Cherry Shrimp Species Tank

Hello, I have a 5.5 gallon and I was originally going to add 6 Cherry Shrimp and 6 Chili Rasboras, but now I'm considering doing an all Shrimp tank. I have 6 Cherries in there now, but I'm curious how many I could add in a species tank. I have 3 moss balls and some duckweed in there now, but I will be adding some more plants soon.

Thank you for the help!

 

I have read that you can have almost an unlimited amount of shrimp because their bioload is so insignificant. You would obviously want it to not be packed to the point that they are not able to move, but you can have a lot in there.

 

20 is what I've seen passed around. Since it's small it should be around 20.

 

That seems like a pretty good number.

 

Alright, I may up my number to ten and let them breed from there to fill out the numbers. If they overpopulate, I'll use them as food for my dojo loaches.
Could I have an upped number of shrimp and some chili rasboras? That may be too much for such a small tank.

 

I would guess that that would be too much for that size tank. The shrimp don’t need much room, but I feel bad putting any fish into something less than a ten-gallon. A five is supposed to be okay for bettas, but it seems cruel.

 

I would guess that that would be too much for that size tank. The shrimp don’t need much room, but I feel bad putting any fish into something less than a ten-gallon. A five is supposed to be okay for bettas, but it seems cruel.

I've seen lots of websites and videos say the Chilis can go in a 5 gallon, but they're schooling and active fiah, so I would rather put them in a 20 gallon long. I was having second thoughts, but I think a shrimp species tank will be really fun.

 

You could make a really cool aquascape with it!

 

You could make a really cool aquascape with it!

I've got a picture. It's a little older, so the moss balls and duckweed aren't present. The other plants are silk, but I plan on getting some live plants to take their place. I think the divided garden look id really nice for a more stand-out color like red. It also makes the shrimp look like little gardeners. I also want to have floating moss balls so the shrimp can explore closer to the top of the tank.

 

I started with about 10 shrimp in a 7 gal about 4 months ago and now have 80+ of them. Just started moving some into another tank and I’ll be taking 20 or 30 to the LFS tomorrow. I feel the need to reduce them because the water quality/clarity doesn’t look too good now, although it still tests ok. I only have a sponge filter in there. 80+ of them consume a surprising amount of food.

 

I started with about 10 shrimp in a 7 gal about 4 months ago and now have 80+ of them. Just started moving some into another tank and I’ll be taking 20 or 30 to the LFS tomorrow. I feel the need to reduce them because the water quality/clarity doesn’t look too good now, although it still tests ok. I only have a sponge filter in there. 80+ of them consume a surprising amount of food.

That sounds crazy, but I also think it could be fun. The excess shrimp can be used as food or I can hopefully use them to get store credit at my LFS.

 

Yeah I should add that it’s summer here and the water temp is generally between 26-28C which has no doubt contributed to their hyper activity and prolific breeding.

 

If your doing an all shrimp tank don't worry about numbers
This is a 5g which as been running about 2yrs there's over 120 visible shrimp in there and probably twice as much in the rest of the tank, I change 15% weekly water,
Thrred teo photos before and during feeding you wouldn't think its the same tank

 

Shrimp tanks are fun. I started with a 10g with about a dozen. Now my colony is in the 100s easy. Once they start having babies it doesn't stop. It's a blast watching the process.

I don't see an issue with starting a colony in a 5.. they may eventually populate really well but that have barely any bioload. Every now and then I take a few adults and pop them in other tanks.

 

If your doing an all shrimp tank don't worry about numbers
This is a 5g which as been running about 2yrs there's over 120 visible shrimp in there and probably twice as much in the rest of the tank, I change 15% weekly water,
Thrred teo photos before and during feeding you wouldn't think its the same tank

That tank is AWESOME! The shrimp are absolutely beautiful and those plants look so lush. I'm curious though, what do you feed your shrimp? I know they're scavengers and that they'll eat shrimp pellets, but that seems a little dark. Right now mine are nibbling on an algae wafer and some sunken flakes.

 

As others have indicated, 10 is enough to start with to get a good colony established. Just make sure not to pick out all the largest ones, with the best colors. That's a good way to wind up with all females.

 

I've got a picture. It's a little older, so the moss balls and duckweed aren't present. The other plants are silk, but I plan on getting some live plants to take their place. I think the divided garden look id really nice for a more stand-out color like red. It also makes the shrimp look like little gardeners. I also want to have floating moss balls so the shrimp can explore closer to the top of the tank.View attachment 765387

Wow, that looks really good!

 

As others have indicated, 10 is enough to start with to get a good colony established. Just make sure not to pick out all the largest ones, with the best colors. That's a good way to wind up with all females.

I'll check with my LFS and see if they can help me pick out a few males, since I'm pretty sure most, if not all, of my shrimp are female.

Wow, that looks really good!

Thank you. The silk plants do help to fill out the tank, at least for now.

Shrimp tanks are fun. I started with a 10g with about a dozen. Now my colony is in the 100s easy. Once they start having babies it doesn't stop. It's a blast watching the process.

I don't see an issue with starting a colony in a 5.. they may eventually populate really well but that have barely any bioload. Every now and then I take a few adults and pop them in other tanks.

I thought about moving some over to other tanks eventually, but I'll probably see if I can trade them for store credit somewhere or just feed some to my Dojo Loaches before moving them to another tank. My 75g has the Dojos and my two 10g have a betta in each, they do seem to be pretty chill for bettas, and one is half blind, but the shrimp may still get pecked to death. If they're gonna be food, I want their death to be quick.

 

I've got a picture. It's a little older, so the moss balls and duckweed aren't present. The other plants are silk, but I plan on getting some live plants to take their place. I think the divided garden look id really nice for a more stand-out color like red. It also makes the shrimp look like little gardeners. I also want to have floating moss balls so the shrimp can explore closer to the top of the tank.View attachment 765387

This looks great!