Many people love keeping cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) in their freshwater aquariums because of their beautiful colors. However, other fish love them so much because they are so small. If you want to breed as many shrimp as possible, the best thing to do is keep a tank with only shrimp and no other animals. But if you want to keep adult cherry shrimp as pets and only a few of their young to keep as pets, keep reading this list of possible tank mates. All of these suggestions are purely hypothetical because every living thing has its own mind, so we suggest adding a lot of different types of information (e.g. g. , piles of rocks, aquarium plants, and shrimp caves) to give the shrimp places to hide if needed.
Shrimp make a fun and colorful addition to freshwater aquariums. Their small size allows them to fit into nano tanks, and their peaceful temperament lets them coexist with other fish However, some aquarium fish see shrimp more as food than friends If you want to keep shrimp, it’s important to choose tank mates carefully.
Why Fish Eat Shrimp
Fish eat shrimp for the same reason they eat anything else – it’s food! Shrimp are a natural part of many fish’s diets in the wild. Small fish and juveniles of larger species hunt shrimp as a primary food source. Even vegetarian fish may opportunistically snack on meat, including live shrimp.
Most fish that eat shrimp do so because:
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Shrimp are small and fit in their mouths. Small, medium, and juvenile fish are more likely to eat shrimp.
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They are predators by nature. Piscivorous (fish-eating) fish view shrimp as prey.
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They are omnivores not opposed to meat. Some primarily plant-eating fish will eat shrimp if given the chance.
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They are hungry and shrimp are available. Well-fed fish are less likely to hunt tank mates.
So fish don’t seek out shrimp specifically – shrimp just happen to be tasty, bite-sized snacks for many fish species.
Fish That Should Not be Kept with Shrimp
Many popular aquarium fish will readily feed on shrimp, especially small varieties like cherry shrimp. Here are some fish to avoid when keeping dwarf shrimp:
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Goldfish are omnivores that will eat anything that fits in their mouths, including ghost and cherry shrimp. Fancy goldfish with smaller mouths are less likely to eat adult shrimp.
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Cichlids are aggressive predators that will attack shrimp Convicts, kribs, angels, and discus may eat or kill shrimp
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Gouramis are anabantoids that may aggressively pursue shrimp as prey, especially dwarf shrimp like cherry shrimp.
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Bettas are carnivorous and may attack and kill shrimp, attacking their legs and antennae. Female bettas are especially prone to harassing other tank mates.
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Guppies are small but voracious predators. Adult guppies could take down adult cherry shrimp. Babies and juveniles will be eaten.
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Rainbowfish are active mid-water swimmers that will hunt down shrimp fry. Adults may also nip at shrimp. Boesmani rainbows are especially aggressive.
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Pufferfish and dwarf pufferfish are carnivorous fish that will likely view shrimp as food. They are also fin nippers.
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Loaches, including clown loaches and yo yo loaches, are bottom dwellers that will eat shrimp, especially if underfed.
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Catfish, including cory cats, may eat baby shrimp. Plecos and otocinclus are safer options.
In general, avoid keeping shrimp with carnivorous fish, fin nippers, or any fish known for aggressive behavior.
Best Fish for a Shrimp Aquarium
While many fish will eat shrimp, there are still some species that can make good tank mates. Some of the best options include:
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Tetras like ember tetras, neon tetras, and cardinal tetras are small, peaceful schooling fish that generally leave shrimp alone. They may eat babies.
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Rasboras like harlequin rasboras and chili rasboras are nano fish that mostly swim in the upper levels of the tank, away from shrimp. Fry are still at risk.
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Danios, particularly zebra danios, are very active and may chase or nip shrimp. Consider giant danios instead as they are less aggressive.
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White cloud mountain minnows are hardy, peaceful schooling fish suitable for unheated shrimp tanks. They largely ignore shrimp.
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Platies and swordtails are peaceful community fish. Adults are safe with adult shrimp but may prey on babies. Female platies are less aggressive.
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Mollies are omnivorous but generally safe with large shrimp like amanos. Avoid black mollies, which are more predatory.
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Endler’s livebearers are small, brightly colored fish that can be kept with adult shrimp. Fry and babies are still at risk of being eaten.
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Otocinclus catfish are completely peaceful algae eaters that coexist well with all varieties of dwarf shrimp and won’t eat babies.
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Corydoras catfish are bottom dwellers. Pygmy cory cats are safer with shrimp while larger species may eat babies.
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Snails, like nerites and mystery snails, make great clean up crew tank mates as they do not prey on live shrimp. Avoid assassin snails.
When selecting shrimp-safe fish, opt for community species known for peaceful temperaments. Smaller fish that dwell at the top or middle of the tank are ideal. Make sure any fish are well-fed to reduce any temptation to hunt shrimp.
Protecting Shrimp from Fish
If you want to keep predatory fish with shrimp, there are some steps you can take to help more shrimp survive:
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Choose larger shrimp species that are too big for fish to eat, like bamboo shrimp, vampire shrimp, and amano shrimp.
