Cherry vs Sakura vs Fire Red vs Painted Fire Red
They're the same animal. All four names refer to red Neocaridina davidi; the difference is color grade — how deep and complete the red covers the body. Vendors price the ladder very differently, and this page attaches live per-shrimp prices to each rung, updated July 15, 2026.
The red Neocaridina grade ladder, priced
| Grade (low → high) | What it means | Cheapest today | Median | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | Red with visible clear patches; entry grade. | $2.50 | $3.64 | 11 |
| Sakura | Mostly solid red body, legs still pale. | $2.50 | $3.21 | 6 |
| Fire Red | Solid red including legs. | $3.00 | $3.40 | 9 |
| Painted Fire Red | Deep opaque red, no transparency — top grade (also sold as “Grade AA”). | $2.50 | $4.00 | 7 |
Per-shrimp prices from in-stock listings across 7 US vendors. Some vendors label top-grade reds "Grade AA" — we fold those into Painted Fire Red.
Why the same shrimp has four names
Red Neocaridina are graded by eye at the breeder: deeper, more complete red = higher grade = higher price. There is no governing body, so one vendor's "Fire Red" can look like another's "Sakura". That's the grading opacity this index exists to price. When a listing carries a grade term, we record it and rank it on the ladder above; when it doesn't, it competes as a plain cherry.
Buying advice by goal
First colony: buy Cherry/Sakura — cheapest today at $2.50 per shrimp — and let the colony grow. Display tank: Fire Red or Painted Fire Red give the solid-red carpet look. Breeding project: start with the highest grade you can afford; culling upward from low grades takes generations.
Live trackers: Cherry · Fire Red · Painted Fire Red · Bloody Mary (a separate chocolate-line red, not on this ladder)