Cherry Shrimp

The classic dwarf shrimp — bright red, tireless algae grazers that thrive in mature planted tanks. They breed readily in freshwater, but most fish will happily eat them, so dense plants and moss are essential cover.

• Minimum footprint: 5 gallons; a 10+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: all of the water column.
• Social — keep a group of at least 6.
• Care level: easy.

• Temperature: 68–78°F
• pH: 6.5–8
• Hardness: 4–16 dGH (Moderate)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

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An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.

• Neon Tetra
• Guppy
• Bronze Corydoras
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Zebra Danio
• Platy

A further 1 species pair with Cherry Shrimp as conditional — workable with the right tank and precautions.

• Angelfish — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Yoyo Loach — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Electric Blue Acara — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Redtail Shark — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 10 gallons:

• 10 gallon 20 × 10 × 12″
• 15 gallon 24 × 12 × 12″
• 20 gallon High 24 × 12 × 16″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 5 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (6+) before you buy.
• Activity level is low, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the all zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

In-depth guides for Cherry Shrimp:

• Cherry Shrimp and BettaConditional
• Cherry Shrimp and GuppyGood Match
• Cherry Shrimp and Neon TetraGood Match
• Cherry Shrimp and Bronze CorydorasGood Match

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.