Ghost shrimp with cherry shrimp

By the Shrimp Tank Hub editorsUpdated Oct 26, 2026Research-based

Ghost shrimp are the cheap, see-through shrimp sold in nearly every fish store, often as feeders. The true ghost shrimp of the aquarium trade is Palaemon paludosus (formerly Palaemonetes), the American glass or grass shrimp from the eastern United States (The Shrimp Farm). At about 2 in it is roughly twice the length of an adult cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi), and that size difference, plus a lot of mislabeling, is what this pairing comes down to.

Ghost shrimp at a glance

By our comparison of these ranges, both are comfortable at about 68–78 °F and pH 6.5–7.8 with moderate hardness, and neither needs a heater in most homes. Stable water matters more than exact numbers for both species.

Will ghost shrimp eat cherry shrimp?

• Adults: rarely, if they are true ghost shrimp. The Shrimp Farm says Palaemon and Neocaridina won't harm each other, and that true P. paludosus is "really quite peaceful". It thinks mislabeled whisker shrimp are behind most of the ghost shrimp's reputation for aggression.
• Molting or weak shrimp: some risk. The Shrimp Farm calls ghost shrimp omnivores that "will eat whatever they can get their little claws on" and a little more feisty than dwarf shrimp. A freshly molted cherry is soft, so plenty of hiding places help. See how often shrimp molt.
• Shrimplets: the main risk. Cherry babies are tiny, and owner reports (and our own ghost shrimp guide) say ghost shrimp pick some off. The Shrimp Farm notes that ghosts are more likely to eat their own larvae than care for them. Our inference: a cherry colony will still grow in a densely planted tank, but more slowly.
• Interbreeding: impossible. They are different genera (The Shrimp Farm), so your cherry line stays pure. Mixing cherries with other Neocaridina colors is the real interbreeding problem; see cherry shrimp colors and grades.

Make sure it's a real ghost shrimp

The Shrimp Farm says "ghost shrimp" is used for many translucent shrimp, and whisker shrimp (Macrobrachium lanchesteri) and Indian whisker shrimp (M. lamarrei) are often sold under that name. Whisker shrimp grow larger (up to about 2.5 in), have long grabbing arms, and once mature will try to catch fish and slow invertebrates. They do not belong in a cherry shrimp tank. How to tell them apart (The Shrimp Farm):

• Orange bands: true ghost shrimp have orange bands on the antennae and front claws. Whisker shrimp lack them.
• Pepper speckles: ghost shrimp have a fine dotted pattern; whisker shrimp have a few solid lines behind the head.
• Claws: ghost shrimp claws are only slightly longer than their other legs. Long, grabby arms that reach past the legs suggest Macrobrachium, even in young shrimp.
• Buy as pets, not feeders: The Shrimp Farm says feeder ghosts are often weak from crowded, dirty tanks, and some may be brackish species. Ask the store what species they are.

Tank size and setup

• Size: 10 gallons or more for ghost shrimp; The Shrimp Farm says a 10-gallon can hold up to about 10 ghosts. In a mixed tank, fewer ghosts leave more room for cherries (our suggestion).
• Cover: The Shrimp Farm says ghosts love a heavily planted tank with shrimp tubes, driftwood and rocks. Moss and fine-leaved plants give cherry shrimplets places ghosts can't easily reach. See best plants for a shrimp tank.
• Filter: a sponge filter or a sponge on the intake protects both cherry babies and ghost shrimp larvae (The Shrimp Farm). See shrimp-safe filters.
• Cycled tank: zero ammonia and nitrite and low nitrate, as for any shrimp (The Shrimp Farm). See how to cycle a shrimp tank.

Feeding both

Both species graze biofilm and algae and scavenge leftovers. The Shrimp Farm says most tanks are too clean to feed ghost shrimp without extra food, and suggests algae wafers and frozen foods such as mosquito larvae. Our suggestion: feed in two or three spots so the larger ghosts don't push cherries off a single wafer, and keep portions small so leftovers don't foul the water. See best shrimp food.

Breeding: what to expect

Cherry shrimp breed readily in the same tank. Ghost shrimp also breed, but their larvae are tiny (under 4 mm) and drift for days before they look like shrimp (The Shrimp Farm), so in a community tank few survive. The Shrimp Farm moves berried females to a separate rearing tub if you want more ghosts. Either way, the ghosts won't take over the tank the way a cherry colony can.

