Do Cherry Shrimps Need A Filter? – What You Should Know

For various cherry shrimp owners around the world (whether they’re owning a jarrarium or aquarium), one question when it comes to raising these little critters is…

“Do cherry shrimps need a filter to survive?”

To answer your question – no, cherry shrimps do not require a filter. This only applies to certain circumstances, though.

In this article “Do Cherry Shrimps Need A Filter,” you will learn:

  • a quick summary of the cherry shrimp
  • situations when they need a filter
  • conditions for maintaining cherry shrimps

For specific topics for cherry shrimps/filters, you can check out the table of content below.

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Learning About The Cherry Shrimp

do cherry shrimps need a filter
DesignNPrint | Pixabay

The cherry shrimp happens to be the most popular invertebrate creature to be found in and around Taiwan.

It is of course exported all across the world, and graded according to their quality.

Due to its vibrant color, it is very easy on the eyes, and particularly popular amongst people that keep their aquariums in their houses.

The cherry shrimp happens to be quite peaceful and has the wonderful capabilities of consuming algae in large quantities.

Quick Summary

  • most popular invertebrate
  • exported all over the world
  • popular aquarium pet
  • peaceful pets
  • loves eating algae

They’re Your Aquarium Janitors

For aquarists that have a lot of experience, cherry shrimps are something that they normally keep in their aquarium for the cleanup process.

However, they are much more than just the cleanup crew; cherry shrimps are known to add a lot of colors and are pretty low maintenance come back to any other fish that you find in the market.

Couleur | Pixabay

Amongst other things, you would find that although the name cherry shrimp signifies a red coloration, they can be found in a wide range of colors.

They are pretty active during the day as well as night without any issues about grazing for long periods of time on, algae, moss, and other substrates in the aquarium.

Quick Summary

  • used for cleaning up aquariums
  • colorful
  • low maintenance
  • active

Conditions For Maintaining Cherry Shrimps

With the inclusion of cherry shrimps in the aquarium, you must take the endeavor of trying to emulate their natural conditions in order to make it a less stressful experience for them.

They generally thrive in aquariums that are very densely planted, have a lot of hidden crevices, and also plants and debris that they can consume on a regular basis.

Did you know?

Moss is a very essential ingredient in the aquarium, particularly when you have cherry shrimps.

These creatures use the moss in order to groom themselves while hiding within the foliage when they feel stressed. 

For substrate, you may use any kind of small pebbles so as to replicate the normal water body flooring that they are accustomed to.

Generally speaking, a heater is not necessary for keeping cherry shrimps in the aquarium.

However, if you want to maintain an even temperature, using a heater makes the job easier for you.


Using Filters For Cherry Shrimps

Now, the most important part of maintaining cherry shrimps is the use of the filter. 

One of the most common problems associated with filters of today is that it is very powerful, and your cherry shrimp can very easily be sucked inside the filter.

To prevent these kinds of accidents from happening, making use of a sponge filter is imperative.

This will ensure that the filters do not suck the cherry shrimp while going about oxygenating the water, which is a necessary part for the cherry shrimp to survive on. 

In natural surroundings – the cherry shrimps will make use of the aquatic plants for oxygenation, but in an artificial enclosure like the aquarium, the density of water plants, as opposed to the carrying capacity of the aquarium, does not make it a viable option.

This is the reason why a filter becomes an important addition to your aquarium if you would like to keep cherry shrimps.


Do Cherry Shrimps Need A Filter?

After all, cherry shrimps aren’t required to have a filter if your ecosystem has a decent moss to cherry shrimp ratio.

Why moss?

The reason why moss would be a great alternative to a filter is that they can eliminate many negative things that can cause harm to an ecosystem.

You can check out the Marimo moss ball that I recently wrote about.

This might be a great addition to your tank!


FAQ Related To Cherry Shrimps/Filters

Below are the frequently asked questions when it comes to cherry shrimps and filters!

If you have any questions that are not here, feel free to comment right below this article.

Can cherry shrimp survive without a filter?

Cherry shrimp can survive without a filter only if you have other aquatic creatures that can replace the spot of a filter.

Do cherry shrimps clean the tank you place them in?

Yes, most vivarium owners use cherry shrimps to help clean the tank. Cherry shrimps are known for consuming algae and other unnecessary things in an ecosystem.

Do cherry shrimps breed easily?

Cherry shrimps are quite tolerant when it comes to raising them. Aside from that – they are not difficult to breed.

Do cherry shrimps eat brown algae?

To give you an idea, cherry shrimps are opportunistic aquatic creatures. They will consume anything that’s small enough for them. So yes, cherry shrimps will try to consume brown algae if given the chance.


From VivariumTips,

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During the process of planning your cherry shrimps’ ecosystem, I highly suggest that you create a list of what will be living with your cherry shrimps.

By knowing this, you will be able to find out whether you will need a filter or not.

Moss is also a great alternative. Find out what works best for you!

For more cherry shrimp-related articles, you might find these interesting/helpful:

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