TankStocking

Can Neon Tetra live with Cherry Shrimp?

Yes — Neon Tetra and Cherry Shrimp are a workable pairing in a suitable, cycled tank.

By the TankStocking team · methodology-driven, sourced from aquarium care references Data v2026.06 · last reviewed How we judge this →

The planner's verdict

Neon Tetra + Cherry Shrimp

✓ Good starter plan

6× Neon Tetra, 6× Cherry Shrimp

The engine clears this pairing — a workable starting point in a cycled, planted tank.

Load this build in the planner ↑

Neon Tetra vs Cherry Shrimp: key facts

A neutral, side-by-side look at each species' sourced stats. These are figures only — the verdict above states whether they should share a tank.

Key facts side by side — Neon Tetra vs Cherry Shrimp (sourced stats only)
Key factNeon TetraCherry Shrimp
Adult size3 cm3 cm
Minimum tank10 US gal5 US gal
Minimum group6+ (shoal)6+ (pair/group)
TemperamentPeacefulPeaceful
Temperature range21–25°C18–28°C
pH range5–7.56.5–8
BioloadLowLow
Swim levelMidwaterAll levels
Beginner-friendlyYesYes

Why, at a glance

Drawn straight from the sourced figures above, using the same thresholds the engine applies — these show the data behind the verdict, not a separate opinion.

Temperature range overlap — Neon Tetra vs Cherry Shrimp Shared temperature window: 21–25°C (4°C overlap). Both ranges include it. Neon Tetra: 21–25°C Cherry Shrimp: 18–28°C shared 14°C32°C
Temperature range overlap. Shared temperature window: 21–25°C (4°C overlap). Both ranges include it.
pH range overlap — Neon Tetra vs Cherry Shrimp Shared pH range: 6.5–7.5. Both prefer water within it. Neon Tetra: 5–7.5 Cherry Shrimp: 6.5–8 shared 58.5
pH range overlap. Shared pH range: 6.5–7.5. Both prefer water within it.
Adult size to scale — Neon Tetra vs Cherry Shrimp Both reach about 3 cm — neither is big enough to eat the other. Neon Tetra: 3 cm Cherry Shrimp: 3 cm 10.5 cm = 3.5× line 0 cm
Adult size to scale. Both reach about 3 cm — neither is big enough to eat the other.
Sources & confidence (2 species)

These back the Neon Tetra and Cherry Shrimp figures used for this verdict. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.

  • Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-innesi) high confidence
  • Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi — Aquarium Co-Op cherry shrimp care; The Shrimp Farm high confidence

Why

No welfare check fires for this pairing: their adult sizes, temperaments, temperature ranges and social needs line up. Keep each in its proper group and give the tank time to mature.

A workable setup: at least 20 US gallons (76 L), with a group of 6+ Neon Tetra and a group of 6+ Cherry Shrimp, in a cycled, planted tank. Test your exact plan below.

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      Verdict

      More matches for Neon Tetra

      Other species the engine clears with Neon Tetra — tap a name for its care guide, or use + to load the pairing in the planner.

      What to watch in the first two weeks

      Compatibility on paper is only a starting point; the first fortnight is where you actually learn how these two get on. Add the established or calmer species first, give the tank a few days, then introduce the other — and keep watching, because the early days reveal more than any chart.

      • Feeding time — watch whether one species muscles the other off the food. A fish that consistently misses meals is the one that quietly fails first.
      • The shy fish — if one species hides constantly, stops eating, or shows clamped fins, the mix is stressing it, regardless of what the verdict says.
      • Just before lights-on and after lights-out — chasing and bullying often happen at the edges of the day when you are not looking. A quick check then tells you a lot.
      • Have a plan B — a divider, a spare cycled tank, or a way to rehome. The keepers who avoid disasters are the ones ready to separate fish at the first real sign of trouble.

      Common questions

      Can Neon Tetra live with Cherry Shrimp?

      Yes — Neon Tetra and Cherry Shrimp are a workable pairing in a suitable, cycled tank. TankStocking's engine reaches this by checking minimum tank size, group needs, temperature overlap, aggression, predation by size and fin-nipping for this exact pairing.

      What tank size do Neon Tetra and Cherry Shrimp need together?

      Plan for at least 20 US gallons so both species clear their minimum-tank needs, with a group of 6+ Neon Tetra and a group of 6+ Cherry Shrimp. More water and a planted layout with broken sightlines always help.

      Related to Neon Tetra & Cherry Shrimp

      Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.

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      This is a planning estimate based on sourced species data — individual fish vary. See the methodology, the Neon Tetra tank mates guide, or the full fish list.