Amano Shrimp vs Cherry Shrimp: Which Should You Get?
Amano shrimp vs cherry shrimp compared: size, algae eating, breeding, water parameters, tank mates and price, plus whether you can keep both together.
Photo: MdE, CC BY-SA 3.0 DEIn this guide
Short answer: get Amano shrimp if you mainly want an algae eater or need shrimp that are big enough to live with fish. Get cherry shrimp if you want a colorful colony that breeds in your tank. They need similar water and do well together, so many keepers have both.
Side-by-side comparison
| Amano shrimp | Cherry shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Caridina multidentata | Neocaridina davidi |
| Size | Typically 2.5–3.5 cm; large females up to about 5 cm | About 2–3 cm |
| Color | Clear grey-green with rows of dots | Red, plus many color variants |
| Algae eating | Excellent, including hair algae | Good on soft algae and biofilm |
| Breeds in freshwater? | No, larvae need salt water | Yes, easily |
| Temperature | 18–28 °C (64–82 °F) | About 18–27 °C (65–80 °F) |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 6.5–8.0 |
| With small fish | Usually safe because of size | Babies often get eaten |
Size and appearance
Amano shrimp are clearly bigger. Wikipedia gives a typical 2.5–3.5 cm, and larger females are often reported at around 5 cm. Cherry shrimp stay at about 2–3 cm. Amanos are translucent with dots and dashes along their sides; cherries come in red and many bred colors like blue, yellow and orange.
Algae eating
Both eat algae, but Amanos eat more of it, including tougher hair algae, simply because they’re larger and graze constantly. Cherry shrimp mostly clean soft algae and biofilm.
Breeding
This is the biggest difference.
- Cherry shrimp breed easily in a home tank. A small group can grow into a large colony. See our cherry shrimp breeding guide.
- Amano shrimp carry eggs, but the larvae drift to the sea in the wild and need salt water to develop. In a normal freshwater tank, the babies don’t survive. Your Amano group stays the size you bought.
Water and care
Their water needs overlap well: neutral pH, moderate hardness, stable temperature and a fully cycled tank. Use our Water Parameter Checker to see if your water suits both.
Tank mates
Because they’re bigger, Amano shrimp are usually safer with small fish and are a common choice for betta tanks. Cherry shrimp adults often survive with peaceful fish, but their babies get eaten. Read can cherry shrimp live with betta fish.
Can you keep Amano and cherry shrimp together?
Yes. They don’t harm each other and they like the same water. Two small things to know:
- Amanos are bold eaters and will grab food first. Spread food in a few spots so cherries get some too.
- They can’t crossbreed. Cherries keep breeding; Amanos don’t.
Which one should you choose?
| Your goal | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Clean up algae | Amano |
| A colorful colony that grows by itself | Cherry |
| Shrimp in a tank with small fish or a betta | Amano |
| A first shrimp-only nano tank | Cherry |
| Both algae control and breeding | Keep both |
More detail in our Amano shrimp care guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are Amano shrimp better than cherry shrimp?
For algae control, yes. For breeding and color, cherry shrimp are better.
Do Amano shrimp eat cherry shrimp?
No. Amano shrimp are peaceful and don’t hunt other shrimp.
Which is easier to keep?
Both are hardy. Cherry shrimp are slightly easier for a first shrimp tank because they’re cheap and breed, which makes up for losses while you learn.
