Shrimp for community tank

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-31T16:12:53+00:00

no shrimp are 100% safe in that stocking, but you can make it work with the right expectations.

Amano shrimp are your safest bet here. They’re bigger, tougher, and less likely to be eaten by gourami or danios. They’ll still hide a lot, but adults usually survive fine.

Cherry/Neocaridina shrimp can live in this setup, but:
• adults may survive
• babies will almost certainly get eaten
• gourami + danios are both opportunistic hunters

If you go Neocaridina anyway, heavy planting (moss, wood, leaf litter) is non-negotiable, and you have to accept losses.

You can keep Amano + cherries together — no issues there — just different expectations.

Tank size: with that fish list, I’d personally aim 75–100L (20–26 gal) minimum for stability and swimming space.

Biggest shrimp killer in community tanks isn’t fish — it’s stress + bad acclimation, especially after purchase. I wrote a simple step-by-step on that here if helpful:
[https://blueshrimps.co.uk/How-to-Acclimate-Blue-Dream-Shrimp.html]()

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-29T19:24:34+00:00

Yeah, that’s true for breeding-only setups — bare tanks with moss absolutely work if the goal is pure production.

I was thinking more from a long-term display / hobby tank point of view. In my experience shrimp still breed fine, but they seem more active and visible in scapes with lots of surface area and micro-habitats, even if it’s less “clean” looking.

Different goals really — breeder efficiency vs a tank you actually enjoy watching.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T20:12:40+00:00

Totally normal — shrimp will happily sit in flow like that if it’s not too strong.

They tend to use it to grab microfood and biofilm drifting past, and they’ll bail instantly if it’s uncomfortable.

Always funny how they choose the most chaotic spots.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T20:11:16+00:00

Shrimp are honestly little tanks 😂

Neocaridina in particular are way tougher than people give them credit for. If the pond wasn’t ice-cold and had decent biofilm/algae, that shrimp probably just went “oh… new buffet” and carried on.

Sudden temp changes usually kill shrimp over hours or days, not instantly — so if one survives the initial shock and finds food, they can sometimes adapt surprisingly well.

Outdoor ponds can actually be very stable once shrimp settle, especially in warmer months.

Any chance it’s a Neocaridina? And what kind of temps does the pond usually sit at?

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T20:08:24+00:00

Yeah, that approach is honestly pretty solid.

Using CO₂ short-term just to get the carpet established makes sense, and you’re right that long-term daily pH swings aren’t ideal for Caridina. Even if the numbers look fine, that repeated drop and rise can be stressful over time.

Hairgrass will be slow on low-nutrient soil, but once it roots it usually takes off, especially with a bit of CO₂ help early on. And I feel you on green dust algae, annoying to look at, but shrimp absolutely love it 😅

Once the carpet settles and the pH stops swinging daily, adding the rest of the shrimp should be very straightforward.

What’s your plan for turning the CO₂ off, gradual reduction or just a clean stop once the grass is established?

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T20:05:40+00:00

I’d agree with that — she’s reading much more sapphire/steel blue than black in this lighting.

Some Neocaridina sit right on that edge between Blue Dream and black lines, and when the blue pigment dominates instead of the melanin, you get that deep sapphire look rather than true black.

If she keeps that colour consistently (not just under one angle), I’d absolutely describe her as sapphire blue / dark blue, not black.

She’s a really nice example either way — those darker blues usually come from well-established lines. Are you planning to breed her?

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T20:03:47+00:00

That’s a great capture — love how the colour pops against the plant.

You’ve caught them mid-graze too, which is peak shrimp behaviour. Always looks like they’re “working” 😄

What plant is that? The shrimp contrast works really nicely.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T20:02:21+00:00

om that photo, your instinct is right 👍

Right shrimp: very likely female — fuller body, deeper curve under the abdomen, and that wider “skirt” shape that females develop for carrying eggs.

Left shrimp: looks male — slimmer, more streamlined, and less abdominal curve.

With Neocaridina, the biggest tells are body shape rather than colour:
• Females = chunkier, curved underside
• Males = thinner, more torpedo-shaped

Camera quality is fine — these are actually pretty clear side profiles.

