Cherry Shrimp Care Guide

Care at a Glance

Difficulty: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Lifespan: 1–2 years
Water type: Freshwater
Temperature: 65–80°F
pH: 6.5–8
Hardness: 4–14 dGH
Minimum tank size: 5 gal
Tank region: All levels
Min. group size: 10

Planted-tank friendly

The single most important care principle for cherry shrimp is stability: this species tolerates a fairly wide range of water parameters but reacts poorly to sudden swings, since molting and general shrimp physiology are more sensitive to rapid change than to the specific numbers within a reasonable range.

Tank Size and Group

A 5-gallon tank can support a starting colony, though a 10-gallon or larger tank provides more stability. Starting with ten or more shrimp supports better breeding success and less skittish behavior than a pair or two.

Water Parameters

Temperature of 65-80°F, pH 6.5-8.0, and moderate hardness (4-14 dGH) suit cherry shrimp well; this species tolerates a fairly wide band but does best with slow, gradual changes rather than sudden shifts, particularly around water changes.

Copper Sensitivity

Copper is directly toxic to shrimp at concentrations harmless to fish, and it's present in many standard fish medications and sometimes in tap water depending on plumbing. Always check medication labels for invertebrate-safe language before treating a tank containing cherry shrimp, and consider testing tap water for copper if using older copper piping.

Molting

Shrimp shed their exoskeleton periodically to grow, leaving behind a complete, shrimp-shaped shell that's frequently mistaken for a dead shrimp by new keepers. Immediately after molting, a shrimp is soft-shelled and vulnerable for several hours; dense plant cover, moss, or other hiding structure gives molting shrimp a safe place to recover.

Diet

Cherry shrimp graze algae and biofilm continuously and benefit from a shrimp-specific sinking pellet or wafer as supplementation, along with occasional blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach). Overfeeding protein-heavy foods intended for fish can foul water quickly given how small this species' bioload naturally is relative to a typical feeding portion.

Calcium for Healthy Molting

Adequate calcium in the water supports strong, complete molts; very soft water lacking minerals can contribute to molting problems, correctable with a remineralizing supplement if local water runs particularly soft.