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Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Angelfish live with Cherry Shrimp?

Angelfish

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

semi-aggressive~20cm
Cherry Shrimp

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

peaceful~2.5cm
VerdictRISKY

Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.

Angelfish + Cherry Shrimp: Known incompatible pairing. Adult angelfish will pick off cherry shrimp adults and clean out shrimplets in days. A pair of angels makes a shrimp colony non-viable. Real tanks add variables Fishori cannot model; treat this as a high-risk read, not certainty.

Compatibility score

0/100

Profile confidence: low

Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.

Min tank

150L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 150L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C24–28°C shared
AngelfishCherry ShrimpShared window
pH
Range6.5–7.5 shared
AngelfishCherry ShrimpShared window
Size / predation

Angelfish (20cm adult) may treat small Cherry Shrimp (~2.5cm) as food once grown — plan adult sizes, not shop sizes.

Temperament / behaviour

Adult angelfish will pick off cherry shrimp, especially juveniles and freshly moulted adults. Heavy planting slows losses but does not turn the pairing into a reliable shrimp colony. Keepers who succeed usually accept ongoing predation or keep shrimp in a separate tank. If your goal is a breeding Neocaridina display, an angelfish is the wrong centrepiece.

Assessment details

  1. Known incompatible pairing

    Top issue

    Adult angelfish will pick off cherry shrimp adults and clean out shrimplets in days. A pair of angels makes a shrimp colony non-viable.

  2. Angelfish eats dwarf shrimp

    Angelfish hunts adult dwarf shrimp the size of Cherry Shrimp. A colony becomes live food; survivors hide permanently.

  3. Angelfish may eat Cherry Shrimp

    Angelfish (20cm) is predatory and Cherry Shrimp (2.5cm) is small enough to be eaten. This pairing is unsafe.

  4. Compatible temperature range

    Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.

“Adult angelfish will pick off cherry shrimp adults and clean…”

Known incompatible pairing

Next steps

Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.

  • •Keep cherry shrimp with small peaceful fish or in a shrimp-only tank. If you want algae help under angels, use larger amano shrimp knowing some risk remains, or skip shrimp entirely.
  • •Cherry Shrimp should be kept in a group of at least 10 for best health and behaviour.

Try instead

  • →Build a species-only tank for the larger fish, or restock with fish too large to be eaten at adult sizes.
Sources from both profiles
Only URLs that exist on the species records are shown. We do not fabricate citations.

Try this next

Build the full stocking list with Angelfish + Cherry Shrimp

Compare another pairOpen tank builder

Plan further

Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.

Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.

Profile data confidence: medium. Driven by the lower-confidence profile (Cherry Shrimp): Typical care sources — real tanks still vary.

Full tank-mate guides

Related pair checks

Angelfish + Cherry Shrimp — common questions

Can Angelfish live with Cherry Shrimp?
For most keepers, no. The verdict is RISKY because adult angelfish commonly hunt cherry shrimp. Planting reduces losses; it does not make the combination safe for a colony you care about.
What tank size do you need for Angelfish and Cherry Shrimp together?
Plan around 150 litres as the working minimum. That figure comes from each species' published minimum and their group needs, and it assumes adult sizes, not shop sizes.
What's the main risk?
Known incompatible pairing. That is the check that fails outright for this pair. The matching entry under assessment details on this page explains the reasoning and the numbers behind it.
What should you check before buying?
Cherry Shrimp should be kept in a group of at least 10 for best health and behaviour.