You’re thinking about setting up a tank full of cherry shrimp and wondering which creatures might join them. We’ve got your back! This article will discuss the best fish to keep with cherry shrimp.
Cherry shrimp are extremely popular in aquariums of all sizes, and for a good reason—they’re low-maintenance and easy to care for if you know the suitable tank mates.
While providing a clean and stable environment for your cherry shrimp is crucial, determining which other fish can live in the same tank is just as important.
Let’s dive into what choices are at your disposal regarding cherry shrimp tank mates. Keep reading, and we’ll give you all the answers.
Compatibility of Cherry Shrimp with Various Tank Mates: Everything You Need to Know
When it comes to keeping a successful and thriving aquarium, one of the most important things is to consider the compatibility of the species you plan to keep together.
We’ll explore everything you need to know about the compatibility of cherry shrimp with various tank mates, including assassin snails, axolotls, bettas, goldfish, guppies, tetras, ghost shrimp, and other shrimp species.
Can Cherry Shrimp Live with Assassin Snails?
Assassin Snails are freshwater snails often kept in aquariums to control pest snail populations. They’re popular in the aquarium hobby due to their ability to control pests without harming plants or other tank inhabitants.
Compatibility
Assassin snails are generally compatible and aren’t a threat to Cherry Shrimp. However, they may sometimes prey on smaller or weaker individuals, especially when there is a shortage of food.
Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on their interactions and ensure that there is adequate food available for both species.
Tips and Recommendations
Assassin snails and cherry shrimp can coexist peacefully, and it’s crucial to provide ample hiding places and a varied diet that includes animal and plant matter.
Providing various hiding places, such as plants, rocks, and driftwood, will also help give the shrimp a place to retreat if they feel threatened. It’s also a good idea to monitor the tank closely and remove any assassin snails showing aggression toward the shrimp.
Can Cherry Shrimp Live with Axolotls?
Axolotls are a type of salamander that are often kept as pets. Axolotls are carnivorous and feed on prey, including small fish, shrimp, and insects.
They’re popular in the aquarium hobby due to their unusual appearance and ability to regenerate lost limbs.
Compatibility
Axolotls aren’t suitable tank mates for cherry shrimp, as they’re aggressive predators that are likely to view shrimp as food. In addition, axolotls require cooler water temperatures than cherry shrimp, which may not be compatible with their needs.
Tips and Recommendations
It’s generally best to avoid keeping axolotls and cherry shrimp in the same tank, as the risk of predation and stress, is too high.
If you want to keep these species together, it’s essential to provide ample hiding places and a well-designed tank setup that accommodates the needs of both species.
Can Cherry Shrimp Live with Bettas?
Bettas, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are a widespread freshwater fish species that are known for their bright colors and aggressive behaviors. They’re native to Southeast Asia and are often kept in small tanks or bowls as pets.
Bettas are carnivorous and feed on prey, including insects, small crustaceans, and other fish.
Compatibility
The temperament of individual bettas plays a significant role in determining their compatibility with cherry shrimp. While some bettas may perceive the shrimp as prey and attack them, others may not pay attention to them at all.
Given their territorial nature, it can be difficult to keep bettas with other fish or invertebrates.
Tips and Recommendations
To ensure the well-being of bettas and cherry shrimp, it’s important to create a tank environment with adequate hiding places and lush vegetation. These features will enable the shrimp to find a secure spot to retreat in the presence of potentially dangerous betta.
Moreover, keeping a close eye on the betta’s behavior towards the shrimp and promptly removing the shrimp if necessary is crucial.
Can Cherry Shrimp Live with Goldfish?
Goldfish are popular freshwater species known for their bright colors and distinctive appearance. They’re native to East Asia and are often kept in aquariums or outdoor ponds as pets.
Goldfish are omnivorous and feed on various prey, including insects, plants, and other fish.
Compatibility
Cherry Shrimp and goldfish are incompatible tank mates as they have different water parameter requirements. Goldfish thrive in colder water with a pH level of around 7.0-7.4, while cherry shrimp require warmer water with a pH level of 6.5-7.5.
Therefore, keeping them in the same tank may not be ideal as it can cause stress and potentially harm either species.
Tips and Recommendations
It’s generally best to avoid keeping goldfish and cherry shrimp together in the same tank. If you want to keep these species together, providing plenty of hiding places for the shrimp and monitoring the tank closely for any signs of predation or stress is essential.
Maintaining good water quality in the tank and keeping the water temperature stable and within the range suitable for both species is also essential.
Can Cherry Shrimp Live with Guppies?
Guppies are a widespread freshwater fish species known for their bright colors and dynamic behavior. They’re native to Central and South America and are often kept in aquariums as pets.
Guppies are omnivorous and feed on various prey, including insects, algae, and other tiny organisms.
