What fish can live with Cherry Shrimp?

Use the "Often compatible" lists as a shortlist, not a stocking plan. Always run the pair tool and check the footprint of your actual tank first. Verify behaviour for Cherry Shrimp against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Cherry Shrimp?

Avoid Pea Puffer, Betta, Angelfish, Oscar, Jack Dempsey, Ghost Shrimp based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Cherry Shrimp need for a community?

20L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 30L+ tank lets adults use the full footprint without crowding the next species. Footprint, meaning length and front-to-back depth, matters as much as raw volume for active or territorial species.

Cherry Shrimp tank mates

The hobby's gateway shrimp. Cheap, hardy, breeds for free in a planted nano. Anything with a mouth eats them. Plan a species-only or shrimp-safe community before buying.

Evidence: partially verified

Confidence: medium

Lists below are built from this species record (safest, best with, risky, unsafe) — each link opens a pair-level check, not a guarantee.

← Full Cherry Shrimp profile·Compatibility checker·Tank builder·More invertebrate

Best tank mates (on file)

Merged from conservative safest and best with fields — de-duplicated by species.

Amano Shrimp Pair check
The Cherry Shrimp profile lists Amano Shrimp as both safe and a recommended pairing. Amano Shrimp grows bigger than Cherry Shrimp (5cm vs 2.5cm). Stock the Cherry Shrimp group large enough to outnumber the Amano Shrimp, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.
Corydoras Catfish Pair check
The Cherry Shrimp profile lists Corydoras Catfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Corydoras Catfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Corydoras Catfish grows bigger than Cherry Shrimp (6cm vs 2.5cm). Stock the Cherry Shrimp group large enough to outnumber the Corydoras Catfish, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.
Harlequin Rasbora Pair check
The Cherry Shrimp profile lists Harlequin Rasbora as both safe and a recommended pairing. Harlequin Rasbora schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Harlequin Rasbora grows bigger than Cherry Shrimp (5cm vs 2.5cm). Stock the Cherry Shrimp group large enough to outnumber the Harlequin Rasbora, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.
Nerite Snail Pair check
The Cherry Shrimp profile lists Nerite Snail as both safe and a recommended pairing. Nerite Snail is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 20L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
Otocinclus Pair check
The Cherry Shrimp profile lists Otocinclus as both safe and a recommended pairing. Otocinclus schools in groups of 4 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Otocinclus grows bigger than Cherry Shrimp (5cm vs 2.5cm). Stock the Cherry Shrimp group large enough to outnumber the Otocinclus, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.

Risky or situational

From risky tank mates and broad avoid with (excluding “unsafe” below). May work with species-only setups, more water, or mature systems — read the pair page.

Dwarf Gourami Open pair check
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Neon Tetra Open pair check
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

Fish to avoid with Cherry Shrimp

From the unsafe list — predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile.

Pea Puffer See why (pair)
Pea Puffer conflicts with Cherry Shrimp on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Betta See why (pair)
Betta conflicts with Cherry Shrimp on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Angelfish See why (pair)
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory. Cherry Shrimp at 2.5cm is prey-sized for it. Angelfish needs at least 150L, far above the 20L minimum for Cherry Shrimp. The tank that houses one stresses the other.
Oscar See why (pair)
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Cherry Shrimp at 2.5cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 20L minimum for Cherry Shrimp. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Cherry Shrimp is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Jack Dempsey See why (pair)
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Cherry Shrimp at 2.5cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey needs at least 200L, far above the 20L minimum for Cherry Shrimp. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Cherry Shrimp is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Ghost Shrimp See why (pair)
Ghost Shrimp conflicts with Cherry Shrimp on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.

Tank size and groups

Published minimum for Cherry Shrimp: 20L — group minimum 10 .
Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other — that is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 30L hub.

Plan before you buy

Pair checks for every mix, then multi-species stocking in the builder.

Open compatibility checker Tank builder

Filtration & heating

A 20L minimum tank for Cherry Shrimp needs a filter rated for at least 80L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 18–28°C.

Filter buying guide →Heater buying guide →Beginner plants guide →

Related (care + temperament)

Other species that list Cherry Shrimp

Reverse lookup: these profiles reference Cherry Shrimp under safe or “best with” lists.