Bloody Marys are a distinct and premium red lineage, entirely different from standard Cherry or Painted Fire lines. Rather than having a thick, painted shell, a true Bloody Mary has a translucent shell with deeply coloured red flesh underneath. This unique genetic trait creates a liquid, "gemstone" glow that shines like a radiant ruby under aquarium lights. Because the pigment is internal, you may see the faint shadow of their organs, but you will never see transparent, spotty patches.

A key indicator of a true Bloody Mary is the complete absence of a back stripe—they should never have one. Additionally, the males in this line are just as vibrant and saturated as the females, ensuring your entire colony looks uniform and high-grade. Because different suppliers often have varying beliefs on what defines the line, it can be hard to find a total guarantee in the hobby. However, we strictly follow these genetic markers to keep our colonies pure, ensuring our lines produce the signature Chocolate or Shoko culls rather than the orange or yellow culls found in Cherry lines.

Every shrimp is home-bred and raised in our natural planted ecosystems in Chester. Cultivated in Superfish maturation tanks scaped with premium Tropica plants and maintained with Hygger filtration, our Bloody Marys arrive at your door perfectly acclimated to UK conditions and at the absolute peak of their health.

This listing is for ten, twenty, or thirty High-Grade Bloody Mary Neocaridina. Each shrimp is hand-picked from our final 60-litre maturation ecosystems to ensure it meets our strict standards: solid internal red tissue, a ruby-like glow, and absolutely no dorsal stripes.

Beginner Care & Helpful Information

Size and Lifespan
Adult Bloody Mary shrimp typically reach a maximum size of 2.5cm to 3cm. In a stable environment, they have a lifespan of approximately 1 to 2 years. They are social creatures and thrive best when kept in a colony of at least 10 individuals to ensure they feel secure and active.

Behaviour and Compatibility
These shrimp are completely peaceful and spend their entire day scavenging. They are safe to keep with other Neocaridina colour lines, though they will interbreed (which can dilute their unique Shoko genetics). For community setups, they should only be kept with small, "shrimp-safe" nano fish such as Neon Tetras or Otocinclus. Providing plenty of moss and hiding places is essential for the survival of newly hatched shrimplets.

Feeding and Nutrition
While they graze naturally on biofilm, you should supplement their diet with high-quality shrimp pellets, mineral solids, and the occasional blanched vegetable like spinach or courgette. Adding natural botanicals like Catappa leaves or alder cones to the tank provides extra grazing surfaces and essential tannins that support their immune system.

Acclimation
When your shrimp arrive, drip acclimation is the safest method to introduce them to your tank. Slowly adding your tank water to their transport water over 60–90 minutes ensures they adjust to the new chemistry without shock. Always avoid using copper-based medications or fertilisers, as copper is lethal to all freshwater invertebrates.

Recommended Water Parameters

• pH: 6.5 – 8.0
• Temperature: 18°C – 26°C
• GH: 6 – 12 dGH
• KH: 2 – 10 dKH
• TDS: 150 – 300