Berried shrimp: how to care for a female carrying eggs
A "berried" shrimp is a female carrying eggs under her tail. The term is used throughout the aquarium trade, and University of Florida IFAS uses it too. For cherry shrimp and other Neocaridina, it is the clearest sign the tank is doing well. The good news is that she needs very little from you. Most problems with berried shrimp come from doing too much: moving her, changing lots of water or fiddling with the tank.
Saddle vs berried
A mature female develops eggs in her ovaries first, visible through the shell as a yellow, green or orange patch behind the head, called a saddle. Keepers commonly report that right after she molts, males swim rapidly around the tank searching for her (see how often shrimp molt); after mating, the eggs move under her tail. Once you can see them held between her swimming legs, she is berried. A saddle that comes and goes without ever becoming eggs usually means there are no males; see cherry shrimp not breeding.
What the eggs look like
Under the abdomen, the eggs are held by the pleopods, the five pairs of small swimming legs. UF/IFAS explains that the female uses them to clean the eggs and prevent fungus, which is why you'll see her fanning constantly. That motion is normal. Keepers commonly report that eggs start out the color of the saddle and darken as they develop, and that near the end you may see tiny dark eyes inside them.
| Stage | What you see | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Saddle | Colored patch behind the head (eggs in the ovaries) | Hobby observation |
| Molt and mating | Males swim fast around the tank after a female molts | Hobby observation |
| Berried | Cluster of eggs under the tail, fanned by her swimming legs | UF/IFAS |
| Late eggs | Eggs darker; tiny eyes may be visible | Hobby observation |
| Hatching | Eggs gone; tiny shrimplets about 1 to 2 mm on moss and glass | UF/IFAS |
How long until the eggs hatch?
University of Florida IFAS gives an incubation time of 16 to 19 days for cherry shrimp eggs. Hobby sources, including our own breeding guides, commonly put the berried stage at roughly three to four weeks. The difference is probably temperature: shrimp are cold-blooded, and warm water speeds everything up. A 2017 study in the Fresenius Environmental Bulletin raised red cherry shrimp at 20, 23 and 26°C (68, 73 and 79°F) and found the hatching period differed significantly with temperature. In practice, count on about two and a half to four weeks, and don't worry if yours takes a little longer in a cool room.
How many eggs?
UF/IFAS cites a clutch size of 43 to 60 eggs (Pantaleão and colleagues, 2015). Hobby keepers commonly report around 20 to 30, with fewer from young, first-time females. In the 2017 temperature study, females at 26°C produced more eggs, and more of the young survived, than at the cooler temperatures.
Should you move a berried female?
Usually not. She doesn't need a separate tank, and moving a berried female is stressful and one of the most commonly reported reasons for dropped eggs. Breeder boxes and small cups add stress and need extra care to keep the water stable. The main tank, with moss and plants for her and the babies to hide in, is the safest place. The exception is a tank with fish that eat shrimplets; there, the better long-term fix is a shrimp-only tank (see cherry shrimp tank mates).
Caring for a berried shrimp
- Keep the water stable. Stick to your usual small water changes, matched for temperature and hardness. Avoid large changes and sudden swings while she is carrying eggs; see shrimp tank water changes.
- Feed as normal, lightly. She doesn't need extra food. A biofilm-rich tank with moss and leaf litter plus a small, varied diet is enough; see best shrimp food.
- Give her cover. Berried females often hide more. Moss, plants and leaves give her somewhere to rest.
- Prepare for babies. Shrimplets are small enough to be pulled into a filter intake. A sponge filter or a sponge pre-filter over the intake keeps them safe; see shrimp-safe filters.
- Leave the temperature alone. Keep it steady within the normal range for your species; see shrimp tank temperature. Don't raise the heat suddenly to speed things up.
Why did my shrimp drop her eggs?
Dropped eggs are common, especially from young females and newly bought shrimp. Owners most often link it to stress: a move, a big water change, a sudden change in temperature or parameters, or harassment by fish. First-time mothers also often lose part or all of a clutch. There's nothing to do with dropped eggs except keep conditions steady; healthy females often develop a new saddle soon afterwards. If clutches keep failing, check your water and see cherry shrimp not breeding.
Temperature and males vs females
Temperature may affect more than hatching time. In the 2017 study, the share of female offspring was about 80% at 20°C, about 50% at 23°C and only 18% at 26°C (79°F). That is one laboratory study, not a rule, but it suggests that keeping a breeding colony very warm for a long time could tilt it toward males. A steady temperature in the low to mid 70s °F, within the usual range for cherry shrimp, is a sensible middle ground.
After the eggs hatch
Unlike most crustaceans, cherry shrimp have no larval stage: UF/IFAS says the young emerge as miniature adults about 1 to 2 mm long. They spend their first weeks grazing biofilm on moss, plants and glass, and need no special food in a mature tank. UF/IFAS puts sexual maturity at around 30 days; hobby sources more commonly report females first carrying eggs at about three to five months. The mother often develops a new saddle soon after her eggs hatch. For raising shrimplets and growing a colony, see how to breed cherry shrimp.
Track it
Write down when you first see a female berried and when the shrimplets appear on the free Maintenance Schedule printable. After a few clutches you'll know your own tank's timing.
Frequently asked questions
How long are cherry shrimp berried?
UF/IFAS gives an incubation time of 16 to 19 days; hobby keepers commonly report about three to four weeks. Warmer water is faster.
Should I separate a berried shrimp?
Usually not. Moving her is stressful and a common reason eggs are dropped. Leave her in a stable main tank with moss and a covered filter intake.
Why did my berried shrimp drop her eggs?
Usually stress, such as a move, a big water change or a sudden change in temperature, or simply being a young first-time mother. Keep conditions steady and she will usually try again.
How many eggs does a cherry shrimp carry?
UF/IFAS cites 43 to 60 eggs per clutch. Hobby keepers commonly report around 20 to 30, fewer for young females.
Why is my berried shrimp fanning her eggs?
That is normal. She uses her swimming legs to move water over the eggs and keep them clean, which helps prevent fungus.
Do berried shrimp need special food?
No. Keep feeding a light, varied diet. A mature tank with biofilm and moss provides most of what she and the shrimplets need.
What do baby shrimp look like when they hatch?
Tiny, fully formed shrimp about 1 to 2 mm long. Cherry shrimp have no larval stage, so they look like miniature adults from the start.
Sources: Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi (UF/IFAS EDIS IN1301) (berried females; pleopods clean the eggs to prevent fungus; incubation 16 to 19 days; clutch 43 to 60 eggs, citing Pantaleão et al. 2015; no larval stage, young 1 to 2 mm; sexual maturity around 30 days); Tuzcu et al., temperature and sex ratio in red cherry shrimp, Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 26(12), 2017 (abstract) (20, 23 and 26°C; hatching period differed by temperature; more eggs and higher survival at 26°C; female offspring about 80% at 20°C, 50% at 23°C and 18% at 26°C); hobby references and recurring owner reports for saddle, mating and egg appearance; Shrimp Tank Hub's breeding and not breeding guides.