Shrimp Habitat in an Aquarium

Shrimp can be a colorful and unique addition to many fish aquariums, adding variety to the species in the waters. However, before introducing these crustaceans to your tank, you'll need to set up a habitat where the animals can survive and flourish. Shrimp have many specific habitat requirements needed to make a healthy environment.

  1. Tank

    • When raising shrimp as pets, keep them in a small tank for better management. Many shrimp enthusiasts will raise their shrimp in a 10-gallon aquarium. These smaller environments make it easy to observe the creatures. It is also more accessible when you need to capture and remove the shrimp. Just be careful not to overpopulate the aquarium and always keep less than 100 shrimp in a 10-gallon aquarium.

    Equipment

    • Your aquarium's equipment will help maintain a healthy habitat for the shrimp. Every shrimp has a different pH need in the water, so use a substrate that will buffer the water to the animal's needed level. The tank's filter is also an important selection, as some designs will suck the shrimp inside. Many shrimp enthusiasts prefer a sponge filter, which won't harm the shrimp but will still filter the water.

    Plants

    • Your shrimp will need some type of vegetation for a healthy aquarium habitat. Moss, stemmed plants and rhizome plants are all fitting for a shrimp environment. This vegetation will remove harmful nutrients from the waters, while also providing cover for the shrimp. Additionally, plants will hold micro-bacterial organisms that the shrimp and their young can eat.

    Water Parameters

    • Shrimp are fragile creatures and need a stable water parameter to create a healthy habitat. Try to keep the pH level of the tank between 6.5 and 8.0, depending on your breed of shrimp's needs. Also, the temperature should sit between 70 and 80 degrees. Most importantly, you must keep these parameters stable. A sudden fluctuation can kill the entire shrimp population in the tank.

    Tank Mates

    • To create a healthy habitat for your shrimp, you'll need to ensure there aren't predators in the tank that will eat them or cause them extreme stress. Any fish or creature that can fit a shrimp in its mouth will probably eat it, so avoid putting large animals in the shrimp tank. Those serious about raising shrimp shouldn't put any other animals in the aquarium at all.