The Best Shrimp Tanks of 2023

Freshwater shrimp aquariums are becoming increasingly popular. Shrimp has grown in popularity due to their tiny size, active behavior, and appealing demeanor, especially in smaller or nano tanks. Shrimp tanks, on the other hand, require specific particular measures in order to be successful. 

Keeping shrimp is not at all an easy thing to deal with. However, it can become really satisfying and fulfilling, granted you do everything right and take good care of your shrimp. There are many things to consider and keep in mind, as the types of shrimp, their diet, and their aquarium needs. 

Different shrimps have different needs and need different maintenance, so it would be wise to first learn about these species and their needs and then purchase a shrimp tank. They might be intimidating at first since they are more fragile than fish and need a little more forethought. That isn’t to suggest they’re impossible to maintain. 

In reality, most shrimp are pretty simple to keep; all that is required is a little forethought and proper research. We hope to achieve just that in this article by giving you a useful guide on shrimp care and shrimp tanks.

1. Best 5 Gallon: Fluval Spec V
2. Best Budget: Marineland Portrait
3. Best for Saltwater Shrimps: Coralife Biocube 32
4. Best Small Alternative: Fluval Flex
5. Best Bowfront: Hygger Horizon 8 Gallon

Best Shrimp Tanks Reviewed

In this section, we will be providing a review of some of the best shrimp tanks on the market. We spend hours of research, purchased each of the tanks, and reviewed them to bring you the most trustworthy information possible.

Whether you want a nano shrimp tank or a large one, you will find the best one that fits your needs. We included aquarium kits to make your shrimp tank set up easily without spending on extra aquarium equipment.

Important Tips for Setting up and Keeping a Shrimp Tank

Keeping shrimps is not an easy task. However, with the right tips and guides, it becomes much clearer and easier to get through. Below you’ll find essential information for setting up your shrimp tank and advice on maintaining it so your shrimp live happily ever after.

Filtration

Filtration for freshwater shrimp is a little more complex since you have to account for shrimp fry in addition to the shrimp’s small size. A filter can readily suck up shrimp babies and adults. However, modifying your filters to avoid this is simple. Shrimp tanks typically include either a sponge filter or a HOB Filter.

• Sponge filter – Out of the box, it’s cheap, simple, and safe for shrimp. Because these filters are simple to use and effective, many shrimp breeders employ them in their tanks. 
• Power filters – are sometimes known as hang-on-back (HOB) filters. These are wonderful options, but you’ll need to adjust your intake to avoid any mishaps. To avoid any losses, we recommend that you use a sponge pre-filter on your input.

Heating

The use of an aquarium heater can be debatable among shrimp keepers, particularly those who raise Neocaridina Shrimp, which prefer colder water. Your freshwater shrimp should be kept in water between 70 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. However, many breeders claim that a heater isn’t necessary for Neocardina shrimp as long as your location doesn’t get too cold during the winter. 

Either way, the most common thing that happens in this activity is heater failure. Many shrimp can die if a heater fails. Heaters frequently fail while being turned on, causing your tank to overheat. To avoid a disaster, invest in an aquarium heater controller.

Male to Female Ratio

If you have a shrimp tank with an excessive number of males compared to females, your population will suffer. Females will be overwhelmed, stressed out, and harassed to the point of death if there are too many men. 

Consider eliminating a section of your male population to balance out your numbers if you see your female population is rapidly declining. The way to distinguish between the two is through their physical traits where the females have an expanded abdomen, and the males are generally longer.

Toxins

Toxins, particularly copper, are particularly lethal to shrimp. If you’re going to use fertilizer, make sure it’s shrimp friendly, which means it doesn’t include copper or buy a fertilizer made specifically for shrimp.

Handling

Another critical point to remember about shrimp tanks is that you must use extreme caution while handling them. Toxins play a massive role in shrimps, so putting your hands in the tank might result in unwanted problems. 

Detergents, plant chemicals, flea treatments, flea shampoo, and cleansers all pose a threat to your shrimp. Before placing your hands in your tank, make sure you wash them well and are free of any elements mentioned above.

Water Quality

Ammonia, nitrite, and more significant amounts of nitrate are toxic to shrimp. With shrimp aquariums, weekly water changes are very crucial. Water top-off is another aspect to consider when it comes to shrimp tanks. The parameters of a tank can alter when water evaporates. 

Evaporation just removes water, but it does not remove your trace minerals. You’ll need to replace the water with pure replacement water like RODI water or distilled water. If you’re using RODI water, you’ll need to remineralize it every time you replace it. For your aquarium, RODI water contains 99 percent pure H20, making it perfect for delicate shrimp species. 

Either way, you’ll need to use a remineralize supplement to get the right minerals in your water changes so that your shrimp stay healthy. To make things easier, you may utilize an auto top off system.

Breeding

Breeding success varies from species to species. Many freshwater shrimps don’t need the aquarist’s intervention and happily reproduce in their own tanks. Before trying any breeding, thorough studying should be carried out, for some species require supervision, and some others like the Red Cherry shrimps can do just fine on their own.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Shrimp Tank

A shrimp tank is a type of aquarium dedicated solely to shrimp. The majority of them allow us to raise a variety of shrimp and tiny fish. In appearance, these are comparable to ordinary small to medium-sized aquariums. 

Before buying the best shrimp tank, you should make sure it fits into specific categories and has particular features. The following pointers and suggestions will assist you in purchasing the best ones available.