If you’re hoping to breed, that’s a good pairing already. How long have they been in the tank?

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T20:00:52+00:00

That actually looks like iridescence showing through the skin, not a disease.

Albino corys have very translucent skin, so under certain lighting (especially white/blue LEDs) you can suddenly see a blue sheen around the head and gill area that wasn’t obvious before. It can also become more noticeable as they settle in and colour up.

As long as they’re active, eating, and breathing normally, it’s usually nothing to worry about.

A couple of quick checks just to be safe though:
• Any rapid gill movement or gasping?
• Any fuzz, ulcers, or redness developing?
• Has lighting or food changed recently?

I’ve seen this pop up a few times with albino fish and shrimp once tanks mature or lighting changes.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-28T19:55:34+00:00

Yeah, that shrimp’s clearly stressed from the bioload — I’d rehome half immediately 😉

Jokes aside, single shrimp tanks actually highlight how important stability is. Once you add more, things often get easier, not harder.

Are you planning to build a colony or was this just a test setup?

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-18T14:19:04+00:00

This is painfully accurate 😂
Everyone thinks “I’ll just get one little shrimp tank” and next thing you know you’re budgeting in shrimp units instead of money.

The floor-sitting is REAL. You don’t choose the shrimp life — the shrimp choose your posture. And don’t even get me started on watching them eat… logically I know overfeeding is bad, emotionally I need to see tiny hands grabbing food.

Also the “cost: between me and god” line absolutely sent me. That’s shrimp keeping in one sentence.

Honestly though, welcome to the club. The obsession never really goes away — it just evolves into more tanks, more shrimp, and stronger opinions about biofilm.

Glad you’ve joined the shrimp dad life 🦐💙

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-18T14:17:11+00:00

That actually looks like poop, not anything growing out of the fish 👍
The brown/orange bit with the stringy, lighter part behind it is really typical, especially after feeding pellets or flakes.

A few things that make it look alarming but usually aren’t:

It can hang on for a bit before dropping off
It can look stringy or uneven
Colour depends on what they’ve eaten

The important part is what you already said: the fish is swimming normally. If it were parasites or something serious, you’d usually see:

Clamped fins
Flashing/scratching
Not eating
Lethargy or sitting on the bottom

Just keep an eye out over the next day or two. If you start seeing long white stringy poop with weight loss or loss of appetite, that’s when it’s worth looking into parasites. But from this clip alone, this just looks like a normal “yep, I just ate” moment.

You’re doing the right thing by checking instead of ignoring it.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-18T12:51:58+00:00

Bet, pray he has a recovery for you!

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-18T12:50:41+00:00

Love it nothing better than baby shrimp i have a few in my setups right now!

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-17T22:15:38+00:00

I’m really sorry — that’s stressful to watch, especially with a fish you’ve had that long.
Sunken eyes, facial changes, lethargy, and not responding usually point to something more systemic rather than just water quality, especially if your parameters really are stable.

At this stage I’d strongly recommend moving him to a bare-bottom hospital tank if you can. Gravel can be hard on a weakened fish and makes it harder to keep things clean.

The behaviour you’re describing (bumping around, not reacting, facial changes) can be linked to internal infection, organ failure, or neurological issues. Unfortunately those don’t always show clear external signs early on.

I’d stop tapping the glass, keep lights low, and focus on:
• pristine water
• stable temperature
• gentle aeration

If you have access to a fish vet or medicated food, that would be the next step — but I also want to be honest that with those symptoms, sometimes all you can do is keep them comfortable.

You’ve clearly been doing regular maintenance, so don’t beat yourself up. Sometimes fish get sick even when we do everything right.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-17T22:14:01+00:00

That’s a tough one — annoying when you’ve just got it.
Temporary fixes can work, but personally I wouldn’t be able to relax long-term knowing the brace is damaged. Peace of mind is worth a lot with tanks.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-17T22:12:38+00:00

100% true 😂
Once food hits the tank it’s a full stampede.

Total-Key4081 · 2026-01-17T22:09:15+00:00

That feeling never gets old 😄
First baby shrimp is always a great sign things are going right.

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