Can Hengel's Rasbora live with Cardinal Shrimp?
Light caution
Why
- Adult Cardinal Shrimp are safe with Hengel's Rasbora, but it will take newly hatched shrimplets. Give the colony a thick mat of moss and let it reach 30-50 adults before adding fish, and it will still grow — just slower.
- Hengel's Rasbora 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.
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 8–10 dGH.
Sweet spot: both do well at 79–82°F and pH 7.5–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Hengel's Rasbora | Cardinal Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 73–82°F | 79–84°F |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–10 dGH | 8–18 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.2" | 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: GH remineraliser
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Design a tank with Hengel's Rasbora, Cardinal Shrimp →Everything compatible with Hengel's Rasbora · …with Cardinal Shrimp