The short answer
Baby shrimp — “shrimplets” — are minuscule and defenceless, so protection comes down to three things: dense moss and plant cover, keeping predators out, and covering the filter intake. Cherry shrimp breed readily on their own in a stable tank, so if you protect the young, the colony grows itself. No special feeding or intervention is needed beyond a healthy, mature tank.
Give them cover
Shrimplets survive by hiding and grazing. The single best thing you can add is Java moss or another dense, fine-leaved plant — it gives endless hiding spots and grows the biofilm babies feed on. A mature tank with a good layer of algae and biofilm supports far more shrimplets than a bare, new one. See our cherry shrimp care guide and how do I breed cherry shrimp.
Keep predators away
The biggest threat is fish. Even small, “peaceful” fish eat shrimplets one at a time, so a species-only shrimp tank is the reliable route to a booming colony. If you keep fish with your shrimp, expect the numbers to grow slowly at best. A compact setup like a nano aquarium makes an ideal dedicated shrimp tank.
Guard the intake and keep water stable
Tiny shrimplets are easily sucked into a filter, so fit a sponge over the intake or use a sponge filter. Beyond that, shrimp thrive on stability — steady temperature, pH and hardness — so avoid big swings and go gently with water changes. See what pH do shrimp need and, for the fish-fry equivalent, what do I do with baby fish. Feed the colony lightly with quality food — browse our picks — and explore more aquariums here.