TankStockingCherry Shrimp Tank Mates
Cherry shrimp are tiny, peaceful invertebrates — a colourful clean-up crew, best kept with small, gentle fish (or alone).
The engine clears them against most calm community fish, but there is a real-world caveat it cannot fully model: many fish will happily eat baby shrimp. In a densely planted tank a colony can outbreed the losses, but the safest "tankmates" are nano fish, snails, or a species-only shrimp tank.
Cherry Shrimp key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Cherry Shrimp pairings.
| Adult size | 3 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 5 US gal |
| Minimum group | 6+ (pair/group) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 18–28°C |
| pH range | 6.5–8 |
| Bioload | Low |
| Swim level | All levels |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Cherry Shrimp figures and the recommended tank mates above. 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.
- Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi — Aquarium Co-Op cherry shrimp care; The Shrimp Farm high confidence
- Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
- Assassin Snail Clea helena (Anentome helena) — The Shrimp Farm (theshrimpfarm.com/posts/assassin-snail-care) high confidence
- Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
- Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
- Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) high confidence
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
- Celestial Pearl Danio Celestichthys margaritatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-margaritatus) high confidence
- Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis — Seriously Fish — Oliotius oligolepis (https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/oliotius-oligolepis/) high confidence
- Cherry Barb Puntius titteya — Seriously Fish (Puntius titteya) seriouslyfish.com/species/puntius-titteya high confidence
- Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/boraras-brigittae) high confidence
Your tank
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Search 126 freshwater species by name or group.
Verdict
Top Cherry Shrimp tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Cherry Shrimp and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amano Shrimp | 5 cm | 18–27°C | 3+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Assassin Snail | 2 cm | 18–25°C | 1 | Bottom | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Neon Tetra | 3.5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Phantom Tetra | 3.6 cm | 20–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | 6 cm | 21–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | 2.1 cm | 20–26°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Checker Barb | 5 cm | 20–25°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Barb | 5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Chili Rasbora | 2 cm | 20–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Cherry Shrimp, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Cichlids
Coldwater
Corydoras
Invertebrates
Livebearers
Loaches
Plecos & Catfish
Rasboras
Best avoided
A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Cherry Shrimp.
- Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
- Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
- Three-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami — Predation risk
- Bala Shark — Predation risk
- Denison Barb (Roseline Shark) — Predation risk
- Rosy Barb — Predation risk
- Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
- Convict Cichlid — Predation risk
- Discus — Temperature clash
- Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
- Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk
- Freshwater Angelfish — Predation risk
- Green Severum — Predation risk
- Jewel Cichlid — Predation risk
Cherry Shrimp community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Shrimp + nano fish
✓ Good starter plan10× Cherry Shrimp, 8× Chili Rasbora
Tiny rasboras are too small to threaten adult shrimp — a peaceful planted nano tank.
Load this build in the planner ↑Shrimp + snails
✓ Good starter plan12× Cherry Shrimp, 2× Nerite Snail
A pure invertebrate clean-up crew — no fish, maximum shrimp breeding.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with cherry shrimp?
The safest tankmates are tiny, peaceful fish — chili rasboras, ember tetras, pygmy corydoras — plus snails. Even peaceful fish may eat shrimplets, so a heavily-planted tank or a shrimp-only setup protects a breeding colony.
Will fish eat cherry shrimp?
Many will eat the babies, and larger fish will eat adults. The planner judges adult compatibility, but for a thriving colony assume some predation and provide dense cover, or keep shrimp on their own.
How many cherry shrimp can I keep?
They are tiny and low-waste, so a planted tank holds far more than you would expect — dozens in a 10-gallon. They breed readily, so a small starter group quickly becomes a colony.
More on Cherry Shrimp
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Cherry Shrimp live with…?
Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.