How to set up a shrimp tank

The short answer

Setup is where most colonies are won or lost. Neocaridina are forgiving, but they are not immune to a tank that is new, bare or unstable. Patience at the start is cheaper than replacing shrimp later.

Step by step

1. Pick the tank and the spot

Choose five to ten gallons or more, away from direct sun and heaters or vents that swing the temperature. Set it on a level, sturdy stand.

2. Add substrate and hardscape

For Neocaridina use any inert gravel or sand, and a dark colour makes shrimp colour pop. Add wood or stones that do not alter water chemistry. For Caridina you will need active buffering soil instead; see the Caridina guide.

3. Fit a sponge filter

A sponge filter on an air pump is gentle, cheap and safe for shrimplets. Run it from day one.

4. Plant it heavily

Moss, floating plants and stem plants give shrimp cover and grow the biofilm they graze on. Add botanicals such as Catappa leaves or alder cones for extra grazing surface.

5. Fill with treated water

Dechlorinate every batch with a conditioner that neutralizes chloramine, because San Diego water is chloraminated and chloramine does not gas off. Check TDS so you know your baseline.

6. Cycle the tank

Run the filter, seed it with a bit of biofilm or mature sponge if you can, and add a small ammonia source. Wait about four weeks until ammonia and nitrite read zero, then add the shrimp.

7. Add shrimp and acclimate

Buy ten or more to start, and drip acclimate them over an hour or more.

8. Feed lightly

Biofilm is the main diet, and prepared food is a supplement. Feed small amounts every day or two and remove anything uneaten after a few hours.

Starting with Caridina?

Caridina need RO water, a GH-only remineralizer and active soil, and a longer cycle. Read Neocaridina vs Caridina and the Caridina guide first, and consider starting with Neocaridina.

Questions we get asked

What size tank do I need for shrimp?

Five gallons is a workable minimum and ten gallons is easier, because larger volumes change more slowly and shrimp react to the speed of change. Small tanks work, but mistakes show up faster.

Do shrimp tanks need a heater?

Usually not for Neocaridina. They are comfortable from about 65 to 78°F and most San Diego rooms stay in that range. A stable room matters more than a heater.

How long should I cycle a shrimp tank before adding shrimp?

Plan on about four weeks for Neocaridina, until ammonia and nitrite read zero and the tank has plants and biofilm. Caridina on active soil need six to eight weeks. Shrimp added too early thin out over the first month even when the water tests fine.

What filter is best for shrimp?

A sponge filter. It is gentle, it gives shrimplets somewhere to graze, and the sponge keeps babies from being pulled into the intake. If you use any other filter, cover the intake with a sponge.

Can I keep fish with shrimp?

You can, but almost any fish with a mouth big enough will eat shrimplets, including fish sold as peaceful. A community tank usually keeps its shrimp but never grows the colony, so keep a species tank if you want numbers.

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