How to add ghost shrimp to a cherry shrimp tank

• Let the cherry colony settle first and build up moss and plants (our suggestion, like Practical Fishkeeping's advice to build up a colony before adding fish).
• Check every ghost for orange bands and short claws before it goes in.
• Add a few, not dozens. Three to five ghosts in a planted 10–20 gallon tank is a reasonable start (our suggestion).
• Quarantine new shrimp. Cheap feeder ghosts can bring in pests or disease. See how to quarantine shrimp.
• Watch for a few weeks. If a "ghost" grows chunky with long arms, or cherries start disappearing, move it out.

Common mistakes

• Buying "ghost shrimp" without checking for whisker shrimp.
• Adding feeder ghosts straight from the store tank to a prized colony.
• A bare tank with no moss, so shrimplets have nowhere to hide.
• Expecting ghost shrimp to live on leftovers alone.
• Keeping larger fish that will eat both; see cherry shrimp tank mates.

Track it

Log temperature, pH, GH and TDS on the free Water Parameter Log printable so you can keep the tank in the range both species share.

Frequently asked questions

Can ghost shrimp live with cherry shrimp?

Usually, yes. The Shrimp Farm says true ghost shrimp (Palaemon paludosus) and Neocaridina are compatible, and Aquarium Co-Op lists ghosts as good cherry shrimp tank mates. Expect some losses of baby cherries.

Will ghost shrimp eat baby cherry shrimp?

Some, yes. Ghost shrimp are larger omnivores that eat whatever they can catch (The Shrimp Farm), so shrimplets need moss and dense plants to hide in.

Can ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp interbreed?

No. They belong to different genera, Palaemon and Neocaridina, and cannot interbreed (The Shrimp Farm).

How do I know if I have a ghost shrimp or a whisker shrimp?

True ghost shrimp have orange bands on the antennae and front claws, fine speckles, and short claws. Whisker shrimp lack the bands and have long grabbing arms (The Shrimp Farm).

What water do ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp both like?

The Shrimp Farm lists ghost shrimp at 65 to 82 °F and pH 6.5 to 8.0, and cherry-type shrimp at 65 to 85 °F and pH 6.2 to 8.0, so roughly 68 to 78 °F and pH 6.5 to 7.8 suits both.

How many ghost shrimp can I add to a cherry shrimp tank?

The Shrimp Farm says a 10-gallon tank can hold up to about 10 ghost shrimp on their own. With a cherry colony, a few ghosts in a planted 10 to 20 gallon tank is a safer start.

Sources: The Shrimp Farm, Ghost shrimp (Palaemon) care (Palaemon paludosus, formerly Palaemonetes; about 2 in; orange bands on antennae and claws, fine speckles, back hump; native to the eastern US; 10+ gallons, about 3 per gallon in a species tank; heavily planted; pH 6.5–8.0, 65–82 °F, KH 3–15; cycled, stable water; somewhat more aggressive than dwarf shrimp, omnivores that eat whatever they can catch; Palaemon and Neocaridina compatible, won't harm each other or interbreed; supplemental feeding with algae wafers and frozen foods; larvae, sponge filter; lifespan 1–1.5 years; feeder shrimp often weak); The Shrimp Farm, Ghost shrimp breeding (larvae under 4 mm, metamorphose in up to 10 days; adults more likely to eat larvae than care for them; separate rearing tub; P. paludosus breeds in fresh water, some Palaemon sold as feeders are brackish); The Shrimp Farm, Whisker shrimp vs ghost shrimp (whisker shrimp Macrobrachium lanchesteri and M. lamarrei often mislabeled as ghosts; up to 2.5 in; long claws; catch tankmates once mature; orange bands and speckles identify true ghosts; true ghosts really quite peaceful; up to 10 ghosts in 10 gallons); The Shrimp Farm, Amano shrimp vs ghost shrimp (ghost shrimp label covers several species, check you're not buying Macrobrachium); Aquarium Co-Op, Cherry shrimp tank mates (ghost and Amano shrimp do well with cherry shrimp; avoid long-arm shrimp and prawns); The Shrimp Farm, Shrimp tankmates and compatibility (Neocaridina can share with ghost shrimp); The Shrimp Farm, Red rili shrimp tank set-up and care (cherry-type Neocaridina: 5+ gallons, 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0, GH 4–8); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (build the colony first). The shared water zone is our own comparison of these ranges.