Amano vs Cherry Shrimp

Last updated: June 2026 | 8 min read

Amano and cherry shrimp are the two most popular freshwater shrimp, and new keepers often can't decide between them. They serve genuinely different purposes. Amano shrimp are larger, plainer algae-eating workhorses. Cherry shrimp are small, colorful, and breed into a self-sustaining colony. Picking the right one depends on what you actually want from your shrimp.

This guide compares them head to head so you can choose with confidence, or decide to keep both.

Quick Answer

Choose Amano shrimp if your main goal is algae control. They're bigger, eat far more algae, and are safe with fish, but they won't breed in your tank.

Choose cherry shrimp if you want color and a growing colony. They're small, come in vivid colors, and multiply easily, but they eat less algae and their babies get eaten by fish.

Many people keep both: Amanos for cleanup, cherries for color and breeding.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Size and Appearance

This is the most visible difference. Amano shrimp grow to about 1.5-2 inches, noticeably bigger than the 1-1.5 inch cherry shrimp. Amanos are translucent gray-green with a row of dots along their sides, functional rather than flashy.

Cherry shrimp are smaller but come in bright, solid colors: red, blue, yellow, and more. If you want a tank that pops with color, cherries win. If you want a bigger, working shrimp, Amanos win.

Algae Eating: Amano Wins

Both eat algae, but Amano shrimp are in a different league. Their larger size and appetite make them the best algae-eating shrimp in the hobby. A few Amanos will visibly clear soft algae from a tank that cherry shrimp would barely dent.

If algae control is your primary reason for getting shrimp, Amanos are the clear choice. That said, neither will eat tough algae like black beard algae, and neither fixes an algae problem caused by too much light or excess nutrients. For the full plan, see shrimp tank algae control.

Breeding: Cherry Shrimp Wins

Here's the biggest practical difference. Cherry shrimp breed readily in a freshwater tank. Start with 10 and you'll have a thriving colony in months, with no effort. The colony sustains itself.

Amano shrimp will not breed in your aquarium. Their larvae require brackish (salty) water to survive a planktonic stage, then must return to freshwater. Replicating this at home is extremely difficult, so essentially all Amano shrimp are bought, not bred. When your Amanos eventually die of old age, you replace them.

So if you want shrimp that multiply and give you a renewable, self-sustaining population, cherry shrimp are the answer. If you just want a few working algae eaters and don't care about breeding, Amanos are fine. Our guides on cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp cover each in depth.

Tank Mates and Fish

Because Amano shrimp are bigger, they're safer with fish. Many fish that would eat a cherry shrimp can't easily eat an adult Amano. Cherry shrimp, especially their babies, get eaten by most fish, which is why a breeding cherry colony does best in a shrimp-only tank.

If you have a community tank with fish and want shrimp that'll survive, Amanos are the more robust choice. Use our tank mate compatibility checker to check specific fish.

Water Parameters

Good news: their requirements overlap almost completely. Both are hardy and want stable water in the same general range (pH 6.5-7.5, temp 65-78°F, moderate hardness). You can keep them together in the same tank with no conflict, and they won't interbreed (different species). For the numbers, see our water parameters guide.

Can You Keep Both?

Yes, and many people do. Amanos and cherry shrimp coexist peacefully, share the same water needs, and complement each other: Amanos handle algae while cherries provide color and breed. There's no downside to a mixed tank, and no crossbreeding risk. It's one of the most popular shrimp combinations.

The Bottom Line

Amano and cherry shrimp aren't really competitors; they do different jobs. Amanos are the bigger, fish-safe algae workhorses that won't breed in your tank. Cherries are the small, colorful shrimp that multiply into a self-sustaining colony. If you want algae control, get Amanos. If you want color and breeding, get cherries. If you want both, keep both, they get along perfectly.

Related Guides

• •Amano Shrimp Care - The algae-eating champion
• •Cherry Shrimp Care - The colorful breeder
• •Shrimp Tank Algae Control - What shrimp can and can't fix
• •Amano Shrimp vs Ghost Shrimp - Another common comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

◆Which is better, Amano or cherry shrimp?

Neither is better; they serve different purposes. Amano shrimp are larger and the best algae eaters but won't breed in your tank. Cherry shrimp are smaller, colorful, and breed into a self-sustaining colony but eat less algae. Choose based on whether you want algae control or color and breeding.

◆Do Amano shrimp eat more algae than cherry shrimp?

Yes, Amano shrimp eat significantly more algae than cherry shrimp because they're larger with bigger appetites. A few Amanos clear soft algae far faster than cherries. Neither eats tough algae like black beard algae, however.

◆Can Amano and cherry shrimp live together?

Yes, Amano and cherry shrimp coexist peacefully, share the same water requirements, and don't interbreed since they're different species. It's a popular combination: Amanos handle algae while cherries provide color and breed.

◆Why won't my Amano shrimp breed?

Amano shrimp can't breed in a normal freshwater aquarium because their larvae require brackish water to survive an early planktonic stage. Even when females carry eggs, the larvae die in freshwater. Almost all Amano shrimp are wild-caught or commercially raised, not home-bred.

◆Do Amano or cherry shrimp live longer?

Amano shrimp live longer, typically 2 to 3 years, compared to 1 to 2 years for cherry shrimp. However, because cherry shrimp breed continuously, a cherry colony effectively lasts indefinitely as new generations replace old ones, while Amanos must be replaced individually.