Can Cardinal Shrimp live with Zebra Danio?
Caution — with care
Why
- No overlapping temperature: Cardinal Shrimp wants 79–84°F but Zebra Danio wants 64–77°F.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 7.5.
- Zebra Danio leaves adult Cardinal Shrimp alone but eats the babies — the colony survives with plenty of cover.
Side-by-side
| Cardinal Shrimp | Zebra Danio | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 79–84°F | 64–77°F |
| pH | 7.5–8.5 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 8–18 dGH | 5–19 dGH |
| Adult size | 0.8" | 2" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 15 gal | 10 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: An adjustable heater → Chewy
Where to buy
- Cardinal Shrimp: buy at Flip Aquatics · Flip Aquatics live-arrival guarantee
- Zebra Danio: 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 Cardinal Shrimp · …with Zebra Danio