Best Shrimp for Beginners
Dwarf shrimp are easier than their reputation once the tank is mature: stable parameters matter far more than exact numbers. Neocaridina varieties top this list; the caridina species need softer, more acidic water and belong in a second tank.
53 species · ordered by how many Shoal & Stem keepers have them · every card links to a full care guide
Red Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Yellow Neocaridina
Neocaridina davidi var. Yellow
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Blue Velvet Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi var. Blue Velvet
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Chocolate Neocaridina Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.25" adult · Peaceful
Ghost Shrimp
Palaemonetes paludosus
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Orange Neocaridina
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Dwarf Blue Diamond Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Blue Dream Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi 'Blue Dream'
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Bloody Mary Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi 'Bloody Mary'
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Carbon Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Chocolate Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi var. 'Chocolate'
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Green Jade Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Orange Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi 'Orange Rili'
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Orange Sakura Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Snowball Shrimp
Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis var. White
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Sunkist Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Yellow Neocaridina Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Black Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Black Rose Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Blue Pearl Shrimp
Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis var. Blue Pearl
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Blue Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Camel Shrimp
Rhynchocinetes durbanensis
20 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Chocolate Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
30 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Coral Banded Shrimp
Stenopus hispidus
20 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Emerald Green Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Fire Red Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Fire Shrimp
Lysmata debelius
20 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Green Babaulti Shrimp
Caridina babaulti 'Green'
1.2" adult · Peaceful
Green Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.25" adult · Peaceful
High Grade Blue Velvet Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Kanoko Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Orange Pumpkin Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Painted Fire Red Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
20 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Pistol Shrimp
Alpheus randalli
20 gal min · 2" adult · Semi-aggressive
Pumpkin Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Purple Neocaridina
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Red Babaulti Shrimp
Caridina babaulti
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Red Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Rili Red Sakura Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi var. Rili
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Sakura Red Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Sakura Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Sakura Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Scud
Hyalella azteca
2 gal min · 0.3" adult · Peaceful
Sexy Shrimp
Thor amboinensis
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
White Pearl Shrimp
Neocaridina palmata
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Yellow Cheek Shrimp
Caridina striata
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Yellow Fire Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Yellow Golden Back Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Yellow Rili Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Not sure your combination fits?
Put your tank size and stock into the calculator — it checks bioload, schooling numbers and compatibility together.