How To Breed Your Own Line Of Orange Eye (OE) Neocaridina Shrimp

The Importance Of A Properly Cycled Tank: Setting The Foundation For Your Shrimp

Before introducing your Neocaridina shrimp, it’s crucial to start with a properly cycled aquarium. But what does “cycling” mean?

Cycling a tank is the process of establishing beneficial bacteria colonies that break down harmful waste like ammonia and nitrites into less toxic nitrates. This natural filtration keeps the water safe and stable for your shrimp to thrive. Without cycling, ammonia and nitrite levels can spike quickly, stressing or even killing your shrimp. If you want a detailed step-by-step on how to cycle your tank correctly, be sure to check out our dedicated guide on aquarium cycling.

For the rest of this guide, we’ll assume your tank is fully cycled and ready to support healthy shrimp.

Ideal Water Parameters for Neocaridina Shrimp:

• Temperature: 74°F to 80°F
• pH: 7.0 to 8.0
• GH (General Hardness): 6 to 10 dGH
• KH (Carbonate Hardness): 4 to 6 dKH
• Ammonia & Nitrite: 0 ppm (undetectable)
• Nitrate: Below 20 ppm

Maintaining these parameters helps keep your shrimp healthy, active, and colorful. With a well-established tank and stable water conditions, your Neocaridina shrimp are set for success!

Breeding OE Neos: What You’ll Need

As these orange-eyed Neocaridina lines are still new to the hobby, top-quality specimens can be difficult to source in large numbers. To make them more accessible, I am excited to offer a fun, budget- friendly option that lets you breed your very own orange-eyed Neos right at home. And to set you up for success, I’ll include clear, step- by-step guidance from start to finish!

• 1× DIY Breeding Group – A starter set of healthy, carefully selected shrimp.
• Two Small Aquariums (or one, if you prefer to keep it simple).
• A Bit of Patience – About two full generation cycles.
• A Passion for Breeding – Keeping shrimp is easy, but developing your own unique line is an incredible achievement!

Step-By-Step: How To Start

STEP 1

Set up your DIY breeding group in a cozy aquarium and watch the magic unfold! (Can Be Applied To Any Color Variety)

“A COMPACT 5–10 GALLON TANK IS PERFECT—EASY TO MAINTAIN, SIMPLE TO MONITOR, AND IDEAL FOR ENCOURAGING BREEDING SUCCESS.”

STEP 2

Within just a few weeks, you’ll begin spotting the first generation (L1) of young shrimp.

Note: While these juveniles will have black eyes, they carry the genetics for those striking orange eyes you’re aiming for. Their body colors will vary—from deep black-blue, inherited from the male parents, to vivid, vibrant blue from the female side.

STEP 3

Once your L1 generation reaches maturity, it’s time to begin selective breeding. Start by choosing the most vibrant, well-colored females from L1 and move them to a dedicated breeding tank. For males, you have two strategic options:

Option A – Original Orange-Eyed (OE) Males

Pair L1 females with the original OE males. This cross typically produces about 50% orange-eyed offspring in the L2 generation.

Option B – Select L1 Males

Pair L1 females with their best-colored L1 male siblings. This method usually results in about 25% orange-eyed offspring in the L2 generation.

The choice depends on your breeding goals—higher orange-eye frequency or more refined coloration.

“IF A SECOND TANK ISN’T AVAILABLE, YOU CAN KEEP THE ENTIRE L1 GENERATION TOGETHER AND STILL PRODUCE OE OFFSPRING IN L2. HOWEVER, SELECTIVE BREEDING FROM YOUR L1 GROUP IS RECOMMENDED TO ENSURE STRONG, VIBRANT BODY COLORATION IN THE NEXT GENERATION.”

STEP 4

Congratulations! By the time you reach the L2 generation, you’ll be able to handpick your orange-eyed shrimp and continue breeding them to establish a pure OE line with exceptional coloration. From this stage forward, you can expect 100% orange-eyed offspring in every future generation. Well done—you’ve successfully created your own high-quality OE Neocaridina line!

Buy Your Shrimp From Errly Aquatics

Ready to Start Your Shrimp Journey? At Errly Aquatics, I offer high-quality, home- raised shrimp bred for color, health, and hardiness.

Some Of Our Offerings

• OE Red Demon
• OE Blue Demon
  
• Plants & Snails
• Local Pickup & Nationwide Shipping
• Friendly Advice Always Included FREE

Shop Now or Contact Me

TikTok: @errlyaquatics

Email: bdallasd@gmail.com

Download Our Breed Your Own OE Line PDF