These shrimp are colorful and attractive to look at, but they’re also relatively inexpensive to buy and straightforward to care for, making them an excellent choice for beginners.

In this guide, we compare the Blue Diamond Shrimp vs Blue Dream Shrimp.

Blue Diamond Vs Blue Dream Shrimp – What’s The Difference?

Blue Diamond Shrimp vs Blue Dream Shrimp – What Is The Difference Between?

The Blue Diamond Shrimp has the scientific name NeocaridinaI Davidi. This shrimp has a deep blue coloration and transparency, reminiscent of a multi-faceted sapphire. The Blue Dream Shrimp’s scientific name is Neocaridina davidi. Dream Blue Velvet Shrimp are very similar to the prolific Red Cherry Shrimp, but their coloration is a deep solid blue.

Comparison Table

FeaturesBlue Diamond ShrimpBlue Dream Shrimp
Appearance:Deep blue colorationDeep blue coloration
Size:1 – 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm)1 – 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm)
Water conditions:64° – 78° F (17.8° – 25.5° C)
dGH – 6 – 15
PH – 6.8 – 7.5
64° – 78° F (17.8° – 25.5° C)
dGH – 6 – 15
PH – 6.8 – 7.5
Lifespan:1–2 years1–2 years
As you can see from the table above, there are very few differences between the two

Comparing Blue Diamond Shrimp And The Blue Dream Shrimp

In this part of our comparison guide, we take a closer look at both species, their similarities, and their differences.

The Blue Diamond Shrimp

First of all, let’s discuss the Blue Diamond Shrimp.

Origins And Distribution
First bred in 2010 in Taiwan, since then, the Blue Diamond Shrimp has been widely taken on by aquarists. Blue Diamond Shrimp were bred from Chocolate Shrimp, which are a deep brown variant of the Neocaridina davidi species.

Habitat
Blue Diamond Shrimp prefers a densely planted tank along with wood and rocks.

Appearance
Blue Diamonds are a stunning dark blue color, making them look like living gems in any aquarium set-up! Their deep blue coloration and transparency of these shrimp are reminiscent of a multi-faceted sapphire.

Social Behavior
Considered to be very peaceful, a small group can continually replenish and grow its population.

Diet
The Blue Diamond Shrimp is a scavenger that continually feeds. They typically require very little feeding in a well-established aquarium that contains algae, biofilm, or decaying plant matter. For less mature tanks, high-quality dry foods with high plant content can be fed multiple times daily.

Tank Mates
These shrimp can co-exist with some fish, i.e guppies, tetras, rasboras or anything small, which wouldn’t be a threat to them. Although the Blue Diamond still needs hiding spots which help from fish pestering them.

Breeding
Breeding Blue Diamond Shrimp is fairly easy. As long as there’s a male and female in the tank, they will breed. Female blue diamonds will carry the eggs for about 30 days until they are hatched to the miniature size of their parents.

The Blue Dream Shrimp

Now, let’s take a look at the Blue Dream Shrimp.

Origins And Distribution
The Blue Dream Shrimp is a color morph of the Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi). They come from the Atyidae family of freshwater shrimp and originated from Taiwan.

Habitat
The Blue Dream Shrimp can live in almost any freshwater aquarium. They’re very popular for highly planted tanks and community tanks. Many aquarists use them in large aquariums for waste management and algae control.

Appearance
Blue Dream Shrimp are very similar to the Cherry Shrimp, but their coloration is a deep solid blue.

Social Behavior
The Blue Dream Shrimp is a very peaceful shrimp that poses no threat to other tank mates. They’re best described as timid and tend to only interact with other Cherry Shrimp.

During the daytime, they spend most of their time hiding in the caverns and other small places at the bottom of your tank. It’s common for these shrimp to share the same hideout.

Diet
Blue Dream Shrimp is a scavenger that feeds continually. They don’t need to be fed that much very in a well-established aquarium that contains algae, biofilm, or decaying plant matter. In less mature aquariums, high-quality dry foods along with high plant content can be fed multiple times daily.

Tank Mates
In the wild, the blue diamond mostly keeps to themselves and live among other bottom dwellers. They live alongside native fish, which include small cyprinids, catfish, and loaches.

Blue Dream Shrimp can only be kept with tank mates that don’t have a taste for invertebrates. Their tank mates shouldn’t be large enough to fit this tiny shrimp into their mouths.

Breeding
If there is a large colony of Blue Dream Shrimp, and the water temperature is ideal, then these shrimp will breed on their own without any help. 

If using a breeding tank, the water temperature should be between 72-80°F and include a sponge filter and a swatch of Java moss.

A group of Blue Dream Shrimp should have a 1:5 female-to-male ratio.

Stand Out Features:

  • Both species of shrimp come from a similar habitat.
  • It’s possible to breed both the Blue Diamond Shrimp and Blue Dream Shrimp in an aquarium, provided that the environment is set up correctly and you have a mated pair.
  • The Blue Diamond and Blue Dream Shrimp eat a similar diet both in captivity and in the wild environment.
  • Both Blue Diamond and Blue Dream are relatively easy to care for and make a good starter shrimp for those beginning shrimp keeping journey.