Compatibility
Guppies are generally compatible with cherry shrimp, as they’re not aggressive and don’t pose a significant threat to the shrimp. However, there’s a risk that guppies may view the shrimp as food if they’re not well-fed or if there are too many guppies in the tank.
Tips and Recommendations
Keeping guppies and cherry shrimp together in the same tank is a popular choice for many aquarists, as they are both peaceful and colorful species that can coexist without any issues.
However feeding both species can be challenging, as guppies may outcompete the shrimp for food. Therefore, it’s recommended to feed the shrimp separately with specialized shrimp food and to ensure that there is enough food for all the tank inhabitants.
Can Cherry Shrimp Live with Tetras?
Tetras are a widespread freshwater fish species known for their small size and bright colors. They’re native to South America and are often kept in aquariums as pets.
Tetras are omnivorous and feed on various prey, including insects, algae, and other tiny organisms.
Compatibility
Tetras are generally compatible with cherry shrimp, as they’re not aggressive and don’t pose a significant threat to the shrimp. However, there’s a risk that tetras may view the shrimp as food if they’re not well-fed or if there are too many tetras in the tank.
In addition, some species of tetras may be more prone to fin nipping, which can stress other fish and invertebrates in the tank.
Tips and Recommendations
Keeping tetras and cherry shrimp together can create a beautiful dynamic aquatic environment. However, it is important to take certain precautions to ensure the well-being of both species.
It’s also important to consider the size and temperament of the tetras when choosing tank mates, as some species may be more aggressive than others. With proper care and attention, tetras and cherry shrimp can coexist peacefully in a stunning aquatic display.
Can Cherry Shrimps Live with Ghost Shrimp?
Ghost shrimp are a popular freshwater shrimp species known for their transparency and dynamic behavior. They’re native to North America and are often kept in aquariums as pets.
Ghost shrimp are omnivorous and feed on various prey, including algae, detritus, and other tiny organisms.
Compatibility
Ghost shrimp are generally compatible with cherry shrimp, as they’re not aggressive and don’t pose a significant threat to the shrimp. However, there’s a risk that ghost shrimp may view the cherry shrimp as food if they’re not well-fed or if there are too many shrimp in the tank.
Tips and Recommendations
When keeping ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp together, it’s important to provide plenty of hiding places, and a well-planted tank is essential when maintaining them together. This’ll help give the shrimp a place to retreat if they feel threatened by the ghost shrimp.
Can Cherry Shrimps Live with Other Shrimp?
Many other species of freshwater shrimp are sometimes kept in aquariums, including Amano Shrimp, Bamboo shrimp, and Crystal Red shrimp. These shrimp species have different care requirements and behaviors than cherry shrimp but may still be compatible with them in certain circumstances.
Compatibility
The compatibility of other shrimp species with cherry shrimp can vary depending on the species and the specific conditions of the tank. In general, it’s essential to consider the other shrimp species’ temperament, size, and diet when determining whether they’ll be compatible with cherry shrimp.
Tips and Recommendations
To successfully keep other shrimp species and cherry shrimp together, it’s essential to research each species’ specific care requirements and behaviors and to provide a well-planted tank with plenty of hiding places. It’s also necessary to monitor the tank closely for any signs of aggression or stress and to remove any aggressive individuals if required.
What Fish Can Cherry Shrimp Live With?
So, what fish can cherry shrimp live with?
Generally speaking, some of the best fish to keep with cherry shrimp are species like Cory catfish, Harlequin rasboras, and Endler’s livebearers. When given the right environment, these species are peaceful and typically compatible with cherry shrimp.
A few advantages of keeping compatible fish tank mates with cherries include providing natural food sources for the shrimp, stimulating the shrimp’s dynamic behavior by providing social interactions with fellow tank inhabitants, and potentially spawning more baby cherries.
Tips for Introducing New Tank Mates
One of the most rewarding parts about having an aquarium is introducing new species and watching your cherry shrimp tank develop and flourish.
But it’s not always as simple as just dropping fish or other animals into the water and letting them get along—you must ensure the health and safety of all inhabitants by doing things correctly.
To help ensure smooth introductions, take the following steps:
- Start with a quarantine period. This allows new arrivals to adjust to their new environment without risking existing fish or shrimp.
- When introducing a new species, do it gradually. If possible, introduce only one at a time and monitor the activity of your existing shrimp while they become acquainted with their neighbors.
- Be sure to take note of any signs of stress or aggression such as flaring fins, chasing, hiding, or lack of appetite—in both incoming and establishing inhabitants, which can indicate that further acclimation is needed before introducing more animals.
By taking these measures and being patient with your introductions, you can ensure that everyone in your cherry shrimp tank feels welcome and is safe from harm!
Final Thoughts
In summary, there are many potential tank mates for cherry shrimp. It just all comes down to the right combination of fish and species compatible in size, temperament, and food.
With the right mix of fish, your cherry shrimp tank can be full of vibrant and active tank mates that create an exciting, thriving ecosystem.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.