Can guppies and shrimp live together?
Two beginner favourites — colourful guppies and Neocaridina shrimp — can they share the same tank? The answer is yes, with conditions. It won’t be a shrimp colony in full explosion, but it’s a perfectly viable pairing. Here’s what you need to plan for.
The essentials. Yes, guppies and Neocaridina shrimp get on well: they have compatible water needs (fairly hard water, 22–26 °C). The one catch: guppies eat baby shrimp. The adults are safe. With plenty of hiding spots (moss, dense plants) in a planted 60 L tank, enough juveniles survive to maintain the population.
Good news: compatible needs
Guppies and Neocaridina like roughly the same water: fairly hard, stable, between 22 and 26 °C. That’s what makes the pairing natural — you don’t have to strike an impossible compromise between two species with opposite requirements.
In terms of temperament, guppies are peaceful and won’t bother the shrimp. An adult shrimp is far too big for a guppy’s mouth.
The only real issue: baby shrimp
Where it gets tricky is with the juveniles. Guppies are opportunists and happily snap up baby shrimp that drift within reach. As a result:
- the shrimp colony grows much more slowly than in a dedicated tank;
- without hiding spots, it can even stall (as many births as losses).
It’s no disaster — plenty of aquarists keep a lovely mixed tank — but if your goal is to multiply your shrimp, a dedicated tank will be more productive.
The key to a successful pairing comes down to one word: hiding spots. A big cushion of Java moss, dense plants, plenty of nooks. Baby shrimp vanish into them the moment they're born, out of the guppies' reach. Without cover, few survive; with it, the colony holds.
The conditions for success
- Tank of at least 60 L, cycled and mature
- Plenty of hiding spots: Java moss, dense plants, nooks
- Fairly hard, stable water, 22-26 °C (suits both)
- I accept that the shrimp colony will grow slowly
- If I want to multiply shrimp: I'll set up a separate dedicated tank
- Filtration with a protected intake (pre-filter sponge)
Conclusion
Guppies and Neocaridina shrimp make a perfectly viable duo, as long as you accept one reality: the guppies will keep the baby shrimp in check. With a well-planted 60 L tank full of hiding spots, the colony holds and the tank looks superb. If your goal is breeding shrimp, keep in mind that a dedicated tank remains more productive.
To launch your shrimp under the right conditions, see How many Neocaridina to start a colony in 30L?. And for your guppies, How many guppies in 60 litres?.
Frequently asked questions
Do guppies eat shrimp?
Guppies won't go after adult shrimp, which are too big for their mouths. They will, however, happily eat baby shrimp (juveniles). The pairing works, but the shrimp population will grow more slowly because of this predation.
How do you protect baby shrimp from guppies?
With plenty of hiding spots: Java moss, dense plants, nooks and crannies. The juveniles take refuge there. The more planted the tank, the more baby shrimp survive despite the guppies.
Do guppies and shrimp have the same water needs?
Broadly yes: both like fairly hard, stable water and temperatures of 22 to 26 °C. That's what makes the pairing possible. You pick a middle ground that suits both, with no extremes.
What tank size for keeping guppies and shrimp together?
Aim for at least 60 litres, well planted. The volume gives space, hiding spots and more stable water. In a nano that's too small, predation on baby shrimp leaves the colony little chance to develop.
