Can Pitbull Pleco live with Cardinal Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Almost no shared temperature: Pitbull Pleco wants 72–79°F and Cardinal Shrimp wants 79–84°F, so only 79°F suits both — too fine a margin to actually hold.
- Pitbull Pleco is much larger than Cardinal Shrimp but is not a shrimp hunter — it may take a shrimplet or clean up a moult. Adults are safe with cover.
- Pitbull Pleco 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 7.5–7.5.
Sweet spot: both do well at 79–79°F and pH 7.5–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Pitbull Pleco | Cardinal Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–79°F | 79–84°F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–12 dGH | 8–18 dGH |
| Adult size | 2.5" | 0.8" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 20 gal | 15 gal |
Together, plan on at least 20 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 · A larger tank
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Design a tank with Pitbull Pleco, Cardinal Shrimp →Everything compatible with Pitbull Pleco · …with Cardinal Shrimp