Shrimp tank mates

The short answer

Shrimp are small, soft after a molt and a natural food for many fish. Plenty of keepers do mix them with small peaceful fish, but it works through luck, plants and watching the tank, not through a guaranteed list. Treat any pairing as a trial.

Step by step

1. Decide what the tank is for

If the goal is a breeding colony, keep the shrimp alone or with snails. Any fish will eat some baby shrimp, so a shrimp-only tank is the surest way to grow a colony.

2. Check the mouth size

A fish that can fit an adult shrimp in its mouth will eventually eat one. Avoid cichlids, bettas with a hunting streak, goldfish, large loaches and big barbs. Even small peaceful fish may take shrimplets.

3. Match the water

Tank mates must share the shrimp's water. Neocaridina suit dechlorinated San Diego tap; Caridina need soft, acidic RO water that most community fish do not need, so Caridina are best kept in a species tank.

4. Add plants and hiding places

Moss, dense stem plants and leaf litter give shrimplets cover. Cover improves their odds but does not make a fish tank safe.

5. Add one new animal at a time

Introduce a single species, watch for a few weeks, and count the shrimp. Keep a spare tank or net ready so you can separate anything that turns out to hunt.

Tank mates and water

Whatever shares the tank has to live in the shrimp's water. Neocaridina handle dechlorinated San Diego tap, so see the San Diego tap water guide. Caridina need soft, acidic water, so see the Caridina guide, and check the water parameter table for your species. Extra animals mean extra waste, so feed lightly; the feeding guide covers how.

Questions we get asked

Can shrimp live with fish?

Sometimes. Small, peaceful fish often leave adult shrimp alone, but they will usually eat some shrimplets. Fish with larger mouths will eat adults too. There is no fish that is guaranteed shrimp-safe.

Can I keep a betta with shrimp?

It depends on the individual fish. Some bettas ignore shrimp and others hunt them. If you try it, use a heavily planted tank with lots of hiding places, and be ready to separate the fish.

Are snails safe with shrimp?

Aquarium snails such as nerites and ramshorns are commonly kept with shrimp and do not eat them. Snails add to the waste load, so feed lightly. Avoid assassin snails, which eat other snails and can prey on small or weak shrimp.

Can I keep Neocaridina and Caridina together?

It is not recommended. They want different water, so one of them is always in the wrong conditions. See the Neocaridina vs Caridina guide.

Can I treat a fish tank with medication if it has shrimp?

Check the label first. Copper-based medications are toxic to shrimp and other invertebrates, and some other treatments are risky too. Treat sick fish in a separate hospital tank.

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