Can Cardinal Tetra live with Ghost Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 5–6 dGH.
- Cardinal Tetra leaves adult Ghost Shrimp alone but eats the babies — the colony survives with plenty of cover.
Sweet spot: both do well at 73–81°F and pH 6.5–7 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Cardinal Tetra | Ghost Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 73–81°F | 65–82°F |
| pH | 5–7 | 6.5–8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 1–6 dGH | 5–15 dGH |
| Adult size | 2" | 1.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 15 gal | 5 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
- Cardinal Tetra: buy at Flip Aquatics · Flip Aquatics live-arrival guarantee
- Ghost Shrimp: 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 Cardinal Tetra · …with Ghost Shrimp