Sunkist Orange Shrimp
Common Name: Sunkist Shrimp, Orange Shrimp, Orange Sakura Shrimp
Scientific Name: Neocaridina Davidi "Orange"
Genus: Neocaridina
Wild Origin: Asia
Adult Size: 1.25in
**Note: All livestock orders will come carefully packaged with solid wall Styrofoam insulation and shipped via 1-day shipping only. No additional insulation is needed for your livestock.
The Sunkist Orange Shrimp is a vivid color variant of the Neocaridina family prized for its bright, citrus-like coloration. Originally developed through the selective breeding of the Red Cherry and Chocolate lines, the Sunkist Orange has become a very stable and popular variety. These freshwater shrimp display a range of orange tones, from a warm yellow-orange to a deep, fiery red-orange. Their solid, opaque color makes them pop brilliantly against green plants and dark aquarium backgrounds.
As with most freshwater shrimp in the Neocaridina genus, Sunkist Oranges are incredibly resilient and adaptable. They are tolerant of a wide range of water parameters and can thrive in both soft and hard water environments. This versatility makes them an excellent choice for a community shrimp tank. They are peaceful, active, and serve as a great entry-point species for hobbyists looking to add a splash of warm color to their shrimp aquarium.
Check out our guide on the different substrates that can help achieve ideal water parameters for these shrimp: Best Substrate for Shrimp
Key Features & Important Notes
- Tank-raised specimen
- Bright, bold color and pattern
- Shrimp are excellent scavengers and will happily feed on biofilm, decaying plant matter, and algae
- To increase survival rates, please allow 2-3 business days after placing an order to properly prepare live animal shipments
Recommended Water Parameters
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. We encourage you to do thorough research before committing to keeping any livestock.
- Temperature Range: 65 – 84°F
- pH: 7.0-7.5
- TDS: 200-300 ppm
- GH: 4-8 dGH
- KH: 3-15 dKH
Consult our care guide for beginner shrimp hobbyists.
Recommended Tank Size
5+ gallons, minimum. Tank size is relative and various factors should be considered when determining tank size. A larger volume is always helpful for maintaining stability, especially for those new to the hobby.
Diet
Algae, biofilm, diatoms, decaying plant matter, spirulina powder, bee pollen, plant-based shrimp pellets/wafers, blanched vegetables
Breeding
Sexing these shrimp can be somewhat difficult until the shrimp begin to mature. Females have slightly larger tails and display a “saddle” formation on the upper body, behind the head, where eggs are stored before fertilization. When female shrimp are “berried”, or have eggs ready for fertilization, the saddle shape will appear more prominent. Once the shrimp are fully-grown the males will be smaller than the females.
Sunkist Orange Shrimp are eager breeders given comfortable water parameters and a sufficient food source. Once the shrimp reach maturity, and if there are males and females present, they should breed naturally and frequently. It is recommended to purchase 8-10 shrimp to ensure that there are enough male-female pairs for successful breeding.
When female shrimp have eggs available for fertilization, they will molt and release pheromones that the male shrimp respond to with frenzy. Once the shrimp breed, the eggs will gestate for about 2 weeks. The shrimp fry will feed from the same food sources as adult shrimp and will molt frequently during their early life stages. Leave molted shells in the tank, as the shrimp fry will consume them for extra minerals like calcium that will help their growth.
Keep in mind that if you are keeping shrimp with other species of fish, or possibly aggressive shrimp species, this may affect reproduction. If the shrimp feel threatened or don’t have places in your tank to hide, they may not breed.
Check out our blog article to learn how to breed freshwater shrimp.