Can Amano Shrimp live with Cardinal Tetra?
Caution — with care
Why
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 6 dGH.
- Cardinal Tetra leaves adult Amano Shrimp alone but eats the babies — the colony survives with plenty of cover.
Sweet spot: both do well at 73–80°F and pH 6.5–7 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Amano Shrimp | Cardinal Tetra | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–80°F | 73–81°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 | 5–7 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–15 dGH | 1–6 dGH |
| Adult size | 2" | 2" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 10 gal | 15 gal |
Together, plan on at least 15 gallons.
How to make it work
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
- Keep a large, established shrimp colony in a heavily planted tank with moss and cover so enough survive to breed.
Sort it with: GH remineraliser → Aquarium Co-Op
Where to buy
- Amano Shrimp: buy at Flip Aquatics · Flip Aquatics live-arrival guarantee
- Cardinal Tetra: buy at Flip Aquatics · Flip Aquatics live-arrival guarantee
Live-animal shipping: add a heat pack below 50°F, expect weather holds above 90°F, and schedule delivery for a moderate week when someone can receive it promptly.
Build a full tank around this stocking →Everything compatible with Amano Shrimp · …with Cardinal Tetra