Can Cherry Shrimp live with Platy?
Caution — with care
Why
- Platy 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.
- Platy is roughly twice the length of Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually left alone in a well-planted tank, but the odd one gets taken.
- Platy will eat Cherry Shrimp shrimplets. The colony still grows if there is moss or another dense hiding place for the babies.
Sweet spot: both do well at 70–78°F and pH 7–7.8 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Cherry Shrimp | Platy | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–78°F | 70–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 | 7–8.2 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–14 dGH | 10–28 dGH |
| Adult size | 1" | 2.5" |
| 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.
Sort it with: A larger tank · 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
Skapelab plans a complete, buildable planted aquarium around your fish — a hand-illustrated layout, the exact plants and hardscape, a placement map, and a full equipment and shopping list. Free.
Design a tank with Cherry Shrimp, Platy →Everything compatible with Cherry Shrimp · …with Platy