Cherry shrimp tank mates: what can live with them?

Published October 16, 2026 · Updated October 16, 2026 · 5 min read

Several cherry shrimp grazing among pink and white ramshorn snails on a carpet of small plants — Photo: Uccio D'Agostino, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped)

Quick answer

The safest tank mates for cherry shrimp are snails and peaceful shrimp such as Amano shrimp. Some small, peaceful fish leave adult shrimp alone, but almost all fish eat baby shrimp. Avoid bettas, cichlids, goldfish, crayfish and other large or predatory animals. If you want your colony to grow, keep shrimp on their own or with a few snails.

Why shrimp-only is best for breeding

Cherry shrimp are small. Adults are about 2.5 to 4 cm long, and newborn babies are only about 2 mm. Almost all fish will eat baby shrimp, and even fish sold as "shrimp-safe" usually eat some.

So if you want a colony that grows, the simplest choice is a shrimp-only tank, perhaps with a few snails. Shrimp sellers and care guides agree on this.

A shrimp-only tank also keeps things simple. There are no fish to feed separately, no fish medicines that may contain copper, and less waste in a small tank.

Tank mates at a glance

Tank mate	Adult shrimp	Baby shrimp
Nerite, ramshorn, bladder, mystery and Malaysian trumpet snails	Safe	Safe, but they compete for food
Amano shrimp	Safe	Not listed as a risk
Otocinclus, pygmy corydoras	Usually safe	May eat some
Ember tetras, chili rasboras, small rasboras	Usually safe	Will eat them
Guppies, Endler's livebearers	Usually safe	Will eat them; needs dense plants
Betta	Risky, depends on the fish	Will eat them
Dwarf cichlids, dwarf gouramis, pea puffers	Risky	Will eat them
Goldfish, cichlids, larger fish, crayfish, large prawns	Will eat them	Will eat them

"Usually safe" means guides list these fish as leaving adult shrimp alone. It is not a guarantee. Every fish is an individual.

Snails and other shrimp

Common aquarium snails, such as nerite, ramshorn, bladder, mystery and Malaysian trumpet snails, are scavengers. They eat leftovers and algae, not living shrimp. They do eat the same food as shrimp, so a very large snail population can mean fewer baby shrimp survive. They also help by eating leftover food that would otherwise rot. If snails suddenly multiply, it is usually a sign of overfeeding.

Amano shrimp are one of the most common companions for cherry shrimp. They are bigger and peaceful, and the two usually live together without problems.

Caridina shrimp, such as crystal red and bee shrimp, are a different story. They need softer, more acidic water, around pH 5.5 to 6.5, so in a shared tank one of the two groups is always outside its comfort zone. Keep them in separate tanks.

Small fish

Some small, peaceful fish usually leave adult cherry shrimp alone. Fish often listed by shrimp sellers and care guides include otocinclus, pygmy corydoras, ember tetras, chili rasboras, guppies and Endler's livebearers.

But none of this is guaranteed. Every fish has its own personality, and most fish will still eat baby shrimp when they find them. With fish in the tank, expect a slower-growing colony, or one that does not grow at all.

Animals to avoid

Bettas. Some live peacefully with shrimp, others hunt them. It depends on the individual fish, so it is a gamble.
Dwarf cichlids, dwarf gouramis and pea puffers. Guides warn against them as predators of small animals.
Goldfish, cichlids and larger fish. Shrimp are a snack for them.
Crayfish, large prawns and long-arm shrimp. They eat smaller shrimp.
Fast, hungry fish such as zebra danios. They chase shrimp and take their food.

Mixing cherry shrimp colors

Red, blue, yellow, orange and other cherry shrimp colors are all the same species, Neocaridina davidi. They get along fine and can interbreed.

Their babies are usually not a mix of the two colors. Over a few generations, they tend to turn back toward the wild color: see-through with brown spots. That is fine if you like a mixed "wild" colony. If you want to keep bright colors, keep one color per tank.

Tips if you add fish

Give the shrimp lots of cover: moss, dense plants, rock piles or shrimp caves.
Keep the fish well fed, so they are less interested in shrimp.
Expect fewer baby shrimp to survive.
Treat sick fish in a separate tank. Many fish medicines contain copper, which is toxic to shrimp.
Quarantine new fish, snails and plants before they go in. They can carry pests such as hydra and planaria, and some plants are treated with snail killers that contain copper.

Planning a new tank? Our guide on how to set up a 20-liter shrimp tank starts from the beginning.

FAQ

Can cherry shrimp live with a betta?

Sometimes, but it is a gamble. Some bettas ignore shrimp and others hunt them, and almost all will eat babies. If you try it, use a densely planted tank with lots of moss and expect to lose some shrimp.

Can different colors of cherry shrimp live together?

Yes, they get along fine, but they interbreed. Their babies usually lose the bright colors over a few generations and turn back toward a brownish wild color. Keep one color per tank if you want to keep the colors strong.

Can cherry shrimp live with Amano shrimp?

Yes. Amano shrimp are one of the most common tank mates for cherry shrimp, and the two usually live together peacefully.

Will snails eat my shrimp?

Common aquarium snails such as nerite, ramshorn, bladder, mystery and Malaysian trumpet snails are scavengers and won't eat living shrimp. They do eat the same food, so a big snail population can mean fewer baby shrimp survive.

Sources

Aquarium Co-Op: Top 12 Tank Mates to Keep With Cherry Shrimp
Aquarium Co-Op: Care Guide for Cherry Shrimp
The Shrimp Farm: Shrimp Tankmates and Compatibility
The Shrimp Farm: Yellow Shrimp Tank Set-Up and Care
Shrimp Science: Red Cherry Shrimp care guide
Shrimp Science: Neocaridina davidi
Shrimp Science: The Guide to Substrates for Shrimp Tanks
Shrimp Science: Why Are My Freshwater Shrimp Dying?
Shrimp and Snail Breeder: Red Cherry Shrimp: Care, Diet and Breeding
Shrimp and Snail Breeder: Shrimp Feeding Guide: How Much, How Often, and When to Stop
Shrimp and Snail Breeder: How Copper Affects Dwarf Shrimp
Shrimp and Snail Breeder: Planaria and Shrimps: How to Remove Them
Shrimp Science: What Do Freshwater Shrimp Eat?

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