Hey there! I’m a shrimp enthusiast who’s kept these fascinating creatures for years and today I’m gonna share everything you need to know about setting up the perfect home for your shrimpies. Trust me, once you get it right these little guys will reward you with endless entertainment and maybe even some baby shrimp!
The Basic Tank Requirements
Tank Size and Population
- Start with at least a 5-10 gallon tank
- Keep 10-15 shrimp per 5 gallons max
- For breeding purposes, a 20-gallon tank works best
- Get at least 10 shrimp to start (they’re social creatures!)
Water Parameters (The Important Stuff!)
- Temperature: 65-80°F (optimal range 70-76°F)
- pH: 6.8-7.5
- GH (General Hardness): 4-6
- KH (Carbonate Hardness): Keep it on the lower side
- No copper! (This is super important – copper = dead shrimp )
Essential Equipment
Filtration
Ya definitely need a good filter! Here’s what to look for:
- Sponge filter or HOB filter with sponge cover
- Gentle flow (shrimp aren’t strong swimmers)
- Good biological filtration capacity
Heating
Here’s a cool thing – Neocaridina shrimp don’t always need a heater! If your room stays between 65-80°F year-round, you’re good. But if temps fluctuate, grab a reliable heater.
Creating the Perfect Environment
Substrate
Pick one
- Aqua soil (great for plants + beneficial for shrimp)
- Fine gravel
- Sand
- Just make sure it’s clean and shrimp-safe!
Plants and Hiding Spots
Shrimp LOVE plants! Here’s what they need:
- Moss (Java moss, Christmas moss)
- Easy plants like Anubias or Java Fern
- Dense vegetation for babies to hide
- Driftwood or rocks for grazing
Food and Nutrition
What Do They Eat?
These little guys aren’t picky! They’ll munch on
- Biofilm and algae (natural tank growth)
- Commercial shrimp pellets
- Blanched vegetables
- Leftover fish food
- Feed 2-3 times a week
- Remove uneaten food after an hour
Maintenance Tips
Water Changes
- Do weekly water changes (30% is good)
- Match new water parameters closely!
- If shrimp start swimming crazy after a water change, something’s wrong
- Use a water conditioner always
Things to Watch Out For
- Sudden parameter changes (they hate this!)
- Overfeeding (can mess up water quality)
- Aggressive tank mates (no big fish!)
- Too much CO2 if you’re running a planted tank
Choosing Your Shrimp
Best Types for Beginners
Neocaridina shrimp are your best bet! They come in awesome colors:
- Red Cherry
- Blue Dream
- Black Rose
- Green Jade
Pro tip: Don’t mix colors unless you want brown babies!
Setting Up Your First Tank
- Cycle your tank (4-6 weeks minimum)
- Add plants and hardscape
- Test water parameters
- Add shrimp slowly (drip acclimation is crucial!)
- Monitor closely for first few weeks
Final Thoughts
Getting your shrimp tank right isn’t rocket science, but it does need attention to detail. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way (RIP my first batch of cherries ), but once you get the basics down, these little guys are pretty hardy!
Remember: stable parameters > perfect parameters. Your shrimp would rather have consistent, slightly off parameters than perfect ones that bounce all over the place.
Starting a shrimp tank is like starting a tiny underwater garden – it takes patience, but the results are so worth it! You’ll soon find yourself spending hours watching these little creatures explore their world, and maybe even spotting some tiny shrimplets if you’re lucky!
Have questions? Drop ’em in the comments! I’d love to hear about your shrimp-keeping adventures and help troubleshoot any issues. Happy shrimping!
Would you like me to explain any part in more detail?
What do I need?
Once you’ve decided to go for it, it’s time to start gathering the equipment needed for a thriving tank. What are the essentials you really can’t miss?
- Aquarium. We recommend a tank that’s at least 5 gallons in volume, preferably even 10. The bigger, the easier it is to keep water parameters stable!
- Filter. Although not all shrimp tanks require a filter, we strongly recommend using one if you’re a beginner. A simple sponge filter can be enough.
- Heater. Not technically a must either, but a small thermostat heater can prevent dangerous swings in water temperature.
- Thermometer. You need to be able to know at all times whether the water temperature is in order.
- Light. Your shrimp need a day-night cycle! Proper lighting is also important if you’d like to grow aquarium plants beyond the very basic species. Many aquariums come with a built-in lamp in the hood.
- Water conditioner. Unless you live in a place where tap water isn’t chlorinated, you’ll need this to make it safe for shrimp.
- Substrate. Our absolute favorite choice would be coarse black aquarium gravel. The dark color makes the shrimp pop and the coarse grain prevents clogging.
- Water test kit. Liquid tests for at least ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH are a must for happy shrimp.
- Décor. Shrimp need plenty of hiding places to feel safe, so go for plenty of live plants, rocks, driftwood and shrimp flats and tubes.
- Cleaning equipment. An algae scrubber, bucket and some tubing are very useful.
As you progress, you’ll realize that there is a vast array of aquarium equipment out there, enough to make your head spin. For now, though, these basics are all you need to get started. Shrimp benefit from live plants in their aquarium, so be sure to include some.
Everything You Should Know Before You Get Shrimp! 7 Tips for Keeping Shrimp in an Aquarium
FAQ
What do I need for a shrimp tank setup?
A sponge filter, some INERT substrate (not buffering aqua soil/ shrimp stratum), maybe a heater, and ideally some wood and moss and plants and a light for the plants.
What should I add to my shrimp tank?
Sponge filters are best. They’ll eat dedicated shrimp food, algae, and wafers. Blanched zucchini too. Plants are great, alder cones provide tannins and a surface area for algae and food Shrimp do best alone if you plan to breed.
How to keep shrimp for beginners?
Shrimp are not for the beginner. They need a well-established tank that has a lot of algae and/or plant growth. They also need well established filters which have not been cleaned in months. They need bacteria free water. And they need careful VERY LIGHT feeding.