Cherry Shrimp vs Amano Shrimp
The two most popular freshwater shrimp, but they do different jobs. The cherry shrimp is a colourful, easy-breeding colony shrimp; the Amano shrimp is the aquarium's best algae-eating workhorse. Here's which suits your tank.
The quick verdict
If you want colour and a self-sustaining colony that breeds in your tank, choose the cherry shrimp — hardy, beginner-friendly and available in bright reds and blues. If you want the strongest algae clean-up crew, choose the Amano shrimp — larger, tougher and relentless at grazing. Many aquascapers keep both.
| Cherry shrimp | Amano shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Care level | Beginner | Easy |
| Min tank size | 19 L / 5 gal | 38 L / 10 gal |
| Adult size | 2.5–4 cm | 4–5 cm |
| Algae eating | Good (soft algae, biofilm) | Excellent (incl. hair algae) |
| Colour | Bright red / blue | Translucent grey-brown |
| Breeds in freshwater | Yes, readily | No (larvae need brackish) |
| Water | pH 6.5–7.5, 20–26 °C | pH 6.5–7.5, 18–27 °C |
| Best for | Colour, colonies, nano tanks | Serious algae control |
Colour and colonies vs algae power
The cherry shrimp is the friendlier pet: it shows real colour, tolerates a wide range of stable water, and breeds so freely that a handful becomes a colony within months. That makes it ideal for a dedicated shrimp tank or a peaceful nano scape. The Amano shrimp is bigger, plainer and can't breed in freshwater, but it is the best all-round algae eater in the hobby — a few will strip hair algae that cherries leave alone. It also copes with a slightly wider temperature range.
Which should you keep?
Our pick
Pick the cherry shrimp if you want colour, easy breeding and a colony that maintains itself in a small tank. Pick the Amano shrimp if algae control is the priority and you don't mind a plainer, non-breeding clean-up crew. Read the full cherry shrimp care guide and Amano shrimp care guide, or see how to set up a shrimp tank.
Frequently asked questions
Are cherry shrimp or Amano shrimp better for algae?
Amano shrimp are the stronger algae eaters — they are bigger, more active grazers and will tackle tougher hair and thread algae that cherry shrimp often ignore. Cherry shrimp still graze biofilm and soft algae, but a small squad of Amanos clears an algae outbreak faster. For pure clean-up power, Amanos win; for colour and a self-sustaining colony, cherries win.
Will Amano shrimp breed in my tank like cherry shrimp do?
No. Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina) breed readily in a normal freshwater tank and quickly build a colony. Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) release larvae that need brackish water to survive, so they almost never breed in a home aquarium — you keep the same individuals rather than growing a population.
Can I keep cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp together?
Yes. Both are peaceful and share similar water needs, so they cohabit well. The only thing to watch is feeding: larger, faster Amanos can out-compete tiny cherries at feeding time, so spread food in a few spots so everyone gets a share.
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