You’re setting up your new freshwater aquarium and it is now time to add some fish into the mix. But when it comes to choosing species that will live happily together, a lot of thought needs to go into this. You see, there are some fish that won’t pair harmoniously and this can cause stress, fighting, and even death!
Corydoras and cherry shrimp are among some of the most common animals to keep in a freshwater aquarium, especially for beginners. You may have been wondering, can corydoras and cherry shrimp live together?
The good news is that these species make excellent tank mates, for the most part. However, if your shrimp breed, which is likely, there is a chance that a few of the babies may get eaten by your corydoras. But don’t worry, shrimp breed quickly so it is unlikely to affect the overall population.
If you are planning to keep corydoras and cherry shrimp together, then there are a few things that you will need to keep in mind to ensure that the two live peacefully together.
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What Is The Natural Habitat Of Corydoras And Cherry Shrimp?
Cory catfish are pretty resilient fish that will thrive in a variety of water conditions. However, when you keep them at home, it is a good idea to have things balanced and stabilized as this will be to the benefit of the entire aquarium community.
Typically speaking, corydoras are incredibly sociable animals and often prefer to live in pairs or small groups. In these situations, you will notice that the corydoras spend most of their time in close proximity to one another.
These fish are bottom dwellers and like a decent amount of substrate as this allows them to forage for food. Moreover, they spend a lot of time in and out of plants so it is a good idea to place them in a tank where there is a lot of plant life. In addition, the corydora likes plenty of other places to explore and hide and so will thrive in an aquarium where there are lots of rocks.
Cherry shrimp are also found on the bottom of the water and will also like a thicker layer of gravel or substrate. This is one of the first things that makes them compatible with corydoras. But not only that, the cherry shrimp enjoys a lot of plant cover which is again similar to the needs of your Cory catfish. They will also enjoy rocky areas and driftwood from which they can nibble algae; something that the Cory also enjoys doing.
The pH level that is most suitable for the corydora is between 7.0 and 7.8 whereas the cherry shrimp will thrive in water with a pH between 6.8 and 7.5. While this is slightly different, there is certainly a middle ground that will be accommodating to both species and just one of the many reasons that sharing a tank is a great idea.
In terms of temperature, fish keepers will once again be able to find a happy medium for the corydora and the cherry shrimp. The latter prefers water temperatures that range between 57ºf and 86ºf which is pretty expansive. On the other hand, you will find that your corydoras like living in temperatures that remain between 72ºf and 78ºf which will be more than suitable for your cherry shrimp.
Cherry shrimp are incredibly hardy and this is what makes them so great for new aquarists. However, they are particularly sensitive to nitrates in the water so it is important to maintain excellent water quality. This bodes well for the Cory cat since these fish are very sensitive to tanks that have poor water conditions. If there are high nitrate levels within the tank, this can induce significant stress within the corydoras which can make them more prone to certain diseases.
So, Can I Keep Corydoras With Cherry Shrimp?
The short answer to this question is yes, you can keep corydoras in the same freshwater aquarium as cherry shrimp. That said, there is a lot of concern among aquarists that the corydoras will hunt out baby cherry shrimp and make a quick meal out of them.
For the most part, this isn’t the case. Of course, these are predatory fish that will hunt small insects and inverts but that doesn’t mean that your infant cherry shrimp will automatically become a target. Most people keeping the two species together don’t notice any problems and any tiny shrimp that get eaten probably haven’t yet been detected by the owners anyway. What’s more, the cherry shrimp are pretty quick once they get larger and if approached by a corydora will likely shoot away before the cat has a chance to even get a sniff.
For many fish enthusiasts, the two animals will live very well together, provided that they have the correct conditions. Which we will detail in the next section of this post.
What is very interesting is that the temperament of both of these creatures is very similar. The corydora and the cherry shrimp are both amazingly laid-back animals that don’t tend to fight or have problems with other members of the tank. They are peaceful and for the most part, will go about their business without any issues. However, both species are also very active so if you are looking for creatures that will give you lots of enjoyment through observation, then these make a good pairing.
What Is The Best Tank Setup To Keep Corydoras With Cherry Shrimp?
We have already discussed the natural habits that make for the most comfortable living conditions for your corydoras and cherry shrimp but creating the right environment for them is so important. Of course, you will need to ensure that the water parameters remain within the desired levels but there are other things you need to consider.
As we touched upon earlier, a heavily planted tank will be best for both of these species. This is because they both like to have plenty of places to hide and enjoy exploring. Moreover, since the shrimp babies may become a meal for the corydoras, having a lot of plant life will limit the number that end up being eaten.
Now, while both the cherry shrimp and the corydora is a calm animal, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be territory issues if not enough space is given.
Both of these species need their own room to thrive so it is essential that you provide them with a large enough tank. A group of 10-20 cherry shrimp should never be kept in a tank that is smaller than 5 gallons but once you start adding other fish into the mix, you’ll need to upgrade.
When it comes to the Cory catfish, the minimum tank size is considered to be 10 gallons, so when keeping the two together, it is obvious that the more spacious the aquarium, the better.
Conclusion
When you start a freshwater aquarium, choosing the right fish to pair inside it is so important. If you put species together that are aggressive, or might bully one another, you will only ever be faced with problems. But what animals work well as tank mates?
The corydora, sometimes called the Cory catfish, is one of the most popular beginner species for the freshwater tank. These animals are peaceful, interesting, and easy to care for. Pairing them with cherry shrimp may not seem like the best idea to begin with as many people are fearful that the Cory catfish will munch on the shrimp. In reality, this is not the case, and unless the shrimp are incredibly tiny, it is unlikely that they will become dinner for the Corydora.
Of course, the best thing to do is to make sure that each creature has its own space and plenty of places to hideout. This will ensure constant harmony in your aquarium.
