Can Cherry Shrimp live with Fiddler Crab?
Caution — with care
Why
- Fiddler Crab is not on the verified shrimp-safe list, so we will not recommend it over a breeding Cherry Shrimp colony. It may well be fine — it simply has not been confirmed by a source, and an unverified guess is not worth the colony.
- Fiddler Crab hunts shrimp. Cherry Shrimp is large enough to be awkward prey, but not safe.
- No overlapping water hardness: Cherry Shrimp wants 4–14 dGH but Fiddler Crab wants 15–25 dGH.
- Fiddler Crab will eat Cherry Shrimp shrimplets. The colony still grows if there is moss or another dense hiding place for the babies.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 7.5–7.8.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–78°F and pH 7.5–7.8 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Cherry Shrimp | Fiddler Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–78°F | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–14 dGH | 15–25 dGH |
| Adult size | 1" | 2" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 5 gal | 15 gal |
Together, plan on at least 15 gallons.
How to make it work
- Keep a large, established shrimp colony in a heavily planted tank with moss and cover so enough survive to breed.
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
Sort it with: GH remineraliser
Where to buy
- Cherry Shrimp: buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm 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.
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Cherry Shrimp, Fiddler Crab →Everything compatible with Cherry Shrimp · …with Fiddler Crab