Can Flash Pleco (L204) live with Black Rose Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Flash Pleco (L204) is not on the verified shrimp-safe list, so we will not recommend it over a breeding Black Rose 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.
- Flash Pleco (L204) is much larger than Black Rose Shrimp but is not a shrimp hunter — it may take a shrimplet or clean up a moult. Adults are safe with cover.
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 6–7.5 dGH.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–75°F and pH 6.5–7.6 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Flash Pleco (L204) | Black Rose Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 65–75°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.6 | 6.5–7.8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–7.5 dGH | 6–15 dGH |
| Adult size | 20" | 1.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 125 gal | 10 gal |
Together, plan on at least 125 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
Where to buy
- Black Rose 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 Flash Pleco (L204), Black Rose Shrimp →Everything compatible with Flash Pleco (L204) · …with Black Rose Shrimp