Can Guppy live with Cardinal Shrimp?
Light caution
Why
- Guppy is roughly twice the length of Cardinal Shrimp. Adults are usually left alone in a well-planted tank, but the odd one gets taken.
- Guppy will eat Cardinal 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 79–82°F and pH 7.5–7.8 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Guppy | Cardinal Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 79–84°F |
| pH | 6.8–7.8 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 8–20 dGH | 8–18 dGH |
| Adult size | 2" | 0.8" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 10 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: A larger tank · GH remineraliser
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Design a tank with Guppy, Cardinal Shrimp →Everything compatible with Guppy · …with Cardinal Shrimp