Paul runs our Aquarium Department, knows his stuff, and loves introducing customers to things they haven't considered before. So I asked him what was worth talking about right now. He said shrimp. So here we are.
We've just started stocking them, we've got new specialty shrimp tanks in store, and customers are already taking notice.
I decided to spend some time on the floor in the aquarium department to see what all the fuss was about.
What I saw when I got there
That same day as I lingered around the tanks, picking Paul's brain about shrimps, a customer walked in asking to buy some - I was in luck. Maria, from our Aqua Team, started trying to scoop some shrimp for them. The shrimp had other ideas. They moved through the water with this effortless, gliding elegance, darting just clear of the net every time, like tiny ballerinas who absolutely knew what they were doing. The customer waited patiently. Maria remained professional. The shrimp remained elusive.
I asked the customer, who'd owned shrimp before, why she was interested in keeping shrimp... "help me get it"?
"It's kind of addictive," she said. "They're so stunning. And really quite interesting."
She mentioned "the way they move, watching them breed and grow, the colours, the way they dance". It was a pretty good endorsement from someone who'd had no idea I was going to ask (and quote them in a blog post!).
Why people keep shrimp
I asked Paul the same question and drafted something for him to look over. Here's where we landed:
"Shrimp earn their keep. They clean your tank just by doing their thing. But the colours are unreal, especially the blues and reds, and watching a healthy colony go about their day is genuinely relaxing. Just don't overthink it. Get your water right, give them somewhere to hide, don't overfeed them, and they'll do the rest. That's the thing about shrimp. They can be addictive."
- Paul, Aquarium Department Manager, Kellyville Pets
What we have in store
We're currently stocking three Neocaridina varieties, the most beginner-friendly freshwater shrimp you can keep:
-
Blue Diamond Cherry Shrimp. Vivid sapphire blue that intensifies with good water conditions. Stunning in a planted tank.
-
Red Cherry Shrimp. The classic. Hardy, active, and their warm red pops beautifully against green plants.
- Yellow Cherry Shrimp. Same species as the Cherry Reds, different colour morph. Great for adding variety.
We've also just received specialty shrimp tanks, purpose-built with the right filtration and dimensions for keeping shrimp. If you're setting up from scratch, Paul says they're the easiest starting point going. Come in and our team will walk you through it.
What you need to know before you start
Neocaridina shrimp are forgiving, but they need stable, clean water. The basics:
- Temperature: 18-26°C
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Ammonia and nitrite: 0 ppm (always)
- Nitrate: under 20 ppm
- Tank size: 20 litres minimum
Cycle your tank before adding shrimp. This means establishing the nitrogen cycle (usually 4-6 weeks) so beneficial bacteria can process waste. A water test kit is a worthwhile investment.
One thing worth knowing if you're keeping more than one colour: keep the Blue Dreams separate from the Reds and Oranges. They're all the same species and will interbreed, which, if you can recall back to kindergarten, mixing blue + red = plain brown shrimp. So you'll need two tanks to keep two colour lines. Our awesome team can walk you through the rest.
Coming in July: a deep dive in to keeping hermit crabs
They're one of the most misunderstood pets going, written off as a novelty pet for kids. Don't get us wrong they're a GREAT pet for kids, but it's important to know they can live for decades with the right care. That's a commitment, not a phase. We're going to cover them properly next month, ahead of school holidays, because we want people properly educated before they take them on. Watch this space.
Blue Diamond Cherry Shrimp, Red Cherry Shrimp, Orange Cherry Shrimp, and specialty shrimp tanks are in store now at Kellyville Pets (shrimp tanks will be also available online soon!). Come in and have a chat.
*And don't tell Paul I mentioned him in a blog post - he'll never give me advice again.
