Cherry Shrimp Care

Cherry Shrimp Care, Facts, Colors & Breeding

The cherry shrimp is one of the most popular invertebrates around.

Native to Taiwan, they come in various shades of red and are in fact graded (more on this later).

Its vibrant color, and ease to keep, make it very popular in particular for beginner aquarists.

In this ultimate guide, we will discuss the cherry shrimp’s color grading and appearance, dietary needs, tank conditions, ideal tank mates, breeding, and much more.

~Do cherry shrimp need a heater?~

Yes, cherry shrimp need a heater. Cherry shrimp need a relatively warm water temperature between 65°-80°F (18.3°-26.6°C).

Even if the cherry shrimp tank is located in a warm room, the temperature can still fluctuate throughout the day. For that reason, a heater needs to be installed in the tank.

Cherry shrimp are extremely hardy, so suboptimal water temperature won’t kill them immediately. With that said, a suboptimal temperature can still lower the cherry shrimps’ immunity, cause various diseases in the tank, create molting complications, shorten their lifespans, and prevent conditions for breeding.

~What is needed for a cherry shrimp tank?~

A cherry shrimp tank needs:

Plenty of live plants, such as Java moss, Java fern, water wisterias, anubias, and water lettuce

-Lots of hiding spaces

-Marimo moss balls

-Driftwood

-Pebbles (no rough edges) as substrate

-Sponge filter

-Standard tank lighting

-A heater to keep the water between 65°-80°F (18.3°-26.6°C)

~How many cherry shrimp can you have in a 5-gallon tank?~

You can have up to 25 cherry shrimp in a 5-gallon tank. Cherry shrimp are small and produce very little waste, so you can fit a bunch of them in a small tank.

A five-gallon tank is the perfect starting point for cherry shrimp. In general, you can keep two to five cherry shrimp per gallon of water.

If you’re not used to taking care of that many shrimp, you should only start with ten of them. Keeping a colony of ten shrimp can help you get accustomed to caring for them before adding more shrimp to the tank.

Additionally, having ten shrimp in the tank will help them feel safer and more comfortable so that they can behave naturally.

~How quickly do cherry shrimp grow?

Cherry shrimp grow from juveniles to adults in 120 to 150 days. They are expected to grow 2.60 grams of weight every week when kept in optimal water conditions and given a high-quality diet. Even under poor conditions, cherry shrimp can gain approximately one gram of weight per week.

At their largest, most cherry shrimp only measure to be 1.6 inches or 4 centimeters long and 25 grams in weight. They require very little space or food, and you can easily keep ten to fifty of them in a small, 10-gallon tank.

Cherry shrimp aren’t very picky about their environment. However, they prefer a heavily planted tank, as plants allow them to graze all day long.

Other than that, as long as you maintain the right water parameters and keep the tank clean, the cherry shrimp should be able to thrive with no problem.

~Are cherry shrimp social?~

Yes, cherry shrimp are social. They love company, especially with others of the same species. Cherry shrimp adapt better and feel more comfortable in a colony of at least ten individuals, so you should try to keep at least ten cherry shrimp in a tank.

Cherry shrimp are also peaceful and friendly, making them a wonderful addition to community tanks. Just make sure to choose the right tank mates so they can socialize and coexist peacefully.