If you want to add Cherry Shrimps (also known as Neocaridina Shrimps) to your tank, then you have several options. To find out what the best way to purchase these aquatic pets, you can take a look at this article from Aquarium Blueprints.
1. We recommending buying Cherry Shrimps from a local breeder or hobbyist if possible.
If you managed to get them close by, then it is very likely that the water parameters in your fish tank is similar to where you bought them from. As a result, the shrimps should more easily acclimated and, therefore, less likely to be stressed or become sick.
With a local breeder or hobbyist, you are also less likely to encounter potential health issues. Most local fish stores usually buy shrimps in bulk from a mass-producing farm. As a result, the inverts you get may have been carrying infections that could end up spreading.
Since breeders or hobbyists operate at a much smaller scale, their tanks are less likely to suffer any disease outbreak. With that said, not every local breeder, hobbyist or fish store operate the same.
2. If getting your shrimp from a local breeder or hobbyist is not possible, then you can try a local aquarium store. The water parameters from these stores should also be similar to your fish tank.
Before buying, we recommend asking the store clerk or owner how long the Cherry Shrimps have been in their tanks. If they got these aquatic inverts in very recently, then we recommend coming back a week or two later to see if they are still alive and healthy. This is to ensure that they won’t die off once you bought them due to any potential health issues.
The extra time will also let the shrimps acclimate to the new water parameters if they came from a completely different environment.
We also recommend that you check out the online reviews for the fish store to see if there have been any issues when it comes to buying Cherry Shrimps or other aquatic pets from that location.
3. If you have no way to purchase Cherries locally, then you can buy them online.
Getting dwarf shrimps online is riskier as the water parameters may be vastly different. Not to mention that the inverts will have to endure the shipping process as well. Of course, the seller could also end up scamming you as the shrimps may end up looking different than what was shown in the listing.
When looking for a good online shop, make sure that you read up on any customer reviews. You should also pay attention to the refund policy in case something went wrong with the Cherry Shrimps. Before buying, you can try contacting the seller to see what their water parameters are.
Recap
The best place to buy Cherry Shrimps is through a local breeder or hobbyist. If you can’t find any in your area, then you can try a local fish store.
If you have no local means to acquiring these dwarf shrimps, then you have to risk buying them online.