The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Freshwater Shrimp Keeping – With Trusted Products from The Shrimp Farm

Keeping freshwater shrimp is one of the most rewarding hobbies in the aquarium world. Whether you’re drawn to their vibrant colors, their peaceful nature, or their ability to keep your tank clean, shrimp are a fantastic addition to any freshwater setup. If you’re new to shrimp keeping, this guide will walk you through everything you need to get started—plus we’ll share where to find high-quality supplies and shrimp from our trusted affiliate, The Shrimp Farm.

Why Keep Freshwater Shrimp?

Freshwater shrimp like Cherry Shrimp and Amano Shrimp are peaceful, beautiful, and surprisingly low-maintenance. They’re perfect for small tanks, and their algae-eating habits help keep your aquarium clean. Best of all, watching them graze and explore is both relaxing and fascinating.

Best Shrimp for Beginners

Here are some beginner-friendly species to consider:

Cherry Shrimp – Hardy, colorful, and easy to breed. A great first choice.
Amano Shrimp – Excellent algae eaters and a little larger.
Ghost Shrimp – Inexpensive and easy to care for. Great for learning.

👉 Find these species and more at The Shrimp Farm.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

To set up your shrimp tank, you’ll need:

A 5 to 10-gallon tank
A gentle sponge filter (won’t suck up baby shrimp)
Aquarium-safe substrate like Fluval Stratum or eco-complete
Live plants: Java Moss, Anubias, Hornwort
A heater (if your room temp drops below 68°F)
Test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH
Shrimp-safe food and minerals

Setting Up Your Shrimp Tank

Here’s a quick step-by-step setup:

Rinse substrate and add it to your tank.
Fill with dechlorinated water.
Install sponge filter and heater.
Add live plants and decorations.
Let your tank cycle for 4–6 weeks (very important!).
Test water until ammonia and nitrites are at 0 and nitrates are under 40 ppm.
Acclimate your shrimp slowly—drip method is best.

Need help? The Shrimp Farm also offers guidance and care tips for every species.

Feeding and Care Tips

Shrimp love variety. Feed them:

Blanched spinach or zucchini
Shrimp-specific pellets or wafers
Occasional protein-rich treats

Avoid overfeeding! It’s one of the most common mistakes. Use a feeding dish and remove leftovers after a few hours.

🦐 Try the popular Shrimp Foods from The Shrimp Farm.

Where to Buy Shrimp and Supplies

When you’re ready to start your shrimp-keeping journey, we recommend shopping at The Shrimp Farm. They’re a trusted source for:

Live freshwater shrimp
Aquarium plants
Equipment and food
Care resources and expert advice

We proudly partner with them to bring you quality and reliability—every purchase you make through our affiliate links supports Adassa Store at no extra cost to you. 🫶

Let’s Get Shrimpin’!

If you’ve been thinking about diving into the world of freshwater shrimp, there’s no better time to start. We hope this guide gives you the confidence and clarity to begin. Questions? Drop them in the comments—we’d love to see what you create!

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Adassa Store may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you.