Can oscars live with cherry shrimp?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and cherry shrimp should not share a tank. Oscars hunt shrimp. Adult cherry shrimp will be eaten.
What to watch
- Deal breakerOscars hunt shrimp. Adult cherry shrimp will be eaten.
- Watch outOscars grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for cherry shrimp.
What works
- Both are fine at 74–80°F.
- pH 6.5–8 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, cherry shrimp the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Cherry shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 65–80 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6.5–8 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 1.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 5 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Groups of 6+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for cherry shrimp
Mystery snailYes
CorydorasYes
Kuhli loachYes
Amano shrimpYes
Celestial pearl danioYes
Endler's livebearerYes
Questions
Can oscars live with cherry shrimp?
No. Oscars and cherry shrimp should not share a tank. Oscars hunt shrimp. Adult cherry shrimp will be eaten.
What temperature suits both oscars and cherry shrimp?
74–80 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, cherry shrimp need 65–80 °F.
What size tank do oscars and cherry shrimp need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.