Pete's Aquatics checklist

Cherry Shrimp Setup Checklist

A practical setup sheet for keeping Neocaridina shrimp stable: tank size, cycling, filter safety, water targets, first foods, and the first month of maintenance.

Print or save as PDF Open 10-gallon shrimp gear preset

Before You Buy Shrimp

  1. Choose a fully cycled freshwater tank, ideally 5 gallons or larger.
  2. Use gentle filtration: sponge filter, pre-filter sponge, or another shrimp-safe intake guard.
  3. Confirm ammonia is 0 ppm, nitrite is 0 ppm, and nitrate is controlled.
  4. Keep temperature stable before ordering shrimp.
  5. Have liquid test kits ready before livestock arrives.

Starter Targets

Item Practical target Why it matters
Tank size 5-10 gallons for a starter colony More water volume gives beginners more stability.
Ammonia / nitrite 0 ppm Shrimp do poorly in unstable new tanks.
Nitrate Low and steady Use water changes and plants to avoid creeping stress.
GH / KH Stable and matched to your shrimp source Molting problems often start with unstable minerals.
Food Small amounts, removed if uneaten Overfeeding can foul water faster than beginners expect.

First 30 Days

  1. Drip acclimate new shrimp slowly.
  2. Keep lights and feeding modest for the first week.
  3. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, GH, KH, and pH after arrival.
  4. Watch for hiding, failed molts, dead shrimp, or sudden surface behavior.
  5. Feed tiny portions and let biofilm, leaf litter, and mature surfaces do some work.
  6. Make small water changes when needed, matching temperature and minerals.

Common Setup Mistakes

  • Adding shrimp to a tank that is only a few days old.
  • Using an unguarded filter intake.
  • Changing too much water at once with mismatched parameters.
  • Overfeeding because shrimp look active around food.
  • Mixing very different Neocaridina colors if you want the colony color to stay strong.

This checklist is general beginner guidance, not a claim that every tank or shrimp source uses the same mineral targets. Match your setup to the shrimp you buy and adjust slowly.

Mini-Course Outline

  1. Day 1: Cycling and shrimp-safe filters.
  2. Day 2: GH, KH, pH, and why stability beats chasing perfect numbers.
  3. Day 3: Acclimation, first feeding, and first-week warning signs.
  4. Day 4: Molting, minerals, and troubleshooting deaths.
  5. Day 5: Growing a colony without overfeeding or over-cleaning.

Next Steps