Guppies with shrimp

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

The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a small livebearer from northeastern South America and the southern Caribbean, including Venezuela and Trinidad (Seriously Fish). It has been one of the most popular aquarium fish for more than a hundred years (The Shrimp Farm), and because it likes the same harder, neutral-to-alkaline water as cherry shrimp, it is one of the first fish people want to add to a shrimp tank.

Guppies at a glance

Will guppies eat shrimp?

• Adults: no. The Shrimp Farm's tankmates guide rates guppies "does not eat adult shrimp" and says they leave adults alone and should work alongside Neocaridina.
• Shrimplets: yes, when they can. The Shrimp Farm calls guppies natural insect eaters that won't pass up a baby shrimp, and its guppy care guide says they will eat baby shrimp if they can catch them. Practical Fishkeeping lists guppies among fish that will almost certainly eat the young. Seriously Fish describes wild guppies as mainly insectivorous.
• Which shrimp: The Shrimp Farm's guppy guide points to fast-breeding Neocaridina in densely planted tanks, or larger shrimp such as Amanos. Soft-water Caridina such as crystal red shrimp are a poor water match anyway (see below).

In practice a cherry colony can keep growing alongside guppies if there is plenty of moss, but more slowly than on its own. The Shrimp Farm suggests the smaller Endler's guppy if you're worried about the colony, because its smaller size makes baby shrimp harder to swallow; see Endler's livebearers with shrimp. Compare the full list in cherry shrimp tank mates.

Matching the water

The shared zone is our comparison of the published ranges, not a tested target. Seriously Fish calls guppies hard-water fish, while The Shrimp Farm says they don't mind slightly lower hardness and pH and that stability matters more than exact numbers. Our suggestion: keep GH in the upper part of the cherry range and hold it steady. See shrimp GH and KH explained, shrimp tank pH and shrimp tank temperature.

Tank size and setup

• Size: The Shrimp Farm says a trio of males fits a 10-gallon tank, and a mixed group needs at least 15 to 20 gallons to make room for the babies. Aquarium Co-Op gives 5 gallons as the minimum for a trio and recommends 10 to 20. See how many shrimp per gallon.
• Dense plants and moss: The Shrimp Farm's guppy guide pairs guppies with shrimp specifically in densely planted tanks, and Aquarium Co-Op recommends plenty of plants. Moss is where shrimplets hide; see java moss and best plants for a shrimp tank.
• Gentle flow: The Shrimp Farm says long-finned males are poor swimmers and a strong filter can blow them around, so a gentle sponge filter works well. A sponge also keeps shrimplets out of the intake; see shrimp-safe filters.
• Heater: The Shrimp Farm says that if your home stays above 70 °F year-round you can skip the heater. Otherwise see nano shrimp tank heaters.

Males only, or plan for fry

Guppies breed nonstop. Seriously Fish says a female can drop 5 to 100 young after a 4 to 6 week gestation and can store sperm for 6 months or more, and Aquarium Co-Op says babies arrive about every 30 days. That matters in a shrimp tank, because every extra fish competes for space and food.

• Males only: The Shrimp Farm calls a males-only tank the only 100% fix for overpopulation, and Seriously Fish says to buy one sex if you don't want a tank full of fry. Note that a newly bought female may already be carrying stored sperm (Seriously Fish).
• Mixed groups: Aquarium Co-Op suggests one male to two or three females, and Seriously Fish several females per male, because males chase females constantly.
• Parents eat fry: Seriously Fish and Aquarium Co-Op both say adults eat their young, so like shrimplets, fry survive mainly in thick cover.
• Don't mix with Endler's if you want either line pure: The Shrimp Farm says Endler's and guppies hybridize.

Feeding both

• Small, varied foods: The Shrimp Farm says wild guppies graze on algae, biofilm and insect larvae; Seriously Fish says tank-bred fish accept most foods. Aquarium Co-Op suggests feeding once or twice a day, as much as they finish in about a minute.
• Feed the shrimp on the bottom: drop sinking shrimp food into the plants after the fish have eaten. See best shrimp food.
• Well-fed fish hunt less. Practical Fishkeeping lists keeping fish well fed, with plenty of plants and hiding places, as ways to reduce losses.

