Amano Shrimp vs Cherry Shrimp - Which Is Best for Your Aquarium?

If you're choosing your first freshwater shrimp, you'll quickly come across two of the most popular species available in the UK: Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata) and Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi).

Both are peaceful, hardy and suitable for planted aquariums, but they serve different purposes. Amano Shrimp are famous for their outstanding algae-eating abilities, while Cherry Shrimp are loved for their bright colours and their ability to breed easily in freshwater.

This guide compares both species to help you decide which is the best choice for your aquarium.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Amano Shrimp	Red Cherry Shrimp
Difficulty	Easy	Easy
Best for	Algae control	Colour & breeding
Adult Size	5–6 cm	2–3 cm
Algae Eating	Excellent	Good
Breeds in Freshwater	No	Yes
Peaceful	Yes	Yes
Suitable for Beginners	Yes	Yes

Appearance

Amano Shrimp have a transparent grey body with rows of brown dots running along their sides. Although they aren't as colourful as Cherry Shrimp, they have an elegant, natural appearance and spend much of the day actively searching for food.

Red Cherry Shrimp are instantly recognisable thanks to their bright red colouration. Mature females often develop a much deeper red than males, making them a real feature in planted aquariums.

If you want colour, Cherry Shrimp are the clear winner.

Algae Control

When it comes to controlling algae, Amano Shrimp are difficult to beat.

They constantly graze on hair algae, biofilm and leftover food throughout the aquarium. While no shrimp will completely eliminate an algae problem, Amano Shrimp are widely regarded as one of the best natural algae-eating species available.

Cherry Shrimp also graze on soft algae and biofilm, but their smaller size means they simply can't consume as much as Amano Shrimp.

Winner: Amano Shrimp

Breeding

This is where the two species differ the most.

Red Cherry Shrimp breed readily in freshwater aquariums. In a healthy planted tank, it's common to see females carrying eggs beneath their abdomen before releasing fully formed baby shrimp a few weeks later.

Amano Shrimp also carry eggs, but their larvae require brackish water to develop successfully. As a result, they do not usually breed in freshwater aquariums.

Winner: Red Cherry Shrimp

Aquarium Size

Both species are suitable for small aquariums, but there are some differences.

Red Cherry Shrimp are ideal for nano aquariums due to their smaller adult size.

Amano Shrimp grow considerably larger and are often better suited to medium and larger planted aquariums where they have plenty of space to forage.

Compatibility

Both Amano Shrimp and Cherry Shrimp are peaceful and can be kept with small community fish such as rasboras, ember tetras, otocinclus and corydoras.

However, Amano Shrimp's larger size makes them less vulnerable to predation than Cherry Shrimp.

Whichever species you choose, plenty of mosses, plants and hiding places will help shrimp feel secure.

Which Shrimp Should You Choose?

Choose Amano Shrimp if you:

• Want the best natural algae eaters.

• Have an established planted aquarium.

• Need help controlling hair algae.

• Don't want your shrimp population to increase.

Choose Red Cherry Shrimp if you:

• Want vibrant colour.

• Enjoy watching shrimp breed.

• Are setting up your first shrimp colony.

• Have a nano aquarium.

Why Not Keep Both?

Many aquarists successfully keep Amano Shrimp and Red Cherry Shrimp together.

The Amano Shrimp provide excellent algae control, while the Cherry Shrimp add vibrant colour and can establish a breeding colony over time. As long as the aquarium is well planted and stocked with peaceful tank mates, the two species complement each other extremely well.

Our Recommendation

If you're looking for the best algae-eating shrimp, we recommend our Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata).

If you'd prefer colourful shrimp that breed easily in freshwater, our High Grade Red Cherry Shrimp are an excellent choice.

Many customers choose to keep both species together, combining the algae-eating abilities of Amano Shrimp with the vibrant colours of Cherry Shrimp for the best of both worlds.