Budget for an Amano and Red Cherry Shrimp Tank: The Real Cost, Item by Item
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Budget 150 to 250 euros to set up a complete 20 to 30-litre nano tank for Amano or Red Cherry shrimp, then a very light monthly upkeep cost, often under 10 euros. Most of the spending happens at setup: tank, gentle filtration, substrate and plants. The shrimp themselves cost little per animal, but their number and species change the total. A 2024 study published in Scientific Reports highlights the notable resilience of Neocaridina davidi (the Red Cherry shrimp) to imperfect water quality, which partly explains why it stays cheaper to keep than the Amano (Caridina multidentata), which demands more stable conditions. Find all our detailed budgets on the fishkeeping hub.
Contents · 5 sections
How much does the starting equipment cost?
A bare 20 to 30-litre tank with a lid runs 40 to 80 euros, a low-flow sponge filter 15 to 25 euros, and an inert or lightly active substrate 15 to 30 euros depending on the surface covered. Add a few undemanding plants (java moss, cryptocoryne) for 15 to 25 euros and a piece or two of driftwood for 10 to 20 euros. See also our guide nano shrimp tank, the essential equipment for the full item-by-item breakdown.
How different is the price between Amano and Red Cherry shrimp?
A Red Cherry usually costs 2 to 4 euros each, so a starting group of ten runs 20 to 40 euros. The Amano, larger and unable to breed in freshwater, costs more to buy, between 3 and 6 euros each, but each one is rarely repurchased since there is no breeding to hope for in a home aquarium, unlike the Red Cherry, which multiplies on its own once settled in. If you are also considering nerite snails alongside your shrimp, see our guide shrimp and nerite snails living together.
What monthly budget should you plan for upkeep?
Shrimp-specific food (pellets, blanched leaves) costs 5 to 8 euros a month for a small colony, and a gentle liquid plant fertilizer adds 2 to 3 euros. Electricity stays marginal on such a small volume. Water tests and the occasional replacement of filter media are the main variable cost, best spread across the year rather than tracked month by month.
Can you cut the bill without sacrificing their health?
Choosing Red Cherry over Amano lowers both the initial purchase cost and the long-term cost, since they breed and replenish the population for free. Skipping unnecessary heating equipment (both species tolerate normal indoor room temperature) and picking a basic LED light over a high-end system also trims the bill, without taking anything away from the shrimp's wellbeing.
Frequently asked questions
Are Red Cherry shrimp cheaper to keep than Amano shrimp?
Yes, mainly because they breed in the aquarium and replenish their own population without extra purchases, unlike Amano shrimp.
Do you need a heater for this kind of tank?
Rarely: both species tolerate the temperature of a heated home well, between 20 and 24 °C, without a dedicated heater.
What does a nano shrimp tank really cost in total?
Budget 150 to 250 euros for the starting equipment and first shrimp, then a monthly upkeep cost of just a few euros.
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Fishkeeping universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
