Can Black Rose Shrimp live with Swordtail?
Caution — with care
Why
- Swordtail 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.
- Swordtail is 3.7× the length of Black Rose Shrimp and big enough to swallow one. Some keepers get away with it in a heavily planted tank; it is a real risk.
- Swordtail will eat Black Rose Shrimp shrimplets. The colony still grows if there is moss or another dense hiding place for the babies.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–75°F and pH 7–7.8 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Black Rose Shrimp | Swordtail | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–75°F | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 | 7–8.4 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–15 dGH | 12–30 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.5" | 5.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Min tank | 10 gal | 29 gal |
Together, plan on at least 29 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.
- Add only full-grown adults — never juveniles, which will be eaten.
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 Black Rose Shrimp, Swordtail →Everything compatible with Black Rose Shrimp · …with Swordtail