The Complete Guide to Shrimp Keeping

Freshwater dwarf shrimp have become one of the fastest-growing corners of the aquarium hobby, prized for their color, algae-eating habits, and fascinating behavior in planted tanks.

Why Keep Shrimp?

Shrimp are peaceful, low-bioload, and excellent at cleaning biofilm and leftover food from planted tanks. Popular varieties in our shrimp collection include the Red Tiger Shrimp and Flower Shrimp.

Water Parameters

Most dwarf shrimp prefer stable, mature water with low nitrates. Sudden parameter swings, especially in copper or ammonia, are far more dangerous to shrimp than to fish — shrimp are much more sensitive to trace toxins. Always confirm your tank is fully cycled first; see How to Cycle a New Aquarium.

Tank Setup

A heavily planted tank with lots of moss and hiding spots helps shrimp feel secure and gives baby shrimp somewhere to hide from adults. See our aquascaping basics guide and browse live plants for suitable species like Java moss.

Tank Mates

Keep shrimp with small, peaceful fish only — many community fish will happily eat shrimp fry, and some will eat adults too. A dedicated shrimp-only tank is often the safest option for breeding colonies.

Feeding

Shrimp graze constantly on biofilm and algae, supplemented with occasional shrimp-specific pellets or blanched vegetables. Avoid overfeeding, as excess food fouls water quickly in smaller shrimp tanks.

Breeding

Cherry shrimp and similar species breed readily in stable, mature tanks without any special intervention. Females carry a visible cluster of eggs (“berried”) for several weeks before releasing tiny, fully-formed shrimp.

For species background, see the Wikipedia page on Neocaridina shrimp.