Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp

Shop colourful freshwater aquarium shrimp online at Aquaholics Online.

Freshwater shrimp are a fantastic addition to planted aquariums, nano tanks and peaceful community setups. Their constant grazing behaviour, bright colours and interesting social activity make them popular with aquascapers and freshwater aquarium enthusiasts alike.

Our range may include Cherry Shrimp, Neocaridina varieties, Crystal Shrimp and other freshwater shrimp depending on livestock availability.

Freshwater Shrimp for Planted Aquariums

Shrimp are particularly well suited to mature planted aquariums.

Live plants, mosses, driftwood and other natural surfaces encourage the growth of biofilm and microorganisms that shrimp naturally graze on throughout the day.

A suitable shrimp aquarium can include:

• Live aquarium plants
• Aquarium moss
• Driftwood
• Rocks and hardscape
• Shrimp-safe substrate
• Gentle filtration
• Plenty of hiding places

Dense planting also provides valuable shelter for young shrimp and freshly moulted adults.

Cherry Shrimp & Neocaridina

Cherry Shrimp are among the most popular freshwater shrimp for home aquariums.

Neocaridina shrimp are available in a wide variety of selectively bred colours and are generally considered one of the easier groups of freshwater shrimp to keep.

Depending on availability, colour varieties may include:

• Red Cherry Shrimp
• Sakura Red Shrimp
• Yellow Shrimp
• Black Shrimp
• Other Neocaridina colour varieties

Their small size and colourful appearance make them ideal for planted and nano aquariums.

Crystal Shrimp & Caridina

Crystal Red and Crystal Black shrimp are popular Caridina varieties known for their distinctive striped patterns.

They generally require more attention to water chemistry and stability than hardy Neocaridina shrimp.

Caridina shrimp can be sensitive to sudden changes in:

• Temperature
• pH
• General hardness
• Carbonate hardness
• Total dissolved solids
• Water quality

A mature, stable aquarium is particularly important when keeping more sensitive shrimp varieties.

Aquarium Size

Shrimp do not require large aquariums, but smaller tanks can experience rapid changes in temperature and water chemistry.

A slightly larger, mature aquarium is often easier to keep stable than an extremely small container.

Nano aquariums can still make excellent shrimp tanks when they are properly filtered, cycled and maintained.

Water Quality

Stable water quality is one of the most important parts of freshwater shrimp care.

Shrimp can be sensitive to ammonia, nitrite and sudden changes in water chemistry.

A shrimp aquarium should be fully cycled before livestock is added.

Regular maintenance should include:

• Partial water changes
• Water testing
• Careful feeding
• Filter maintenance
• Removal of excessive waste

Avoid making large or sudden changes to established water conditions.

Shrimp & Copper

Freshwater shrimp can be sensitive to elevated levels of copper and some other medications.

Always check whether aquarium medications and treatments are safe for freshwater shrimp before using them.

If treating fish in a community aquarium containing shrimp, carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions and confirm the product is suitable for invertebrates.

Feeding Freshwater Shrimp

Shrimp naturally graze on biofilm, algae and microorganisms growing throughout an established aquarium.

However, they should not be expected to survive entirely on whatever they find in the tank.

Suitable supplementary foods can include:

• Dedicated shrimp foods
• Algae wafers
• Spirulina-based foods
• Vegetable-based foods
• Mineral supplements
• Small amounts of suitable sinking foods

Feed sparingly.

Uneaten food can quickly affect water quality, particularly in smaller shrimp aquariums.

Do Shrimp Eat Algae?

Freshwater shrimp can graze on soft algae, biofilm and organic material growing on aquarium surfaces.

This makes them useful members of a planted aquarium, but they are not a replacement for normal aquarium maintenance.

Different shrimp species also vary in the types and amount of algae they consume.

Shrimp Tank Mates

Shrimp are peaceful and cannot defend themselves against aggressive or predatory fish.

Suitable tank mates may include carefully selected:

• Small peaceful Tetras
• Rasboras
• Corydoras
• Small peaceful community fish
• Snails
• Other compatible shrimp

Even small fish may eat baby shrimp.

