🐠 Fish Compatibility Guide

Can Cherry Shrimp Live With Corydoras Catfish?

✅ Compatible — Compatibility Score: 85/100
85/100 — Compatible

Compatibility Overview

Cherry Shrimp and Corydoras Catfish can generally share an aquarium with appropriate planning. Both species prefer overlapping temperature and pH ranges, and neither poses a major aggression risk to the other. A minimum 55-gallon tank is recommended to provide adequate territory and water volume for both species.

FactorCherry ShrimpCorydoras CatfishVerdict
Temperature65–80°F70–79°F✅ 70–79°F
pH Range6.5–8.06.0–8.0✅ 6.5–8.0
Temperamentpeacefulpeaceful✅ Compatible
Adult Size0.8 in2.5 in⚠️ 3.1× difference
Min. Group10+6+See below
Min. Tank Size55 gallons (for both species)

✅ Compatibility Positives

Good temperature overlap: both species thrive at 70–79°F.
pH ranges are compatible: workable range is 6.5–8.0.
Both species are peaceful — low aggression risk.
Both species are schooling fish — keep Cherry Shrimp in groups of 10+ and Corydoras Catfish in groups of 6+.

⚠️ Caution Points

⚠️Significant size difference (2.5 in vs 0.8 in) — the larger species may out-compete for food or intimidate the smaller.

Species Profiles

Cherry Shrimp — Neocaridina davidi

Bright red freshwater shrimp that are excellent algae cleaners. Very small — at risk from any fish large enough to eat them.

→ Full Cherry Shrimp care guide

Corydoras Catfish — Corydoras spp.

Armoured bottom-dwelling catfish that are peaceful with all non-aggressive species. Need fine sand substrate to protect delicate barbels.

→ Full Corydoras Catfish care guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Cherry Shrimp live with Corydoras Catfish?

Yes, in a well-planned setup. Cherry Shrimp and Corydoras Catfish can generally share an aquarium with appropriate planning. Both species prefer overlapping temperature and pH ranges, and neither poses a major aggression risk to the other. A minimum 55-gallon tank is recommended to provide adequate territory and water volume for both species.

What tank size do I need for Cherry Shrimp and Corydoras Catfish together?

A minimum of 55 gallons is recommended for keeping Cherry Shrimp and Corydoras Catfish together. A larger tank improves water stability and reduces territorial conflict.

What temperature suits both Cherry Shrimp and Corydoras Catfish?

70–79°F

Is a Cherry Shrimp aggressive toward a Corydoras Catfish?

Cherry Shrimp is peaceful and Corydoras Catfish is peaceful. Significant size difference (2.5 in vs 0.8 in) — the larger species may out-compete for food or intimidate the smaller.