Tank Size

Make sure to always get exactly what you need in terms of size and capacity. This is usually determined by the number of shrimps and other species you have. A tank with a capacity of 10 liters may easily accommodate 14 to 25 shrimps. 

The perfect size for keeping shrimp is anything medium-sized 10 gallons to 30, because they provide a wide range of support for many species of aquatic pets besides shrimp, including some fish. Proper temperature control and chemical composition can only be appropriately achieved on medium and big tanks.

Filter

Filter quality and power are other factors to consider when purchasing a shrimp tank. Whether it came with the tank or was purchased separately, the filter shouldn’t be too powerful. Small and ingrown shrimps may be harmed as a result of that.

Simple sponge filters are safe and suitable for shrimps and perfect for small and medium-sized aquariums. Thus we recommend them. Canister filters are excellent for large tanks though and they’re the best fit.

Heater

Some aquarists don’t use heaters all of the time and yet manage to raise their shrimp successfully. However, only when the temperature in your area stays between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit you may be able to do this. If the weather in your living area shifts a lot or gets colder as the day goes on, you’ll need a heater. Thermostat heaters are configured to turn on when the temperature drops below a certain level which makes them really helpful in these situations. 

The thing is, not every tank kit includes a heater. And as we mentioned earlier, this article will be the solution to all your questions, so yes, we have the perfect heater to recommend. The FREESEA Aquarium Fish Tank Heater is 100% submersible and has an amazing temperature range of 64°F~93°F, and It makes it very easy to adjust the temperature you need. 

You have an automatic constant temperature function when the water temperature reaches to specified temperature value, the heater will automatically stop heating and when the water temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heater will automatically start heating. The marvel of automation with outstanding quality, this one will for sure leave you stunned.

Substrate

Shrimp-ready substrates are usually available at pet stores, and the type you pick will be determined by the shrimp species you wish to maintain. For example, an inert substrate that does not reduce the PH and keeps it between 6.8 and 8.0. is required by Neocaridina species. 

Gravel is the way to go if you want to have a planted tank since it allows the plants to root more quickly. You will need to wash the gravel on a regular basis to remove dirt and debris even though the gravel will not compact. We also have a product for you to use as a substrate. 

The Seachem Flourite Black Clay Gravel is one of the best gravels we’ve come across. Flourite Black is a porous stable, specifically fracted clay gravel for natural planted aquariums. It looks best in planted aquariums, but it may be utilized in any freshwater aquarium setting. Flourite Black works best when used as a standalone substrate bed, although it can also be combined with other gravels. 

Laterite or other gravel modifiers aren’t required. The pH of the water will not be affected by Flourite Black because it is not chemically coated or processed. This gravel lasts a long time in an aquarium and does not need to be replenished. Once you get it once, you’re never gonna wanna let it go.

Our Verdict

Overall, none of the above-mentioned items will disappoint you. You’ll never be caught in a scenario you can’t manage with so many options. If you’re more concerned with appearances, the Fluval Spec V or the Hygger Horizon is a fantastic choice. 

If you’re on the value for money train and want all you can get with a one-time purchase, the Coralif Biocube 32 is a wonderful alternative. We hope that we made the hobby of shrimp care a bit more accessible and less scary for everyone that read this article.

Best Freshwater Shrimp For Beginners: Basic Shrimp Guide

There’s quite a bunch of shrimps you can get, and they not only differ by the environment they live in but there are also sub-categories of these environments. It may be challenging for you to decide which freshwater shrimp species to purchase because there are many alternatives.

 Furthermore, new species are constantly being found and developed, and the number of species is constantly increasing. Not all shrimps shared the same traits and weren’t all made equal. Therefore they’re not suitable for every tank or community. That makes them separate into different species, and we’ll talk a bit about the most popular shrimps for your aquarium.

Red Cherry Shrimp

Red Cherry shrimps, scientifically known as Neocaridina davidi var. red, are the most common species of freshwater shrimps. Their brilliant color distinguishes them, as does the fact that they are one of the simplest freshwater shrimps to care for. 

Red Cherry shrimps should be kept at a temperature of 18-29.5 °C / 65-85 °F, with a pH of 6.3-8.0. When there are no aggressive fish around to push them, they create excellent tranquility in the tank and help form quite a peaceful terrain. They’re effortless to breed as well, so you won’t have to encourage artificially.

Ghost Shrimp

The Ghost Shrimp is undoubtedly the simplest Freshwater Shrimp to care for and is inexpensive and widely available. Ghost shrimps are scientifically known as Palaemonetes sp. and would be a perfect choice as the first shrimp to get when building an only-shrimp tank. They are known as scavengers and are also used as feeders due to how common they are.

Snowball Shrimp

These shrimps would be a fun mix between the shrimps above, for they’re low-maintenance, simple to care for, and great for beginners. They breed easily and form great colonies that can survive in different conditions. 

Because these freshwater shrimp adapt so well, you don’t need to go overboard with the tank layout or size. They can withstand greater water changes, which makes them very easy to preserve. They eat practically everything since they aren’t particularly fussy eaters and won’t be a hassle during feeding time. They’re well-behaved and perfect for anyone that doesn’t have wide information about shrimp but needs some in their tank anyway.

FAQs

After learning about the variety of shrimps, essential tips to know before keeping them, and the best shrimp tanks, you may still have questions. To help you as you shop for the best shrimp tank, below are answers to some of the most common questions asked about shrimp aquariums.