Freshwater shrimp are one of the most rewarding additions to any aquarium — they graze on algae, clean up leftover food, and turn a quiet tank into a busy little world. They're also easier to keep than most people think, once the water is right. This guide covers everything you need to keep your shrimp healthy and colourful, from tank setup to feeding and tank mates.
Quick care snapshot
| Care level | Easy (once the tank is cycled) |
| Minimum tank size | 19 L (5 gal); 38 L (10 gal) recommended |
| Temperature | 20–26°C — most Australian homes need no heater in summer |
| pH | 6.8–7.6 for cherry shrimp (see table below per species) |
| Diet | Algae, biofilm, quality shrimp food — feed sparingly |
| Lifespan | 1–2 years |
Start with a cycled tank — this is the #1 rule
Never add shrimp to a brand-new tank. Shrimp feed on the biofilm that develops after an aquarium has fully cycled, and their small bodies are far more sensitive to ammonia spikes than fish. Give a new tank 4–6 weeks to mature before your shrimp arrive.
Setting up from scratch? Follow our step-by-step freshwater shrimp tank setup guide first, then come back here for day-to-day care.
Water parameters by species
Different shrimp come from different waters. Keep parameters stable — a steady "okay" is better than a swinging "perfect".
| Species | pH range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina) | 6.8–7.6 | Hardiest choice for beginners |
| Crystal & Tiger shrimp (Caridina) | 6.0–6.8 | Prefer soft, slightly acidic water |
| Amano shrimp | 6.5–7.5 | Algae-eating workhorse |
| Ghost shrimp | 7.0–8.0 | Great scavenger |
| Snowball shrimp | 7.0–7.5 | Striking white eggs |
Two things shrimp never forgive: copper (check every medication and fertiliser label) and sudden water changes. Change 10–15% weekly, drip-acclimate new arrivals, and your colony will stay stable. If you're losing shrimp and can't work out why, our guide "Why are my shrimp dying?" walks through the usual suspects.
Feeding: less is more
Shrimp are not picky. They spend all day grazing on algae and biofilm, so supplemental food is a top-up, not a main course. A small pinch of quality shrimp food 2–3 times a week is plenty for most colonies — remove anything uneaten after a few hours.
Golden rule: slightly underfed shrimp thrive; overfed tanks crash. Overfeeding fouls the water and is the most common beginner mistake. For a breakdown of the best foods (including botanicals like leaf litter that grow biofilm), see our 9+ best foods for aquarium shrimp, or browse dedicated Shrimp King foods and shrimp essentials.
Plants and hiding spots
A planted tank is a shrimp tank. Java moss and other aquatic mosses give babies a place to hide, grow biofilm to graze on, and make shrimp feel secure enough to breed. Low-light mosses and ferns work in almost any setup; higher-light planted tanks look spectacular but need more maintenance.
Bare-bottom tanks have their place for dedicated breeders (easy cleaning), but for a display tank, plants win every time — they also help keep water quality stable between changes.
Filtration and equipment
A simple sponge filter is the gold standard for shrimp: it can't suck up babies, grows biofilm they graze on, and provides gentle aeration. LED lighting on a timer (max 8 hours a day) keeps plants growing without triggering an algae bloom.
Tank mates: choose small and peaceful
Adult shrimp are safe with small, peaceful fish — but almost every fish will eat shrimplets if it can catch them. Dense moss cover is what keeps a colony growing in a community tank.
- Good: small tetras, rasboras, otocinclus — and snails like nerites, ramshorns and mystery snails, which make ideal clean-up crew
- Risky: guppies and platys (fine with adults, will hunt babies)
- Avoid: cichlids, angelfish, barbs and anything with a mouth bigger than a shrimp
For specific pairings that work, see top 12 tank mates for cherry shrimp.
FAQ
How many shrimp should I start with?
10–20 is the sweet spot: enough genetic variety to breed, small enough for a new colony to establish safely.
Do shrimp need a heater in Australia?
Usually only in winter. Cherry shrimp are comfortable from 20–26°C; in colder states a small heater keeps them breeding year-round. Read our winter aquarium care guide.
How fast do shrimp breed?
In good conditions, a female carries eggs every 5–6 weeks and each hatch releases 20–30 shrimplets. A starter group can become hundreds within months — here's how to breed freshwater shrimp into hundreds.
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