🦐 Best Tank Mates for Neocaridina Shrimp – Peaceful Companions for Your Freshwater Aquarium
Best Tank Mates for Neocaridina Shrimp
🌟 Introduction The Neocaridina shrimp (Red Cherry, Blue Dream, Yellow Shrimp, etc.) are colorful, hardy, and beginner-friendly. They’re excellent algae eaters and bring unique activity to aquariums. But when setting up a community tank, it’s important to choose peaceful tank mates that won’t harm your shrimp.
Best Tank Mates for Neocaridina Shrimp
🐟 Peaceful Nano Schooling Fish
These small, non-aggressive species are perfect companions for shrimp:
- Ember Tetras – Tiny, fiery orange tetras that won’t harm shrimp.
- Chili Rasboras (Boraras brigittae) – Peaceful nano fish under 1 inch.
- Celestial Pearl Danios (Galaxy Rasboras) – Colorful, shrimp-safe nano fish.
- Emerald Dwarf Rasboras – Small emerald-green rasboras that coexist well with shrimp.
- Neon Tetras – Classic schooling fish, peaceful with shrimp.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows – Hardy, active, and safe for shrimp (also in Gold White Cloud variety).
- Rosy Red Minnows – Peaceful and hardy, great for aquariums or ponds.
- Cherry Barbs – Peaceful when kept in groups, safe with adult shrimp.
🦐 Invertebrate Companions
- Amano Shrimp – Larger algae eaters that coexist peacefully.
- Nerite Snails – Excellent algae grazers, won’t reproduce in freshwater.
- Mystery & Ramshorn Snails – Peaceful tank cleaners that pair perfectly with shrimp.
🐠 Gentle Bottom Dwellers
- Corydoras Catfish – Peaceful scavengers that ignore shrimp.
- Otocinclus Catfish – Gentle algae eaters that won’t bother shrimp.
⚠️ Tank Mates to Avoid
To protect your Neocaridina shrimp, avoid:
- Bettas
- Angelfish
- Tiger/large Barbs (Odessa, Tiger Barbs)
- Larger cichlids (Oscars, Convicts, etc.)
- Goldfish
🧠 Extra Tips for Success
- Provide plants, moss, and caves for shrimp fry to hide.
- Keep water stable and clean (avoid copper in meds/ferts).
- Introduce new tank mates gradually and monitor interactions.
❓ FAQ
Q: Can Neocaridina shrimp breed in a community tank?
A: Yes, though fry survival is higher with nano fish and lots of hiding spaces.
Q: How many shrimp should I start with?
A: 10–15 is ideal for a starter colony.
Q: Do shrimp clean algae?
A: Yes! They’re great algae grazers but also need supplemental shrimp food.
