Aquarium Shrimp

Freshwater aquarium shrimp are tiny, colorful, and endlessly fun to watch. They spend their days grazing on algae and biofilm, working as a natural cleanup crew that helps keep your planted tank healthy.

Popular Shrimp Types

• Cherry Shrimp – bright red, hardy, and ideal for beginners
• Blue Dream Shrimp – deep blue color that pops against green plants
• Amano Shrimp – larger, hardworking algae eaters
• Crystal Red Shrimp – striking red-and-white bands for experienced keepers

Why Shrimp Belong in a Planted Tank

Live plants and mosses grow the biofilm shrimp love to eat and give baby shrimp a safe place to hide. Java Moss and Christmas Moss are top choices. See our guide to the best plants for shrimp tanks.

Quick Care Guide

• Water: Cherry and Blue Dream shrimp handle pH 6.5–8.0; Crystal Red shrimp need soft, slightly acidic water (around pH 6.0–6.8)
• Temperature: 68–76°F
• Tank size: 5 gallons or larger
• Filtration: a sponge filter keeps baby shrimp from being pulled into the intake
• Acclimation: drip-acclimate slowly over 1–2 hours; sudden water changes are the top cause of losses
• Feeding: small amounts every day or two, using a feeding dish to keep leftovers off the substrate
• Copper warning: copper is toxic to shrimp, so avoid copper-based medications and fertilizers. Our FZONE Root Tabs are copper-free and shrimp-safe.
• Breeding: Cherry and Blue Dream shrimp breed easily (keep one color per tank to preserve it), and a breeding box protects babies in a community tank. Amano shrimp won't breed in freshwater.

Pair your shrimp with our live aquarium plants for a thriving, colorful nano tank.