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Add lots of hiding places like plants, rock caves, driftwood, and aquarium decor.
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Use a dense floating plant like frogbit to provide cover and block fish access.
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Feed fish well and frequently to discourage hunting.
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Introduce quick-growing floating plants like hornwort to absorb excess nutrients and outcompete algae. This provides alternative food sources.
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Use a larger tank with plenty of territory and sight barriers.
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Add shrimp first and let them establish breeding colonies before adding fish.
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Choose juvenile fish and raise with adult shrimp so they grow accustomed to each other.
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Maintain pristine water quality to minimize stress on more vulnerable shrimp.
While no strategy is foolproof, making the tank more shrimp-friendly can help reduce losses. Culling overly aggressive fish may be necessary if shrimp continuously get eaten.
Finding the Right Balance for Shrimp and Fish
While many popular aquarium fish prey on shrimp, they can still coexist through proper tank maintenance and stocking choices. Focus on selecting peaceful community fish known for shoaling, not hunting, behaviors. Smaller fish that dwell at the top of the tank are ideal tank mates. Make sure everyone is fed a varied diet to reduce unwanted snacking on shrimp. With some planning and patience, you can maintain a thriving community of shrimp and fish!
Category #1: Small Invertebrates
Our first idea for shrimp-safe tank mates is to look at other nano invertebrates. As an example, small snails like the nerite, mystery, bladder, and Malaysian trumpet snails eat mostly dead and decaying things and won’t eat live shrimp. They do like the same foods as cherry shrimp, though, so you might not see as many shrimp babies if the snails have more babies than shrimp. Larger filter-feeding shrimp, like bamboo and vampire shrimp, are also good options because they eat mostly tiny things that float in the water. In the same way, Thai micro crabs use their hairy legs and claws to pick up small bits of food. However, they are very shy, so it might be hard to find them in your aquarium.
Vampire or African fan shrimp (Atya gabonensis)
Amano and ghost shrimp, which are also dwarf shrimp, get along well with cherry shrimp because they are about the same size and need the same amount of care. But crystal shrimp and other Caridina shrimp might not be a good fit because they like very different water conditions than cherry shrimp. People who keep them together as a hobby tend to find that one colony of shrimp is happier and has more babies than the other. Lastly, stay away from bigger crustaceans like lobsters, long-arm shrimp, prawns, and crayfish. These animals are very hungry and will eat anything for protein, even their smaller cousins.
Category #3: Peaceful Nano Fish with Tiny Mouths
Not all nano fish are safe for shrimp, but some species are so calm and small that they don’t bother full-grown cherry shrimp. Small tetras, like the ember tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) and the green neon tetra (Paracheirodon simulans), have bright colors and would look great with a group of shrimp that are the same color. Also, tiny rasboras like the chili rasbora (Boraras brigittae) and neon green rasbora (Microdevario kubotai) would look beautiful in a planted shrimp tank. Dwarf cory catfish, also known as pygmy catfish (Corydoras pygmaeus), tend to leave adult shrimp alone when they are on the bottom.
To make money breeding fish and make the most of the space you have, we have successfully kept small livebearers (e. g. and Endler’s livebearers) and cherry shrimp in a 20-gallon tank with a huge pile of java moss. Any kind of thick foliage will do because it hides the baby shrimp and fry from the adult fish, making it harder for the adults to catch them. Examples of this kind of foliage are Pogostemon stellatus “octopus” and water sprite. If you get along with the fish store, they might be willing to buy your plants too. This way, you can set up your aquarium with three useful items.
Cardinal tetras, guppies, and nerite snails living with red cherry shrimp
Top 12 Tank Mates for Cherry Shrimp You Need to Try!
FAQ
What all fish eat shrimp?
What is the best fish for a shrimp tank?
What fish like shrimp?
What are the predators of the shrimp?
Do fish eat shrimp?
While some fish can live with shrimp peacefully under the right conditions, these breeds are known to eat shrimp and should be kept away from them. Any large fish are likely to eat shrimp and so are omnivorous fish, so both of these types should be avoided.
Is shrimp healthy to eat?
Shrimp is very healthy to eat, unless you have an allergy to shellfish. Shrimp is great because it is a low calorie, high protein food that is relatively inexpensive. Shrimp is also very versatile, so there are many recipes out there, meaning that you can eat shrimp multiple times a week each time in a different way. Don’t make shrimp your only protein source, because a healthy diet is also a varied diet.
What kind of fish eat cherry shrimp?
Cherry shrimp are a type of freshwater crustacean and a popular choice among aquarium hobbyists. They come in wide range of colors and can reach lengths of up to 2 inches. The best tankmates for cherry shrimp include cory catfish; neon and ember tetras; harlequin rasboras, white mountain cloud minnows, and most species of aquarium snails.
What do shrimp eat in a fish tank?
They eat virtually anything they find, from a variety of plants and small fish to decaying matter and even dead shrimp. If you’re considering adding shrimp to your fish tank, the types of aquarium fish with whom they cannot live are goldfish, discus, cichlids, gourami, angelfish, and betta fish.