Can Cherry Shrimp Live With Betta Fish? A Complete Guide

Cherry shrimp are a popular freshwater aquarium shrimp, but can they safely live with betta fish? This is a common question aquarists have when considering tank mates. In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about keeping cherry shrimp and bettas together successfully.

An Overview of Cherry Shrimp

Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are a species of small colorful dwarf freshwater shrimp originating from Taiwan. Through selective breeding vibrant solid red color varieties were developed and they quickly became a staple in the aquarium hobby.

In the wild, these shrimp inhabit densely vegetated ponds, rivers, and streams. They are omnivorous and feed on algae, biofilm, insect larvae, and detritus in their natural habitat Their small size, hardiness, and low bioload make them well-suited for nano aquariums

Can Bettas Live With Cherry Shrimp?

The answer is yes, cherry shrimp and bettas can coexist peacefully with proper precautions and tank setup. However, there are some important considerations to ensure the shrimp’s safety and survival:

• Betta personality – Placid, less aggressive bettas are more likely to tolerate shrimp Avoid known fin nippers

• Tank size – A 10 gallon or larger tank provides ample territory and hiding spots.

• Planted tank – Live plants, moss, driftwood offer protection and grazing for shrimp.

• Places to hide – Shrimp need lots of decor like caves and dense vegetation to escape from bettas.

• Tankmates first – Introduce shrimp before adding your betta to reduce territorial aggression.

• Supplement feeding – Well fed bettas are less likely to hunt shrimp as a food source.

With the right setup and betta temperament, cohabitation is possible. But there is always a risk of the betta attacking or eating shrimp, especially smaller juveniles. Proper precautions go a long way in making success more likely.

Signs of Betta Aggression Towards Shrimp

It’s important to closely observe your betta’s behavior when first introducing cherry shrimp. Watch for these signs of aggression or stress:

• Flaring, chasing, or nipping at shrimp

• Attempting to attack or eat shrimp

• Relentlessly pursuing and not allowing shrimp to hide

• Causing shrimp to rapidly dart away in fear

• Shrimp exhibiting excessive hiding and skittish behavior

Any signs of stress, aggression, or shrimp disappearing may indicate incompatibility. Be prepared to separate the betta or provide dense thickets of plants for shrimp to take refuge.

Tips for Keeping Cherry Shrimp With Bettas

If you want to keep cherry shrimp with bettas, follow these tips for the best chances of success:

• Select a known peaceful betta. Avoid aggressive fin nippers.

• Introduce and establish the shrimp colony first before adding your betta.

• Provide plenty of hiding spots with plants, rocks, wood, and moss.

• Use a larger tank of 10+ gallons; more space reduces aggression and territoriality.

• Use a gentle betta and shrimp-safe filter to avoid sucking up shrimp.

• Monitor water parameters closely and perform regular partial water changes.

• Supplement betta diet with bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp to reduce shrimp predation.

• Add supplemental minerals like calcium and GH/KH boosters for shrimp health.

• Have a backup plan. Be prepared to remove the betta if aggressive towards shrimp.

With the proper setup and precautions, housing cherry shrimp and bettas together can work out. But shrimp may gradually disappear over time, so be prepared for losses. Culling out more aggressive bettas can improve results long-term.

Best Tank Size for Cherry Shrimp & Bettas

For housing bettas with cherry shrimp, bigger is always better when it comes to tank size. This allows for plenty of open swimming room for the betta while also providing ample territory for shrimp to graze and hide.

Some minimum recommended tank sizes:

• 5 gallons – Too small for both species together. Better for solo betta or shrimp only.

• 10 gallons – Viable minimum tank size for a betta and a few shrimp.

• 15-20 gallons – Allows for more shrimp and decor while reducing aggression.

• 20+ gallons – Ideal for a thriving shrimp colony alongside a betta with lots of room.

In smaller tanks, bettas may become territorial and attack shrimp intruding on their space. A 10 gallon or larger divided tank can also work with the betta and shrimp separated.

Regardless of tank size, also provide lots of vegetation, hiding places, and sight breaks to give shrimp refuge. The more places for shrimp to hide and get away, the better!

Best Tank Setup for Cherry Shrimp & Bettas

Here are some tips for setting up an aquarium to successfully house bettas and cherry shrimp together:

• Use a dark natural substrate shrimp can sift through like eco-complete or ADA aquasoil

• Plant heavily with moss (java, christmas), anubias, ferns, floating plants

• Add plenty of hiding spots with rock caves, driftwood, pipes, dense plants

• Include some open swimming space for the betta

• Use a sponge filter or pre-filter intake covers to prevent shrimp getting sucked in

• Maintain stable clean water conditions with partial weekly water changes

• Supplement the water with minerals like GH/KH+ to support shrimp health

• Heavily plant the tank including floating plants to diffuse aggression

• Avoid sharp decor or substrate that could damage sensitive shrimp

The goal is to create an environment with defined territories and plenty of obstructions. This allows the shrimp to largely stay out of the betta’s way and remain hidden from sight.

Cherry Shrimp & Betta Fish Diet and Feeding

Both species do well on these diets:

• Bettas – A variety of foods like high quality betta pellets, frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia), supplemented with freeze dried treats.

• Cherry Shrimp – Omnivorous shredder/scavengers, feeding on algae, biofilm, microscopic foods and vegetation in the tank. Supplement their diet 1-2 times per week with shrimp pellets or an algae wafer.

Be careful not to overfeed bettas, as excess food can foul the water. Try feeding the betta frozen or freeze-dried snacks in one area of the tank while supplementing shrimp on the opposite side to minimize competition.

Maintaining stable, pristine water quality is crucial when housing shrimp, who are quite sensitive to poor conditions. Keep ammonia and nitrites at 0ppm with regular partial water changes.

Here are some tips on properly introducing cherry shrimp to your betta’s environment:

• Acclimate shrimp to the tank water slowly to avoid shocking them

• Opt to add the shrimp colony before introducing your betta fish

• Turn off tank lights and reduce activity for the first couple hours

• Provide ample hiding spots for shrimp to retreat from the betta

• Try introducing younger shrimp that are smaller and faster

• Have backup tank space ready in case you need to remove the betta

Watch the interactions closely once first introduced. Some bettas may immediately begin chasing or attacking shrimp. Be prepared to act quickly to protect shrimp by removing the betta if needed.

Introducing shrimp to an established betta tank can be more challenging. Adding plants and decor to break up lines of sight prior to adding shrimp improves results. Take care not to disturb the betta’s environment too drastically all at once.

Can Baby Cherry Shrimp Live With Bettas?

While adult cherry shrimp have a better chance of surviving with bettas, tiny newborn shrimp are very vulnerable. If breeding is your goal, it’s best to keep cherry shrimp alone or with extremely docile tank mates.

Bettas will likely see baby shrimp as food and hunt them, especially in smaller tanks. However, in a heavily planted 20+ gallon tank, some baby shrimp may survive by hiding in thick vegetation and finding safety in numbers.

You can increase their chances by:

• Providing extremely dense planting for hiding spots

• Using a gentle betta with no history of fin nipping

• Keeping the betta well fed on supplements like brine shrimp

• Having lots of moss for infusoria and biofilm for baby shrimp to graze on

• Using floating plants to diffuse light and offer cover

While challenging, it is possible for baby cherry shrimp to survive and even thrive with a compatible betta in a spacious established tank. But expect losses along the way. Culling aggressive bettas can improve results over time.

Alternative Tank Mates for Cherry Shrimp

While bettas can work, here are some alternative fish that make better tank mates for cherry shrimp:

• Small