Can Amano Shrimp Live With Swordtail?
Maybe, with caveats. Amano shrimp are larger and more hardy than cherry shrimp, but swordtails are large enough to prey on very small shrimp.
Why
- Amano shrimp reach 2-3 inches and are among the hardiest freshwater shrimp available. They are less likely to be eaten than smaller shrimp species.
- Temperature overlap of 72-80°F and pH overlap of 7-7.5 work for both species.
- Swordtails at 4-5 inches may eat baby shrimp and are large enough to intimidate full-grown amanos during feeding.
- Amano shrimp are nocturnal grazers that spend daylight hours hiding. Provide dense plants or rockwork for cover.
- Amano shrimp are excellent algae eaters and will not harm swordtails or their fry.
What could go wrong
Swordtails may pick off baby amano shrimp and crowd feeding shrimp during mealtimes, causing stress and poor shrimp health.
Gear for a shared tank
Sized for the 20 gallon minimum this pairing needs. Affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy through them.
AquaClear 30 Power Filter
Oversized filtration is what lets you stock two species together without water quality crashing. Rated for a tank slightly larger than the 20 gallon minimum.
Eheim Jager 150W Thermostat Heater
Holds a steady temperature inside the 72-80°F window both species need.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Keep ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in check. Two-species tanks have more bioload and less margin for error than single-species setups.
Better pairings to consider
Mystery snails or nerite snails are safer invert choices with swordtails since they cannot be eaten.
Related compatibility questions
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