If breeding shrimp is the goal, a dedicated shrimp aquarium or heavily planted tank generally provides better survival rates for young.

Filtration for Shrimp Tanks

Shrimp benefit from gentle, reliable filtration.

Sponge filters are particularly popular because they provide biological filtration without creating strong suction that may trap young shrimp.

Fine intake guards can also be fitted to other filter types to help protect shrimplets.

Shrimp often graze directly on mature sponge filters because biofilm develops across their surface.

Shrimp Substrate

Substrate choice depends partly on the shrimp being kept.

Neocaridina can often be kept successfully on a variety of aquarium substrates when water conditions are suitable.

Some Caridina shrimp are commonly maintained with active aquasoils designed to help create softer, more acidic water conditions.

Choose substrate based on the requirements of the shrimp species rather than appearance alone.

Freshwater Shrimp & Aquascaping

Shrimp are an excellent addition to aquascaped aquariums.

Their small size allows them to explore moss, carpeting plants, rockwork and driftwood without disturbing the layout.

They are particularly effective in:

• Nano aquascapes
• Planted shrimp tanks
• Nature-style aquariums
• Moss aquariums
• Low-tech planted tanks

Brightly coloured shrimp can also provide a striking contrast against green plants and darker substrate.

Breeding Freshwater Shrimp

Many Neocaridina shrimp breed readily when kept in stable conditions.

Females carry eggs beneath their abdomen until fully developed young shrimp are released.

Providing mosses, dense plants and other fine cover gives juvenile shrimp places to hide and graze.

Caridina breeding can be more demanding because many varieties have more specific water requirements.

Acclimating New Shrimp

Shrimp can be sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and water chemistry.

Slow acclimation is generally recommended when introducing new shrimp.

Take particular care where the water in the transport bag differs significantly from your aquarium in temperature, pH or mineral content.

Once introduced, minimise unnecessary disturbance and monitor the shrimp closely.

Buy Freshwater Shrimp Online in Australia

Aquaholics Online stocks a changing range of freshwater aquarium shrimp for Australian aquarium enthusiasts.

Because shrimp are live livestock, available colours, varieties and sizes may change regularly.

Browse the current range above to see which freshwater shrimp are available now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cherry Shrimp good for beginners?

Neocaridina varieties such as Cherry Shrimp are generally considered among the easier freshwater shrimp to keep when the aquarium is mature and water conditions remain stable.

Can shrimp live with fish?

Yes, but tank mates need to be selected carefully. Many fish will eat very small shrimp or shrimplets even if they leave larger adults alone.

Do freshwater shrimp eat algae?

Shrimp graze on some algae, biofilm and organic material, but they should not be relied upon as the only method of controlling aquarium algae.

What do freshwater shrimp eat?

Shrimp naturally graze throughout the aquarium and can be supplemented with dedicated shrimp foods, algae wafers and suitable vegetable or mineral-based foods.

Do shrimp need a filter?

Yes. Gentle biological filtration helps maintain stable water quality. Sponge filters are particularly popular for shrimp aquariums.

Do shrimp need live plants?

Live plants are not essential, but they provide excellent grazing surfaces, shelter and cover for young shrimp and are highly recommended for most shrimp tanks.

Can Cherry Shrimp and Crystal Shrimp live together?

It may be possible in some situations, but Neocaridina and Caridina varieties can prefer different water parameters. It is usually better to choose conditions specifically suited to the shrimp being kept.

How many shrimp should I keep?

Shrimp are social and can be maintained in groups. The number depends on aquarium size, filtration and species, with colonies often increasing naturally when conditions are suitable.

Why do shrimp moult?

Shrimp shed their outer exoskeleton as they grow. Finding an empty shrimp-shaped shell in the aquarium is therefore normal and does not necessarily mean a shrimp has died.

Do freshwater shrimp need a heater?

This depends on the species and room temperature. Stable temperature is more important than automatically heating every shrimp aquarium.

Do you ship freshwater shrimp Australia-wide?

Aquaholics Online ships live shrimp to eligible Australian locations, subject to livestock availability, regional restrictions and biosecurity requirements.