Cherry Shrimp: Tank Size, Tank Mates and Setup
A small red shrimp that grazes on algae and biofilm. Start a colony of five or more in 5 gallons or larger.
- Minimum tank
- 5 gallons
- Temperature
- 65–80°F
- Group size
- 5 or more
- Adult size
- 1.2 inBottom of the tank
- Adds almost nothing to stocking, and breeds readily in a healthy tank.
- Use a sponge filter or cover the intake so shrimplets aren't pulled in.
- Sensitive to copper, which is in some fish medications.
Neocaridina davidi. Figures are commonly published care ranges; see how it works.
How many cherry shrimp per tank size
The most you could keep if cherry shrimp were the only species. Open a size in the builder to add tank mates.
| Tank | Cherry shrimp, kept alone | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 gallon | Up to 20 | Plan this tank |
| 10 gallon | Up to 40 | Plan this tank |
| 20 gallon | Up to 80 | Plan this tank |
| 29 gallon | Up to 116 | Plan this tank |
| 40 gallon | Up to 160 | Plan this tank |
| 55 gallon | Up to 220 | Plan this tank |
| 75 gallon | Up to 300 | Plan this tank |
What you need for cherry shrimp in a 5-gallon tank
A starting setup: 5 cherry shrimp in the smallest standard tank that suits them.
5-gallon tank
- These fit a 5-gallon tank and get along. Aim for about 73°F.
Equipment, sized for this tank
Starter supplies
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Cherry shrimp tank mates
These share a temperature range and temperament with cherry shrimp, with no warnings from our checks.
Use caution with: betta, black skirt tetra, molly, swordtail, tiger barb, dwarf gourami, pearl gourami, angelfish, german blue ram, fancy goldfish. Add them in the builder to see why.
Plan a tank around cherry shrimp
Add tank mates, check the stocking level and get the equipment sized for your tank.
Open the tank builderCherry shrimp questions
What size tank does a cherry shrimp need?
At least 5 gallons for a group of 5. A larger tank is more stable and gives you more choice of tank mates.
How many cherry shrimp can I keep in a 5-gallon tank?
Up to about 20 if they are the only species in the tank. Fewer if you add other fish.
Do cherry shrimp need a heater?
Usually yes. Cherry shrimp does best at 65–80°F, which is warmer than most rooms. A 5-gallon tank needs about 25 watts in a 68°F room.
What fish can live with cherry shrimp?
Good matches include neon tetras, cardinal tetras, ember tetras, rummy-nose tetras, guppies, Endler's livebearers. They share a temperature range and temperament with cherry shrimp.