Buying healthy guppies

Seriously Fish says many commercially bred guppies are weakened by inbreeding and over-production and recommends buying from breeders or society auctions. The Shrimp Farm likewise says to buy from responsible suppliers, and that very fancy, long-tailed strains are more fragile than mixed "mutt" guppies.

How to add guppies to a shrimp tank

• Shrimp first. Practical Fishkeeping suggests letting the colony build up before adding fish.
• Mature tank: fully cycled and stable; see how to cycle a shrimp tank.
• Quarantine the fish separately. Practical Fishkeeping says many fish medications are not safe for invertebrates. If fish get sick, ask a fish veterinarian or an experienced store about treatment that won't harm the shrimp. See how to quarantine and is copper toxic to shrimp.

Common mistakes

• Buying a mixed group for a small shrimp tank and getting overrun with fry.
• A strong filter that pushes long-finned males around.
• Soft, acidic water that suits neither guppies nor cherry shrimp.
• Expecting a fast-growing shrimp colony with fish present.
• Medicating fish in the shrimp tank.

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

Do guppies eat shrimp?

Not adult shrimp. The Shrimp Farm says guppies leave adults alone but will eat baby shrimp they can catch, and Practical Fishkeeping says guppies will almost certainly eat the young.

Can guppies live with cherry shrimp?

Usually, yes. The Shrimp Farm says guppies should get along with Neocaridina in densely planted tanks. Expect the shrimp colony to grow more slowly than in a shrimp-only tank.

How do I stop guppies from overrunning a shrimp tank?

Keep males only. The Shrimp Farm calls it the only 100% fix, and Seriously Fish says to buy one sex if you do not want fry.

What size tank do guppies and shrimp need?

The Shrimp Farm suggests 10 gallons for a trio of males and at least 15 to 20 gallons for a mixed group. Aquarium Co-Op gives 5 gallons as a minimum for a trio and recommends 10 to 20.

Are Endler's safer with shrimp than guppies?

Somewhat. The Shrimp Farm says Endler's are smaller and have more trouble swallowing baby shrimp, and suggests them if you are worried about the colony.

What water do guppies and cherry shrimp share?

By our comparison of the published ranges, about 72 to 82 °F, pH 7.0 to 8.0 and GH 6 to 8.

Sources: The Shrimp Farm, Shrimp tankmates and compatibility (guppy: Poecilia reticulata, up to 2.5 in, 10+ gallons, beginner-proof feeder or moderate fancy, does not eat adult shrimp; natural insect eaters won't pass up a baby shrimp, leave adults alone, should work with Neocaridina; plan for baby guppies or buy only males; Endler's smaller size means more trouble swallowing baby shrimp); The Shrimp Farm, Fancy guppy care (popular for over 100 years; females up to 2.5 in vs 1.5 in males; up to three years; sunny shallow coastal habitats; trio of males in 10 gallons, mixed group 15–20; low flow and gentle sponge filter for long-finned males; pH 6.5–8.0, 72–82 °F, GH 6–14, KH 3–6; no heater if the home stays above 70 °F; fine with slightly lower hardness, stability matters; fin-nippers; Endler's hybridize; males only is the only 100% fix for overpopulation; get along with Neocaridina in densely planted tanks but eat baby shrimp; Endler's or Amanos as alternatives; wild guppies graze on algae, biofilm and insect larvae; responsible suppliers, mutts hardier); Seriously Fish, Poecilia reticulata (guppy) (northeastern South America and southern Caribbean; 60 mm SL; 45 × 30 cm base; 17–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.5, 8–30 dGH; hard-water fish; wild fish insectivorous, tank-bred accept most foods; very peaceful, avoid fin-nippers; several females per male; 5–100 young, 4–6 week gestation; stored sperm 6 months or more; adults eat young; buy one sex; inbred commercial stock, buy from breeders); Aquarium Co-Op, Guppy care guide (about 2 in; 5 gallons minimum for a trio, 10–20 better; one male to 2–3 females; plants; babies about every 30 days; adults eat young; 2–3 years; feed once or twice a day for about a minute); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (guppies in the 'maybe' group that will almost certainly eat the young; plants, hiding places and well-fed fish reduce losses; let the colony build first; many fish medications unsafe for invertebrates); The Shrimp Farm, Red rili shrimp tank set-up and care (cherry-type Neocaridina: 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0, GH 4–8). The shared water zone is our own comparison of these ranges.