Can Red Nose Shrimp live with Zebra Pleco?
Light caution
Why
- Zebra Pleco is much larger than Red Nose 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 6–6 dGH.
Sweet spot: both do well at 79–82°F and pH 7–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Red Nose Shrimp | Zebra Pleco | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 73–82°F | 79–86°F |
| pH | 7–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–15 dGH | 2–6 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.5" | 3.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 20 gal | 30 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 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
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Red Nose Shrimp, Zebra Pleco →Everything compatible with Red Nose Shrimp · …with Zebra Pleco