A shrimp tank is one of the easiest aquariums to run — if it's set up correctly from day one. Most shrimp losses trace back to a rushed setup, not bad luck. Here's the exact 7-step process we use and recommend to every new keeper.
Step 1: Choose your tank
Anything from 19 L (5 gal) works; 38 L (10 gal) is more forgiving because water parameters drift more slowly. Shrimp have a tiny bioload, so you don't need a big tank — you need a stable one.
Step 2: Substrate and hardscape
For Neocaridina (cherry shrimp), inert dark gravel or sand is perfect and makes their colours pop. Add driftwood and rocks for grazing surfaces — browse our aquascaping range for shrimp-safe stones and wood. Caridina keepers should use an active buffering substrate instead, since they need softer, slightly acidic water.
Step 3: Filtration — sponge filter wins
A simple air-driven sponge filter is the shrimp-keeping standard: it can't suck up babies, it grows biofilm shrimp graze on, and it gently aerates the water. Skip the powerful canister — shrimp hate strong current.
Step 4: Plant it
Plants are half the reason shrimp thrive. Java moss and other mosses give shrimplets cover, and easy species like anubias and ferns from our aquarium plants range keep water stable. A planted tank barely needs you.
Step 5: Cycle the tank (do not skip)
Run the tank empty for 4–6 weeks until ammonia and nitrite read zero. Shrimp eat the biofilm that only develops in a matured tank — adding them early is the #1 cause of early deaths. Test weekly; only stock when readings have been stable for at least a week.
Step 6: Remineralise your water
If you use rainwater or RO water, add shrimp-specific minerals to hit the right GH — shrimp need calcium and magnesium to moult successfully. Sydney tap water generally suits Neocaridina once dechlorinated. See our supplements and minerals for GH+ options.
Step 7: Acclimate slowly
When your shrimp arrive, float the bag for 20 minutes to match temperature, then drip-acclimate for 1–2 hours before releasing. Slow acclimation prevents osmotic shock — the silent killer of new shrimp. Full routine in our Freshwater Shrimp Care 101 guide.
FAQ
Can I use an old fish tank?
Yes — as long as it has never been treated with copper-based medication. Copper residue is lethal to shrimp even in traces.
How many shrimp for my first stock?
10–20. They'll settle within days and start breeding within weeks — here's how a starter group becomes hundreds, and what to feed them.
Ready to stock your new tank?
All our freshwater shrimp are bred and conditioned in Sydney, shipped Australia-wide with a Live Arrival Guarantee. Start with hardy cherry shrimp — they forgive beginner mistakes best.
