Cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp are the two most widely kept freshwater shrimp, and they are routinely sold side by side in the same plastic bag at the same shop. Despite that, they live in different genera, evolved different life histories, and answer different aquarium questions. This article is for the keeper choosing one over the other — or deciding to keep both.
Part of the Complete Shrimp & Snails Guide. See also Cherry Shrimp and Amano Shrimp for individual profiles.
At a Glance
| Attribute | Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) | Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 2.5–3 cm | 4–5 cm |
| Colour | Red (selected line), wild olive-brown | Translucent grey-brown with dotted side patterning |
| Origin | Taiwan, eastern Asia | Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan |
| Reproduction | Direct freshwater development | Amphidromous — larvae need salt water |
| Colony in freshwater | Yes, robust if conditions are right | No |
| Algae effectiveness | Modest — diatoms, detritus, film | Strong — hair, fuzz, soft green algae |
| Bioload per individual | Low | Modest |
| Tank minimum (for a viable group) | 20 L for a small colony | 60 L for a useful algae crew of 5+ |
| Temperature | 20–24 °C optimal | 20–26 °C, prefers cooler |
| GH / KH / pH | 6–14 / 2–8 / 6.8–7.8 | 4–12 / 1–8 / 6.5–7.8 |
| TDS | 150–350 ppm | 120–300 ppm |
| Copper tolerance | None | None |
| Typical price (UK, 2026) | £1.50–£3 each, less in bulk | £4–£8 each |
Identification
The two are unmistakable side by side. A cherry shrimp at adult size sits at the bottom of an Amano's adult length, and the colour difference is obvious — bright red versus translucent.
In juveniles, the distinction is less clear. Wild-type Neocaridina (olive-grey, the colour the strain reverts to within a few generations of unselected breeding) can resemble a small Amano. Look at the sides: Amanos show distinct rows of dotted pigmentation along the body; Neocaridina shows a more even speckle or no patterning, depending on line. The same caution applies when comparing colour lines — yellow shrimp and blue dream shrimp are both Neocaridina davidi, and crossing colour lines produces wild-type offspring within a generation or two.
The body shape also differs slightly. Amanos are more elongate and have proportionally longer walking legs, suited to an evolutionary background as a stream species that walks against current. Neocaridina are more compact, evolved for grazing slow water and pond margins.
Reproduction: The Key Practical Difference
This is the single most important fact for selecting between them:
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Cherry shrimp breed in your tank. A male and a female in mature water with cover and biofilm will produce a self-sustaining colony within months. Berried females carry 20–40 eggs under the swimmerets; shrimplets emerge as miniature adults and are immediately functional. With moderate predation pressure and consistent parameters, a colony of 10 founders becomes 100 within a year.
-
Amano shrimp do not breed in your tank. Caridina multidentata is amphidromous: females carry eggs, eggs hatch into planktonic zoea larvae, larvae require salt water to develop, and only after metamorphosis do juveniles migrate back upstream to fresh water. In an aquarium, the larvae die within 2–5 days of hatching. The only way to maintain Amanos long-term is to replace losses by purchase. Their lifespan is 2–4 years, sometimes longer in cooler water.
This means:
- For a colony tank (visual display of many shrimp), cherry is the only sensible choice.
- For an algae cleanup crew that you plan to replace as individuals age out, Amano is the standard.
- For a community tank where shrimplets would be eaten by fish anyway, the breeding difference matters less — both species function as adult-only animals in such a tank.
Algae Performance
Amanos eat what cherries do not. The classic algae problem in a planted tank — fine hair algae growing on plant edges, fuzz algae on slow-growing leaves, soft green spot algae on glass — is what Amanos were imported to solve. Five adult Amanos in a 100-litre tank visibly reduce filamentous algae within a week, often eliminating it within a month.
Cherry shrimp graze diatom film, biofilm on wood and stone, decomposing leaves, and dead plant matter. They will pick at algae but rarely eat it fast enough to outpace growth. A cherry colony in a glass aquarium with active algae will not clear it.
Neither species effectively eats black beard algae (BBA), staghorn, or established green spot — those require parameter correction. Read Algae Diagnosis and Control for the algae-side picture.
Cohabitation
The two coexist without incident. Different genera, different life strategies, no interbreeding risk. The only real friction is at feeding time: Amanos detect food fast and arrive in numbers, sometimes pushing cherries aside. The fix is simple: distribute food across multiple sites in the tank rather than dumping it in one corner.
Both species share the same copper-zero requirement and the same vulnerability to TDS swings. A tank that suits one chemically suits the other. For mineral management, reverse-osmosis water plus a remineraliser produces the most consistent results, especially in regions with hard tap water.
Common Mistakes
- Buying Amanos to "breed up" a colony. They will not. The keeper interprets the failure as parameter error and starts adjusting water, which it isn't.
- Adding cherries to a high-current tank intended for Amanos. Cherries are more flow-sensitive and prefer gentler water than a stream-evolved Amano.
- Stocking a single Amano "for algae". Amanos are visibly social. A single specimen hides constantly and eats less. Five or more is the minimum useful crew.
- Expecting cherries to clear hair algae. Wrong tool. Diagnose the algae cause and pair with Amanos.
- Buying either from a tank where dead specimens are visible. Shrimp mortality is parameter-driven and high turnover in a shop tank predicts losses in yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cherry and Amano shrimp live together?
Yes, with one caveat. Amano shrimp are noticeably larger and faster-feeding. In tanks with limited food, Amanos will outcompete cherries at feeding time, leading to slower cherry colony growth. Heavy planting and ample biofilm offset this, and the two species do not interbreed (different genera).
Why do my Amano shrimp not have babies?
Because Amanos cannot reproduce in freshwater. Caridina multidentata is amphidromous — larvae require brackish or marine water to develop. A berried female in a freshwater tank releases larvae that die within days. Self-replacing colonies in freshwater require Neocaridina or non-amphidromous Caridina.
Which is better at algae control?
Amano shrimp by a wide margin, especially for hair algae, fuzz algae, and green spot algae. Cherry shrimp graze diatom film and detritus but rarely make a visible dent in established hair algae. For dedicated algae cleanup, Amanos are unmatched; for ambient grazing in a colony tank, cherries are sufficient.
Do they need different water?
Slightly. Cherry shrimp tolerate harder, more mineralised water (GH 6–14 °dH, KH 2–8 °dH, pH 6.8–7.8). Amano shrimp tolerate a wider range and prefer cooler water in the upper range (GH 4–12 °dH, KH 1–8 °dH, pH 6.5–7.8, 20–26 °C). Both refuse copper.
Sources & References
- Werner, U. (1998). Atlas der Wirbellosen im Aquarium. Mergus Verlag.
- Lukhaup, C. & Pekny, R. (2008). Süßwassergarnelen aus aller Welt. Dähne Verlag.
- Christoffersen, M.L. (1986). Phylogenetic relationships between Oplophoridae, Atyidae, Pasiphaeidae, Alvinocarididae and Bresiliidae. Crustaceana, 51(2): 174–204.
- Yam, R.S.W. & Cai, Y. (2003). Caridina trifasciata, a new species of freshwater shrimp from Hong Kong. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 51(2): 277–282.