Guppies and shrimp are a popular combo because shrimp help tidy up micro-waste and guppies add colour and movement. The pairing can work, but it isn’t “automatic”. Guppies are curious and opportunistic, which means tiny shrimp (especially baby shrimp) can get eaten if the tank doesn’t provide cover.
Adult shrimp vs baby shrimp
Most guppies ignore adult cherry shrimp once they learn shrimp aren’t easy food. However, newborn shrimp are tiny, slow, and look like snacks. If your goal is a self-sustaining shrimp colony, you’ll need dense cover.
What makes the combination work
- Plant mass: moss, dense grass-like plants, and floating cover create a “micro forest” where baby shrimp can survive.
- Leaf litter / hiding spots: shrimp need tight spaces (wood gaps, rocks, shrimp tubes).
- Stable water: shrimp are less forgiving of swings than guppies, so consistency matters.
Feeding: prevent guppies from hunting
Well-fed guppies are less likely to pick at shrimp. Scatter-feed guppies and also offer shrimp-specific foods that sink and land in shrimp zones. If guppies dominate every meal, they’ll patrol the tank more aggressively and shrimp become targets.
What usually fails
- Minimal cover: a bare tank or light planting usually leads to very low baby shrimp survival.
- Overstocked guppies: more mouths = more hunting and less peace.
- Big temperature swings: shrimp often show stress sooner than guppies.
Realistic expectations
If your goal is “some shrimp that help clean up,” guppies and shrimp are often a good match with basic cover. If your goal is “a breeding shrimp colony,” you may need to either heavily plant the tank or run a shrimp-only setup and move adults across later.
Done well, this combo creates a lively, natural tank: guppies up top, shrimp below, and a cleaner substrate — with fewer visible leftovers and a calmer overall system.
