compare photos instead of trusting the label alone.

The top two grades look alike at first. Painted Fire Red is so solid that its eggs and saddle are only visible with a strong light behind the shrimp. Bloody Mary gets its deep red from the tissue under a semi-transparent shell, and it has a shorter rostrum, the pointed "nose" on the front of the head.

A solid red Sakura shrimp walking over dark green moss — A Sakura red shrimp. Photo: DirkBlankenhaus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

What makes a higher grade

More red, and stronger red. The redder the shrimp, the higher the grade.
Fewer see-through patches. Higher grades have a solid, opaque body.
Colored legs. In lower grades the legs are pale or blotchy. In higher grades they are evenly red.

Rili shrimp: the opposite rule

Rili shrimp, such as Red Rili, have colored sections and see-through sections on the same body. For them the rule is turned around: the clearer the see-through part, the higher the grade.

Red Rili are said to be a little more sensitive to changes in the water than plain red cherry shrimp, but they are still considered beginner shrimp.

Kanoko Sakura, a dark red shrimp with round black spots, is another patterned variety, but it is still rare.

Males, females and color

Females are usually more colorful than males. Males are smaller and paler, so in the same batch a female may reach a high grade while her brothers grade lower. At the highest grades, males can be almost as red as the females, which makes them harder to tell apart. Our breeding guide shows other ways to tell them apart.

Even in one tank of a single grade, the shrimp vary. Males in particular can range from almost colorless to Sakura red.

Does grade matter for care?

Not much. The care guides used for this page give the same water and food advice for every color and grade. Our water parameters guide applies to all of them.

Grade mostly changes the price. Painted Fire Red and Bloody Mary are among the most expensive. Cheap Cherry grade shrimp are a good start for beginners.

Keeping colors strong

Keep one color per tank. Different colors interbreed, and after a few generations the babies usually turn back toward the wild color. Our tank mates guide explains more.
Choose a dark substrate. Dark gravel or sand makes red shrimp stand out.
Select for color, if you want to. Breeders improve a line by moving the palest shrimp to another tank, so only the best-colored ones breed. It is slow, and the results vary.

FAQ

What is the difference between cherry and sakura shrimp?

They are the same shrimp in different color grades. Cherry grade shrimp are mostly see-through with patches of light red, while Sakura shrimp are redder and denser but still a bit patchy. Higher grades such as Fire Red are almost solid red.

Are high-grade shrimp harder to keep?

Not really. Shrimp care guides give the same water and food advice for all cherry shrimp colors and grades. Higher grades mainly cost more.

Can I keep different colors of cherry shrimp together?

Yes, they get along, but they interbreed. Over a few generations the babies usually lose the bright colors and turn back toward a brownish wild color. Keep one color per tank to keep the colors strong.

Which grade should a beginner buy?

Any healthy shrimp will do. Lower grades such as Cherry or Sakura are cheaper and need exactly the same care, which makes them a good first colony.