Hey shrimp lovers! I’ve been keeping shrimp for over 5 years now and one of the most common questions I get is about stocking density. Let me break down everything you need to know about how many shrimp you can safely keep per gallon.
Quick Answer
Generally, you should keep 2-5 shrimp per gallon for optimal health and growth However, this can vary based on several factors we’ll discuss below
Factors Affecting Shrimp Density
Tank Size Matters
Different tank sizes can support different shrimp populations:
- 5-gallon tank: 10-25 shrimp
- 10-gallon tank: 25-50 shrimp
- 20-gallon tank: 50-100 shrimp
- 30+ gallon tanks: 5-10 shrimp per gallon
Species Makes a Difference
Not all shrimp are created equal! Here’s what I’ve learned
Neocaridina (Cherry Shrimp)
- More hardy and adaptable
- Can handle higher densities (up to 10-15 per gallon)
- Great for beginners
- Perfect for community tanks
Caridina (Crystal Red/Black)
- More sensitive to changes
- Lower density needed (2-5 per gallon)
- Requires more stable conditions
- Best kept in species-only tanks
Important Tank Conditions
Filtration
We gotta keep that water clean! Here’s what you need:
- Sponge filters for baby shrimp safety
- Regular maintenance
- Good biological filtration
Plants and Hiding Spots
More plants = more shrimp! Why?
- Increases grazing area
- Provides hiding places
- Helps maintain water quality
- Creates natural food sources
Signs You Have Too Many Shrimp
Watch out for these warning signs:
- Poor water quality
- Aggressive behavior
- Smaller adult size
- Less breeding activity
- Pale coloration
- More deaths than usual
My Personal Experience Tips
After keeping different shrimp species, here’s what I’ve learned:
- Start Small
- Begin with fewer shrimp
- Let them adjust
- Watch how they do
- Add more gradually
- Monitor Breeding
- Healthy colonies multiply quick!
- Be ready to upgrade or sell
- Keep track of population
- Feeding Guidelines
- Feed small amounts
- Remove uneaten food
- Watch for overfeeding
Community Tank Considerations
If you’re keeping shrimp with fish:
- Reduce shrimp numbers by 50%
- Choose peaceful fish
- Provide lots of hiding spots
- Expect some shrimplet loss
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overstocking too quickly
- Ignoring water parameters
- Not having enough plants
- Poor maintenance habits
- Mixing incompatible species
Final Thoughts
Remember, these are guidelines, not strict rules. Every tank is different! I’ve had tanks thrive with slightly higher numbers and others that needed fewer shrimp. The key is watching your shrimp and adjusting based on their behavior and health.
Start conservative and increase slowly – your shrimp will thank you for it! And hey, if you’re unsure, it’s always better to have fewer healthy shrimp than too many stressed ones.
Disclaimer: This guide is based on personal experience and research. Your results may vary depending on your specific setup and conditions.
Shrimp are Friends, Not Food!
As rewarding as fish can be to keep, sometimes more variety is needed. As you may have guessed by my Instagram handle (@shrimpery), I am a big fan of keeping freshwater shrimp as pets. In fact, they are what introduced me to the aquarium hobby! Here is a brief primer on how to go about keeping these friendly, colorful and prolific animals in your own tank.
First things first: the species of shrimp you select will determine how easy it is to keep and breed. I break down the selection into three categories-
In addition to being the species that I keep, Neocaridina is the easiest and cheapest to purchase of the three, and they will be the focus of this guide.
Neos, You are the Chosen One
Hardy, adaptable, and prolific, Neocaridina Davidi (aka the dwarf cherry shrimp) are an ideal choice for any aquarist interested in shrimp, especially beginners. There are many color variations, including, red, blue, black, and green; having been painstakingly bred to express these colors, it is inadvisable to keep multiple colors in the same tank. They will indiscriminately mate, and the offspring will often be a drab brown or clear color. My favorites are the “blue dream” and “black rose” varieties.
When purchasing shrimp, please keep in mind that they are social animals, and they do best in large groups of at least ten individuals. Any less than this and they will tend to hide, rather than graze as a group out in the open. I frequently see beginners make the mistake of buying just a couple shrimp for their community tank, then complaining that they never see the shrimp.
Large or aggressive fish are not suitable tankmates for shrimp. Barbs, bettas and many others will often bully or harass the shrimp, or else straight up eat the shrimp for dinner. Your best bet is a shrimp only aquarium, or else a tank with small, peaceful fish (such as ember tetras or corydoras), lots of vegetation, and a decent water volume.
How Many Red Cherry Shrimp Per Gallon? THE ONLY ANSWER YOU NEED!
FAQ
How many shrimp per gallon of freshwater?
For example: A 10 gallon aquarium COULD house up to 100 dwarf shrimp. However, a great starting point could be 5 shrimp per 1 gallon of water.
How many freshwater shrimp should be kept together?
When purchasing shrimp, please keep in mind that they are social animals, and they do best in large groups of at least ten individuals. Any less than this and they will tend to hide, rather than graze as a group out in the open.
Is 10 shrimp enough to start a colony?
As a rule regular shrimp colony starter will be about 10 shrimp. If its expensive kind, it can be trio but you have to be able to keep them healthy and happy and it’s not that easy sometimes. If conditions are good they will breed fast. Do you have any other inhabitants in the tank?
How many cherry shrimp per gallon?
The Cherry Shrimp is a freshwater shrimp that belongs to the family of Atyidae. Endemic to the waters of Taiwan, it is very popular among aquarists and enthusiasts due to its coloration density. The question is: how many cherry shrimp per gallon should you keep in your aquarium? In general, you can keep as many as 5 cherry shrimp per gallon.
How many shrimp per gallon of aquarium water?
Depending on the species of shrimp, you can keep anywhere between 3 to 10 shrimp per gallon of your aquarium water. For example, you can keep three Ghost shrimp per gallon and five to ten Blue Dream shrimp per gallon of aquarium water. There are some big species of shrimp that require more water than smaller shrimp.
How many dwarf shrimp per liter?
Scientists divided dwarf shrimp into 3 main groups: Small groups, 2.5 shrimp per 1 liter (about 10 shrimp per gallon). Medium groups, 5 shrimp per 1 liter, (about 20 shrimp per gallon). Large groups, 10 shrimp per 1 liter (about 40 shrimp per gallon). The experiments continued for 90 days and these were the results:
How many shrimp can you put in a 10 gallon tank?
Here are some of the popular shrimp species and the number of shrimp you can keep in a 10 gallon tank. How many shrimp can I put in a 30 gallon tank? Depending on the species of shrimp, you can keep anywhere between 7 to 150 shrimp in a 30 gallon tank. How many shrimp in a 15 gallon aquarium? The 15-gallon tank can house four to five fan shrimp.
How big should a shrimp tank be?
Shrimp are very sensitive creatures that dislike change, so the bigger the tank, the better. If you plant to breed, you can start with a minimum 10 gallon tank, such as a UNS 60S. Entire colonies, however, should have a minumum 20 gallon tank size. Note: It’s recommended to have no more than 5 shrimp per gallon of water.
How many fan shrimp in a 15 gallon tank?
The 15-gallon tank can house four to five fan shrimp. A good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to tank size for Bee shrimp is 2-5 Bee shrimp per gallon of water. A good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to tank size for Blue Dream Shrimp is 5-10 shrimp per gallon of water.