Can Pygmy Rasbora live with Cardinal Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 8 dGH.
- Pygmy Rasbora leaves adult Cardinal Shrimp alone but eats the babies — the colony survives with plenty of cover.
- No overlapping pH: Pygmy Rasbora wants 5–7 but Cardinal Shrimp wants 7.5–8.5.
Side-by-side
| Pygmy Rasbora | Cardinal Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 75–82°F | 79–84°F |
| pH | 5–7 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 1–8 dGH | 8–18 dGH |
| Adult size | 0.8" | 0.8" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 5 gal | 15 gal |
Together, plan on at least 15 gallons.
How to make it work
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
- Keep a large, established shrimp colony in a heavily planted tank with moss and cover so enough survive to breed.
Sort it with: GH remineraliser → Aquarium Co-Op
Where to buy
- Pygmy Rasbora: 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 Pygmy Rasbora · …with Cardinal Shrimp