Care specifications
| Type | Shrimp |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Max size | 1.5 in |
| Lifespan | 1–2 years |
| Temperature | 65–78 °F |
| pH | 6.8–8 |
| General hardness | 6–12 dGH |
| Calcium needs | Medium |
| Minimum tank size | 5 gallons |
| Diet | Biofilm, Algae, Detritus, Shrimp pellets, Blanched vegetables |
| Roles | Algae eater, Scavenger, Showpiece |
| Plant safe | Yes |
| Betta compatible | With caution |
| Breeds in freshwater | Yes |
| Population growth | Fast |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
Get Cherry Shrimp
Frequently asked questions
Will my betta or community fish eat cherry shrimp?
Assume yes for shrimplets and maybe for adults. Babies are fish food to anything with a mouth, and many bettas hunt adults too. In a heavily planted tank with moss and cover a colony can still grow faster than fish eat it; in a bare tank the shrimp lose.
Why did my shrimp die after a molt, with a white ring behind its head?
The 'white ring of death' is a failed molt, and it almost always traces to water chemistry — usually GH that is too low for proper shell formation, or a large sudden water change that triggered a premature molt. Keep GH around 6–8 dGH and change water in small, regular amounts.
How fast do cherry shrimp multiply?
Fast once they settle in. A female carries 20–30 eggs for about a month, breeds again soon after, and offspring mature in roughly 75 days — so a starter group of ten can be hundreds within a year. There is no pest risk; the colony self-limits at the tank's food supply.
Cherry Shrimp appears in
Plants that pair well with Cherry Shrimp
Planting the same tank?
Browse the aquarium plant database — verified light, CO2, and height data for every species — or let the plant finder rank them against your exact setup.