Creating a Thriving Shrimp Colony in Your Planted Tank

The most common types of freshwater shrimp for the aquarium hobby include Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp. Learn how to create a thriving environment for these fun little creatures.

Why Are Shrimp so Popular in the Aquarium Hobby?

If you're thinking of getting a shrimp colony for your planted tank, you've probably already noticed how popular they are among hobbyists. There are many reasons to get shrimp:

• They're efficient cleaners: Shrimp might look small, but their cleaning power is mighty. Shrimp eat all kinds of algae and detritus that build up in your tank, helping keep your tank looking beautiful.
• They're peaceful neighbors: Shrimp are a relaxed and peaceful addition to community tanks. They get along well with many nonaggressive tank inhabitants.
• They're small and cute: Shrimp are perfect for a nano tank, like the Mini NA Set 150 — they're one of a few options for these smaller-sized tanks, but can be so fun to watch. They come in a range of colors, including vivid reds, blues and yellows, and even stripe and spot patterns.
• They're relatively simple to keep: Most shrimp species are pretty easy to keep as long as you have the right water parameters, so they're a great choice for beginner hobbyists.
• They're easy to breed: If you want to explore breeding as an extension of your aquarium hobby or to make some extra money, shrimp are a great place to start. Just put a few in a tank on their own, and you've got a good chance of seeing some babies!
• They support a tank's ecosystem: Most aquarists recommend having a tank “cleanup crew” to help deal with the uneaten food and detritus. It can reduce the frequency of maintenance and even help avoid issues with water quality.

How to Start a Shrimp Colony in a Planted Tank

Follow these steps to ensure your shrimp colony thrives:

1. Understand the Importance of Water Parameters

Shrimp colonies thrive in cycled, mature and stable tanks. If you're starting a new tank, make sure to cycle it before adding your shrimp and allow time for algae and biofilm to build up — otherwise, your new friends will have nothing to eat. Pay close attention to your water quality and parameters, as shrimp can be more sensitive to this than snails, another great tank cleaner.

Freshwater shrimp generally like fairly soft water, ideally measuring 3-15 degrees of general hardness (dGH). A good pH range for most shrimp is around 6.5-8. The right water parameters and temperature, however, will depend on the shrimp species you choose. For example, Neocaridina shrimp are usually happier in more alkaline or basic water, while Caridina shrimp prefer more acidic water conditions. Caring for Amano shrimp can be a bit easier, as they tend to be hardier.

Like with other aquarium species, chlorine and chloramine can be fatal to shrimp, so make sure to use a water conditioner every time you add water to the tank. You can also use additives to soften your water to make it more hospitable to the kind of shrimp you want to keep.

When it comes to water flow and filtration, shrimp tend to prefer calmer waters, and sponge filters are often safest for young shrimp. If you have a hang-on-back or canister filter, add a sponge cover to the outlet to ensure shrimp don't get sucked in or trapped in the filter. 

2. Choose the Right Substrate, Plants and Hardscape

Substrate is, literally, the foundation of your tank. Invest in a quality substrate system to support your planted aquarium, like laying down a nutrient-rich power sand and capping it with an aqua soil. 

It's important to keep shrimp in a planted aquarium — one with live plants — for their happiness and health. The best plants for a shrimp tank include:

• Aquatic mosses like Vesicularia montagnei (Christmas moss) or Taxiphyllum barberi (Bogor moss).
• Short foreground plants, such as Hemianthus callitrichoides (dwarf baby tears) and Micranthemum tweediei (monte carlo).
• Taller stem plants like Najas indica (Guppy grass), which can also float to provide top cover.

Shrimp need plenty of hiding places, especially in a community tank, which is where hardscape becomes important. Driftwood with cracks and holes or rocks with deep crevices are great hardscape materials because they provide cover for shrimp, particularly when they are young or molting. Tannins from driftwood can also be beneficial for shrimp because they soften the water and have antimicrobial properties.

3. Introduce Shrimp to Your Tank the Right Way

Shrimp are sensitive to change, so when you bring new ones home, it's important to acclimate them carefully. The first step is to leave the bag in your aquarium for 30 minutes to an hour to slowly match the temperature from the transport bag to the tank. 

The next step is to prepare to add your shrimp to the tank. Drip acclimation tends to be the best method — add the shrimp and the water they were transported in into a large container, set up an airline hose and slowly allow tank water to drip into the container over the course of 4-6 hours. 

4. Ensure Proper Diet and Care

In a planted tank, shrimp eat algae and biofilm, but they can also take care of any excess food that other tank members don't eat. You can also feed them commercial shrimp food and vegetables like carrots or zucchini to vary their diet.

Once your tank is set up to the correct parameters, shrimp are pretty easy to care for. They may take some time to start breeding, but if that is your goal, look for females with eggs attached to their pleopods.

Shrimp are inquisitive explorers, so periodically check inside your filter for any stragglers that may have gotten trapped. If shrimp are climbing out of the tank or resting above the waterline, check for issues with water parameters.

Like with any tank, you'll want to conduct regular maintenance. If you gravel vac, use a small square of fine mesh to cover the hose to avoid sucking up any shrimp.

5. Watch for Health Issues

Shrimp can encounter a few health challenges, such as:

• Molting — often a result of water quality issues or mineral deficiencies
• Cloudy appearance or swelling that indicates bacterial or fungal infections
• Parasites
• Neurological issues that result in jerky or erratic movements
• Faded or dull color from stress

It's important to isolate sick shrimp to prevent the spread of any disease. Address water quality issues promptly to avoid large-scale losses in your colony.

Learn From Others' Mistakes — Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

The top three challenges of keeping shrimp include:

1. Unstable water parameters: If your water quality or parameters change, shrimp will feel the effects. Prioritize stability to ensure healthy shrimp.
2. Overfeeding: Too much food can lead to a buildup of bacteria, also making it easier for diseases to spread. Because shrimp primarily eat algae, they do not need extra food in the tank.
3. Predation: Shrimp need docile tank mates, and ideally ones uninterested in having them as a snack. In community tanks, ensure you have plenty of hiding spots for young shrimp to keep your colony growing strong.

Start Your Shrimp Colony Journey With AFA

AFA is the official distributor for Aqua Design Amano (ADA) products in the United States. In the aquarium hobby, you'll find plenty of imitations of ADA products, but none stand up to the true quality and innovation of authentic ADA products. Achieve the planted tank of your dreams with everything from beautiful, high-clarity aquariums and specially designed aquascaping tools to live plants and shrimp. AFA has everything you need for your planted tank in one place. 

Start your shrimp colony and watch it thrive with ADA products from AFA. Enjoy free shipping on orders over $50.