Guppies can live with cherry shrimp, but you’ll have a better time if you start with realistic expectations. Adult guppies are curious and opportunistic. They may peck at shrimp, and they will eat tiny baby shrimp if they can catch them. That doesn’t mean it can’t work — it means your setup needs safe zones.
What usually goes wrong
- No hiding cover: shrimp need places guppies can’t reach, not just “some plants”.
- Guppies steal all food: shrimp starve quietly if guppies dominate feeding.
- Constant curiosity: some guppies are more persistent than others; individual behaviour matters.
Design the tank for shrimp survival
Think in layers:
- Fine cover: moss, dense stem plants, or tangled plant zones where shrimp can vanish.
- Hardscape cover: small caves, rock gaps, shrimp tubes, or stacked wood that creates crevices.
- Leaf litter (optional): dried leaves can provide extra micro-hiding spots and grazing surface.
Feeding strategy that stops “food wars”
Feed guppies first, then place a shrimp wafer in a protected corner after the initial frenzy. You can also feed shrimp after lights dim. Shrimp are happy to graze slowly; guppies are not.
Will shrimp breed in a guppy tank?
Sometimes, but baby shrimp survival depends heavily on cover. You may see adults thrive while babies disappear — that’s normal. If you want a self-sustaining shrimp colony, build heavier moss/cover or keep shrimp separately.
Water and stability
Shrimp dislike sudden swings, so stability matters. Avoid large parameter jumps during water changes and keep ammonia/nitrite at 0. Many “shrimp problems” are actually water change temperature/pH issues rather than guppy behaviour.
Done right, shrimp and guppies can be a great combo: guppies add colour and movement, shrimp handle micro-cleanup, and the tank feels more alive overall.
