The Top 7 Tank Mates for Cherry Shrimp (Choose the Best Companions for Your Shrimp)

With their bright red coloration and peaceful temperaments, cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are a joy to keep in the home aquarium.

These little shrimp only grow to about 1.5 inches in length and they can be kept in tanks as small as 5 gallons in volume. They do best when kept in groups with other shrimp, but you don’t necessarily have to keep them only with other cherry shrimp. In fact, cherry shrimp can get along with a variety of tank mates including freshwater snails, freshwater crabs, and small freshwater fish, also known as nano fish.

Here’s what you need to know about the best tank mates for cherry shrimp.

1. Amano Shrimp

Species Overview:

•         Species Name: Caridina multidentata
•         Size: 2 inches
•         Tank Level: Bottom
•         Temperature: 65°F to 84°F
•         Preferred pH: 6.5 to 8.0
•         Tank Size: 10 gallons

Some of the best tank mates for cherry shrimp are other shrimp. Amano shrimp are a great choice because they have similar preferences for water parameters, and they tend to be pretty peaceful when kept with appropriate tank companions. Keep in mind that Amano shrimp do get larger than cherry shrimp, however, so make sure your tank is big enough to accommodate them.

One of the benefits of Amano shrimp is that they are hardier than other species. They’re active scavengers and will work hard to control biofilm and algae in your tank. When cared for properly, Amano shrimp can live up to 4 years. They are, however, fairly difficult to breed in captivity.  

 

2. Nerite Snails

Species Overview:

•         Species Name: Neritidae
•         Size: 1.5 inches
•         Tank Level: All
•         Temperature: 72°F to 78°F
•         Preferred pH: 7.0 – 8.0
•         Tank Size: 5 gallons

Nerite snails are excellent algae eaters and, unlike cherry shrimp, they’ll travel all over your tank. With so many different varieties to choose from, nerite snails are also great for adding color to your tank.

Here are some of the most popular types:

•         Zebra Nerite – These snails have a golden-brown shell covered in black stripes. Their shells tend to be smoother in texture than other varieties like the black racer nerite.
•         Black Racer Nerite – This species tends to be brown in color, though their shells may exhibit areas of dark gray, gold, or black coloration. Black racer nerites have grooves in their shells that run parallel to the aperture.
•         Tiger Nerite – Named for their striped appearance, tiger nerites are light brown in color with areas of black that form a striped or spotted pattern. These snails have smoother shells than black racer nerites.

What makes nerite snails a great addition to a freshwater shrimp tank is that they are hardy and adaptable to a wide range of conditions. That being said, they tend to prefer warmer temperatures and slightly alkaline water. They also require calcium supplementation to keep their shells healthy.

 

3. Mystery Snails

Species Overview:

•         Species Name: Pomacea bridgesii
•         Size: 2 inches
•         Tank Level: All
•         Temperature: 68°F to 84°F
•         Preferred pH: 7.5 to 8.5
•         Tank Size: 5 gallons

Some of the largest freshwater snails, mystery snails are another peaceful tank mate for cherry shrimp. They grow up to 2 inches and come in a wide variety of colors ranging from Blue, Ivory, Gold, Green, and Magenta. Because they grow fairly large and can be very active, mystery snails need space to move around. They can be kept in tanks as small as 5 gallons but would do better in a 10-gallon tank or larger if you plan to keep them with a group of cherry shrimp.

4. Pom Pom Crabs

Species Overview:

•         Species Name: Ptychognathus barbatus
•         Size: 1 inch
•         Tank Level: Bottom
•         Temperature: 72°F to 82°F
•         Preferred pH: 6.2 to 7.5
•         Tank Size: 5 gallons

The pom pom crab is fairly new to the aquarium hobby and they’re one of the smaller species of freshwater crabs. These crabs only grow to about 1 inch in diameter but, though they may be small, they’re very unique in appearance. They get their name from the pom pom-like tufts that grow from each claw joint.

Pom pom crabs can be kept in groups and they prefer warmer water with a neutral pH. Like cherry shrimp, they prefer clean, highly oxygenated water. If you plan to keep pom pom crabs, be sure to add some hiding places to the tank with rocks and driftwood.

5. Thai Micro Crabs

Species Overview:

•         Species Name: Limnopilos naiyanetri
•         Size: 1cm
•         Tank Level: Bottom
•         Temperature: 72°F to 82°F
•         Preferred pH: 6.5 to 8.0
•         Tank Size: 5 gallons

Even smaller than pom pom crabs, Thai micro crabs only get to be about 1cm in width with a 2.5cm leg span. These tiny freshwater crabs are light brown to light gray in color and their bodies are semi-translucent. 

What makes these crabs different from other freshwater crabs is that their bodies and legs are lined with tiny bristle-like hairs called setae which they use to collect detritus. Thai micro crabs do best in small groups and, because they are shy, they need plenty of places to hide in the tank.

6. Celestial Pearl Danio

Species Overview:

•         Species Name: Danio margaritatus
•         Size: up to 1 inch
•         Tank Level: Bottom to middle
•         Temperature: 72°F to 78°F
•         Preferred pH: 6.5 to 7.5
•         Tank Size: 10 gallons

If you have a 10-gallon tank or larger, you may be able to accommodate a small group of peaceful fish like celestial pearl danios in your cherry shrimp tank. These fish typically inhabit the bottom to the middle level of the tank, though they’ll come to the top to feed. They’re small enough that they shouldn’t bother your cherry shrimp, but males of the species may fight each other for dominance, so it’s best to keep these danios in a tank that has plenty of places to hide.

7. Emerald Dwarf Rasbora

Species Overview:

•         Species Name: Boraras brigittae
•         Size: Less than 1 inch
•         Tank Level: Middle to top
•         Temperature: 68°F to 82°F
•         Preferred pH: 7.0 to 8.0
•         Tank Size: 10 gallons

Also known as chili rasboras, emerald dwarf rasboras are pink to orange in color with bright turquoise stripes. These little fish are very active and tend to prefer being kept in schools, so it’s wise to get a larger tank if you plan to keep them with cherry shrimp. Like cherry shrimp, they are sensitive to changes in water parameters, so be sure to keep the water quality in the tank as high as possible.

While cherry shrimp are peaceful enough to get along with other species, it’s important to choose tank mates with comparable tank requirements. Cherry shrimp are adaptable to different temperatures but they need clean, highly oxygenated water and the tank parameters should be kept as stable as possible.

Unless you’re an experienced aquarium hobbyist, it may be best to keep a shrimp-only tank until you get a feel for it. Once your tank is fully established and stable, you can think about adding a snail or, if your tank is large enough, a small school of peaceful fish.