Best Nano Tanks for Shrimp: Five Glass Picks and a Size Calculator
Updated November 2026
A 10-gallon tank is the size to start a shrimp colony in. Rare Shrimp lists room for 25 to 50 neocaridina or 15 to 25 caridina at that size, and says larger tanks keep water volume steadier. A 5-gallon suits a smaller group. The five tanks below are all glass, per their Amazon listings.
- Neocaridina2 to 5 per US gallon
- CaridinaAbout 1 to 2.5 per US gallon
- Smallest group5 to 10 shrimp
- Before the shrimpLet the tank mature a month
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Tank size and stocking calculator
Measure the inside of your tank, with the depth taken to the water line, and pick the species. The calculator returns the water volume and a shrimp stocking band from the Rare Shrimp guide.
Tank size and colony size
This table is the source behind the calculator. The numbers assume an established tank, and the guide says to start newer setups at the lower end.
| Tank size | Neocaridina | Caridina | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 gallon | 10 to 25 | 5 to 10 | Rare Shrimp stocking guide |
| 10 gallon | 25 to 50 | 15 to 25 | Rare Shrimp stocking guide |
| 20 gallon | 50 to 100 | 30 to 50 | Rare Shrimp stocking guide |
Source read on 1 November 2026: the Rare Shrimp guide to shrimp per gallon. Stocking limits depend on filtration, plants and upkeep, so treat the table as a planning range.
Why 10 gallons is the starting size
Rare Shrimp says larger tanks allow higher densities because the greater water volume is steadier. At 10 gallons the table gives room for a real colony, 25 to 50 neocaridina, without needing the discipline a 5-gallon asks for.
Two 10-gallon tanks above are listed at 20 x 10.4 x 12 in and 20 x 10 x 12.5 in. Our guide to the best sponge filter for shrimp tanks covers the filter options.
The tanks compared
Every figure here comes from the listing named in the last column. Listings state outside sizes and package lists, not measured water volume.
| Tank | Material, as listed | Size, as listed | Capacity | Includes, per listing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAQUAL 10 Gallon Rimless | Glass, 5 mm | 20 x 10.4 x 12 in | 10 gal | Covers, clips, feeding ring, tools | Amazon listing B0BP1MV2P1 |
| FZONE 10 Gal Rimless | Low-iron glass, 6 mm | 17.7 x 11.8 x 11.8 in | 10 gal | Leveling mat | Amazon listing B09XB6TG7X |
| Marina 10 Gallon LED Kit | Glass | 20 x 10 x 12.5 in | 10 gal | LED aquarium kit | Amazon listing B0173I55JM |
| LANDEN 60P Rimless | Low-iron glass, 6 mm | 23.6 x 11.8 x 14.2 in | About 16 gal | Leveling mat | Amazon listing B00DC2Z07G |
| Marina 5 Gallon LED Kit | Glass | 16 x 8.5 x 10.5 in | 5 gal | LED aquarium kit | Amazon listing B0173I55Q0 |
| Fluval SPEC 5 Gallon | Etched glass, aluminum trim | 20.5 x 7.5 x 11.6 in | 5 gal | 3-stage filtration, LED, pump | Amazon listing B0089E5VLC |
Listings read on 1 November 2026. Where a listing sells several sizes, the row names the size the card points to.
Rimless tank or all-in-one kit
A rimless tank is the glass alone. The three rimless listings above add covers, a leveling mat or tools, and leave the filter and light to you.
A kit bundles the light and a filter, which removes two purchases. The Fluval SPEC listing shows 3-stage filtration and a pump rated 55 to 80 US gal/h, so read the intake before you stock it.
Rare Shrimp says supplementary filtration such as a sponge filter can support higher stocking. If you are building from bare glass, see our aquascape from scratch guide.
Set the tank up before the shrimp
Rare Shrimp says to let the tank mature for at least a month before introducing shrimp. That gives the water, plants and surfaces time to settle before anything sensitive goes in.
Caridina are fussier. The same guide says to keep crystal reds in very stable, soft water around pH 6.0 to 6.5 with TDS below 150, and to begin with 5 to 10 in a 10-gallon tank.
Mosses and leaf litter give shrimp biofilm to graze, which Shrimp Science says makes up the majority of a shrimp diet. Our catappa leaves guide and the alder cones versus catappa page cover botanicals, and the shrimp food guide covers feeding.
Keep top-up water matched to the tank. The sourced limits are on our page about shrimp dying after a water change, and our neocaridina shrimp care guide has the species detail.
Starting a colony, six steps
| Step | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Let the tank mature | At least a month before the shrimp go in | Rare Shrimp stocking guide |
| 2. Match the top-up water | TDS within 20 ppm, temperature within 2 F, a conditioner every time | ShrimpKeepers care sheet |
| 3. Keep copper out | Read every medication and fertilizer label before it goes near the tank | Peqaboo invertebrate copper guide |
| 4. Start with a small group | 10 to 15 neocaridina in a 10 gallon tank, never fewer than 5 to 10 | Rare Shrimp stocking guide |
| 5. Stay inside the band | Use the calculator above and start at the lower end | Rare Shrimp stocking guide |
| 6. Change 10 to 15 percent a week | Slowly, the same way each time | ShrimpKeepers care sheet |
Gear that goes with the tank
These three are the extras this page used to list. The notes repeat only what each listing title says.
| Product | Role | What the listing says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQUANEAT 4 Pack Double Bio Sponge Filter | Filtration | Four filters in a pack, titled for fry, betta, shrimp and nano tanks | Amazon listing B06XZZ2BXY |
| Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum | Substrate | 4.4 lb bag, sold under the Plant and Shrimp Stratum name | Amazon listing B00JGQIY48 |
| Salty Shrimp Bee Shrimp Mineral GH+ | Remineralizer | 110 g pack, titled as a bee shrimp GH+ mineral | Amazon listing B06Y5M7CGB |
How we sourced these figures
Stocking numbers come from the Rare Shrimp guide, water change limits from the ShrimpKeepers care sheet, copper advice from Peqaboo and biofilm from Shrimp Science. Tank details come from the Amazon listings, read on 1 November 2026.
The calculator turns your measurements into volume and applies the Rare Shrimp bands. We did not set up or test any of these tanks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum tank size for shrimp?
The Rare Shrimp stocking table starts at 5 gallons, with 10 to 25 neocaridina or 5 to 10 caridina, and says larger tanks hold higher stocking because the water volume is steadier. It also recommends a group of at least 5 to 10 shrimp, which a very small tank struggles to hold.
What is the best tank for cherry shrimp specifically?
Cherry shrimp are neocaridina. Rare Shrimp lists 25 to 50 of them in 10 gallons and 50 to 100 in 20 gallons, so a 10-gallon tank gives a colony room to grow. The glass tanks in the cards above run from 5 to 16 gallons, with sizes taken from their Amazon listings.
How many shrimp can you keep per gallon?
Rare Shrimp gives 2 to 5 small shrimp per gallon for beginners in tanks under 20 gallons. Its caridina table works out to about 1 to 2.5 per gallon, since they need steadier conditions. Start at the lower end in a newer tank, and count water volume, not the label.
How long should a new tank run before the shrimp go in?
Rare Shrimp says to let a tank mature for at least a month before introducing shrimp, and to start newer setups at the lower end of its stocking ranges. A mature tank also gives the shrimp biofilm to graze, which Shrimp Science calls the majority of a shrimp diet.
