Can Shrimp Live With Guppies?

Last updated: July 2026 | 8 min read

Guppies and cherry shrimp are two of the most popular beginner aquarium animals, so it is no surprise people want to keep them together. The good news is they can share a tank. The catch is that guppies will eat baby shrimp, so whether your colony grows depends entirely on your setup.

Quick Answer

Yes, shrimp and guppies can live together. Both are peaceful, and adult cherry shrimp are usually safe from guppies. The problem is shrimplets and freshly molted shrimp, which guppies will eat if they can catch them. With a heavily planted tank full of moss and hiding spots, your shrimp can breed faster than the guppies eat the babies, so the colony still grows.

Are Guppies a Threat to Shrimp?

It depends on the size of the shrimp.

Adult shrimp are usually safe. A full-grown cherry shrimp is too large for a guppy's small mouth. Guppies may investigate but generally will not harm healthy adults.

Baby shrimp are at risk. Newborn shrimplets are the size of a grain of rice, and guppies will happily eat them. Freshly molted adults, which are soft and slow for a short time, are also vulnerable.

So the honest answer is that guppies and adult shrimp coexist fine, but a guppy tank is a tough place for a shrimp colony to expand unless you give the babies cover.

How to Keep Shrimp and Guppies Together

The whole game is baby shrimp survival. Here is how to tilt the odds:

Plant heavily, especially moss. Dense moss is the single best thing you can add. Shrimplets disappear into it and graze safely until they are too big to eat. Java moss, Christmas moss, and thick clumps of stem plants all help.

Add lots of hiding spots. Driftwood, cholla wood, leaf litter, Indian almond leaves, and shrimp caves all give babies places to shelter. The more broken-up the layout, the more shrimplets survive.

Keep the guppies well fed. A well-fed guppy is less motivated to hunt tiny shrimp. Feed a quality diet on a regular schedule so they are not constantly foraging for extra protein.

Consider male-only guppies. Some keepers stock only male guppies to avoid a population explosion of guppy fry, which keeps the fish load lower and predation pressure down.

Start with a strong colony. Establish your shrimp and let them breed before adding guppies, or add plenty of shrimp at once. A large, breeding colony can absorb some losses and still grow.

Water Parameters: Do They Match?

Guppies and cherry shrimp overlap nicely on water needs, which is another reason the pairing works.

• •Temperature: both do well around 72 to 78°F.
• •pH: both tolerate neutral to slightly alkaline water, roughly 6.8 to 7.8.
• •Hardness: both appreciate moderately hard water with enough minerals, which also helps shrimp molt.

This overlap is why cherry shrimp and guppies are a classic community pairing. Caridina shrimp like crystal reds are a poorer match because they want soft, acidic water that guppies do not prefer. For a guppy community, stick with hardy Neocaridina. See our water parameters guide for the numbers.

One Important Warning: No Copper

Guppies sometimes need medications, and many fish medications contain copper, which is lethal to shrimp even in small amounts. Before treating a guppy in a shared tank, move the fish to a hospital tank or confirm the medication is invert safe. This is a common way keepers accidentally wipe out a shrimp colony. Our guide on why shrimp die covers copper and other hidden killers.

The Bottom Line

Shrimp and guppies can absolutely live together. Adult cherry shrimp are safe, and the pairing shares the same water needs. The only real limit is that guppies eat baby shrimp, so a heavily planted tank with lots of moss and hiding spots is what lets your colony keep growing. Avoid copper medications, keep the guppies fed, and both will thrive.

Related Guides

• •Best Tank Mates for Cherry Shrimp - Safe companions ranked
• •Can Shrimp Live With Bettas? - Another common pairing
• •What Fish Eat Shrimp? - Fish to avoid
• •Best Moss for Shrimp Tanks - Protecting babies

Frequently Asked Questions

◆Can cherry shrimp live with guppies?

Yes. Adult cherry shrimp are too big for guppies to eat and both share similar water needs. The main issue is that guppies will eat baby shrimp, so a heavily planted tank with moss is needed for the colony to grow.

◆Will guppies eat baby shrimp?

Yes. Guppies readily eat shrimplets and freshly molted shrimp. Providing dense moss, leaf litter, and hiding spots lets enough babies survive for the colony to keep growing.

◆How do I protect baby shrimp from guppies?

Plant the tank heavily with moss and add plenty of hiding spots like driftwood, leaf litter, and shrimp caves. Keep the guppies well fed, start with a strong breeding colony, and consider stocking only male guppies to limit predation.

◆Do guppies and shrimp need the same water?

Largely yes. Both do well at 72 to 78°F in neutral to slightly alkaline, moderately hard water. That overlap makes hardy Neocaridina like cherry shrimp a good match for guppies, while soft-water Caridina are not.