Can Variatus Platy live with Cardinal Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- No overlapping temperature: Variatus Platy wants 65–77°F but Cardinal Shrimp wants 79–84°F.
- Variatus Platy leaves adult Cardinal Shrimp alone but eats the babies — the colony survives with plenty of cover.
Side-by-side
| Variatus Platy | Cardinal Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–77°F | 79–84°F |
| pH | 7–8.2 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 10–25 dGH | 8–18 dGH |
| Adult size | 2.75" | 0.8" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 15 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: An adjustable heater → Chewy
Where to buy
- Variatus Platy: buy at Flip Aquatics · Flip Aquatics live-arrival guarantee
- Cardinal 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 Variatus Platy · …with Cardinal Shrimp