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Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Cherry Shrimp live with Pea Puffer?

Cherry Shrimp

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

peaceful~2.5cm
Pea Puffer

Pea Puffer

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

semi-aggressive~3cm
VerdictRISKY

Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.

Cherry Shrimp + Pea Puffer: Known incompatible pairing. Pea puffers are obligate micropredators and shrimp are a primary natural prey item. A cherry colony lasts days to a couple of weeks. Real tanks add variables Fishori cannot model; treat this as a high-risk read, not certainty.

Compatibility score

30/100

Profile confidence: low

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

Min tank

40L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 40L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C24–28°C shared
Cherry ShrimpPea PufferShared window
pH
Range6.5–7.5 shared
Cherry ShrimpPea PufferShared window
Temperament / behaviour

Pea puffers are obligate hunters of small invertebrates. Cherry shrimp look like food, not neighbours, including adults once the puffer is hungry enough. Heavy cover delays the outcome; it does not change the diet. Keepers who want both usually end up with a puffer tank and a separate shrimp colony.

Assessment details

  1. Known incompatible pairing

    Top issue

    Pea puffers are obligate micropredators and shrimp are a primary natural prey item. A cherry colony lasts days to a couple of weeks.

  2. Pea Puffer eats dwarf shrimp

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

  3. Compatible temperature range

    Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.

“Pea puffers are obligate micropredators and shrimp are a…”

Known incompatible pairing

Next steps

Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.

  • •Keep pea puffers with pest snails they are meant to hunt, not with ornamental shrimp. Give cherry shrimp a peaceful planted tank without small predators.
  • •Cherry Shrimp should be kept in a group of at least 10 for best health and behaviour.
  • •Pea Puffer should be kept in a group of at least 6 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 Cherry Shrimp + Pea Puffer

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

Other tank mates for Cherry Shrimp

Cherry Shrimp + Pea Puffer — common questions

Can Cherry Shrimp live with Pea Puffer?
For most keepers, no. The verdict is RISKY because pea puffers hunt small invertebrates, and cherry shrimp fit that diet. This is a feeding arrangement, not a community pairing.
What tank size do you need for Cherry Shrimp and Pea Puffer together?
Plan around 40 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. Pea Puffer should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.