Stocking Calculator
Calculate the safe number of shrimp for your tank based on size, species, and filtration capacity.
Understanding Stocking Levels
Stocking Rates by Species
Hardy species like Cherry Shrimp can handle higher densities. They're prolific breeders, so start conservative.
More sensitive species like Crystal Red need more stable parameters, which means lower density.
Exotic Sulawesi species require pristine water quality and do best in less crowded tanks.
Filtration Matters
Better filtration means more capacity to handle waste, which allows for higher stocking:
Basic biological filtration
Standard mechanical + biological
Maximum filtration capacity
Planning for Breeding
Shrimp breed readily in healthy tanks. The 3-month projection in this calculator estimates population growth based on typical breeding rates:
2.5x
Neocaridina breeding multiplier
1.8x
Caridina breeding multiplier
1.5x
Sulawesi breeding multiplier
Colony Management Tips
- Start with 50% of maximum capacity to allow for breeding growth
- Plan ahead for where excess shrimp will go (sell, give away, or set up more tanks!)
- Consider predator fish (carefully!) if you want natural population control
- Heavily planted tanks can sustain slightly higher populations
Track Your Colony Growth
Log your shrimp population over time, track berried females, and get insights into your colony's health. The ShrimpKeeper app makes colony management easy.
Download ShrimpKeeper