The World of
Ornamental Shrimp

The entry point for most shrimp keepers and still one of the most visually striking. Bright cherry red against green plants is a classic combination that never gets old. Higher grades show deeper, more opaque red with full saddle coverage on females. Males are smaller and less colorful. They breed readily and multiply fast, a good problem to have when you're selling.

Think Cherry Shrimp cranked to maximum intensity. The Bloody Mary has an almost translucent body with deep, vivid red coloring that makes standard cherries look pale by comparison. The muscles and organs show through the translucent flesh in a dark crimson that genuinely earns the name. One of the most visually dramatic Neocaridina available.

The most popular blue Neocaridina and a top seller in the hobby. Deep sapphire blue with excellent opacity, the kind of blue that stops you mid-scroll. Higher grade individuals have opaque, solid coloration across the entire body. A tank of Blue Dream shrimp is genuinely breathtaking. Breeds as readily as Cherry Shrimp, just in blue.

A subtly stunning shrimp that surprises people who underestimate it. The jade green coloring ranges from mossy forest tones to bright emerald in premium specimens. Against white substrate or dark aquasoil, they're remarkable. Less common in the hobby than reds and blues which means better margins for breeders who carry them.

Pure electric yellow that pops against any dark substrate or green plant. There's something almost unreal about how vibrant the yellow is on a high-grade specimen, it almost looks backlit. The contrast against Java Moss or dark aquasoil is stunning. One of the most eye-catching Neocaridina and a consistent seller.

Deep velvety black with a slight iridescent shimmer that you only see up close. Against a white sandy substrate, Black Rose shrimp are absolutely striking, high contrast, dramatic, architectural. They stand out in mixed Neocaridina tanks and are increasingly popular with aquascapers who want a more moody, dark aesthetic tank.

The OEBT is an icon of the shrimp hobby. Deep electric blue body with bold black tiger stripes, and then those orange eyes that feel almost alien. The contrast between the blue body, dark stripes, and burning orange eyes is unlike anything else in freshwater aquariums. One of the most photographed shrimp in the hobby. A dream to shoot for a niche site.

One of the most famous shrimp in the world. Wild-type Bee Shrimp discovered in Taiwan in the 1980s and selectively bred into an explosion of grades from basic red-and-white banding to the holy grail SSS Mosura, nearly all white with a small red marking. The grading system (C through SSS+) creates a whole collector culture. A staple of advanced tanks.

The mirror of Crystal Red, same genetics, same grading system, same stunning patterns, except in crisp black and white. The high-grade CBS in SSS Mosura pattern is one of the most dramatic shrimp you can keep. Black so deep it's almost blue-black with white so pure it seems to glow. A graded CBS collection is genuinely a work of art.

Blue Bolt shrimp are the rock stars of the Taiwan Bee world. A spectacular blue color cascading from deep navy to electric sky blue, and no two are identical. The grading system rewards solid, opaque blue coverage. A perfect high-grade Blue Bolt against dark aquasoil looks like someone dropped a piece of sky into your tank. Stunning, collectible, and reliably valuable.

Introduced around 2008 at $800 per shrimp, the BKK has become the prestige standard of Taiwan Bees. Deep obsidian black with crisp white markings. "Panda" variants have white bands, "King Kong" are almost entirely black. The Shadow variation adds a ghostly blue tint to the white areas. These are serious shrimp for serious keepers, and they command serious prices.

Everything the Black King Kong is, but in deep burgundy wine red and white. The coloring is almost velvety, a dark, saturated red that's distinctly different from Crystal Red. Wine Red shrimp can be kept with other Taiwan Bees without hybridization risk, making them versatile colony mates. A premium shrimp with a color that photographs absolutely beautifully.

The shrimp world's current obsession. Created by German master breeder Michael Häsler through years of meticulous selective breeding, OE Neos carry the stunning orange eye trait across multiple body colors, Blue Dream, Black Rose, Red Demon, Green Jade, Black Sapphire. When introduced to the US market in 2024, authentic specimens sold for $150+ each and demand far outpaced supply. This is the hottest thing in the hobby right now.

One of the most visually complex shrimp in existence. Galaxy Pintos display a combination of spotted patterns, starburst markings, and pinto-style coloring that makes each specimen look like a piece of abstract art. The "galaxy" in the name refers to the star-like speckle patterns across the body. No two are alike. These are the shrimp that make serious collectors lose their minds, and their wallets.

The current pinnacle of ornamental shrimp breeding. Boa shrimp emerged from crossing Galaxy Pinto Stardust, Galaxy Tigers, and Galaxy Snowflakes through years of intentional selective breeding. They display a thick, wavy back pattern that resembles the markings of a boa constrictor snake, hence the name. The Metallic Blue BOA Pinto (Black) by breeder SKYFISH has reached $2,000, $7,000 per specimen at auction. This is the top of the mountain.