Can Cherry Shrimp Survive in Cold Water?

Last Updated on December 14, 2021 by cmoarz

Are cherry shrimp cold water tolerant? Can cherry shrimp survive in cold water or do they need a heater? These are important questions for a new shrimp owner to ask, and so this article will get into the important bits you need to know about what temperature you should keep your shrimp tank at.

How Cold Can Cherry Shrimp Survive 

What temperature can cherry shrimp tolerate? These shrimp can tolerate temperatures as low as 40F for a short period of time. 40F-50F they will survive longer periods but won’t be as comfortable, 50f-59f they will be able to survive but they won’t breed.

Anything under 68f will cause your shrimp to become inactive for the most part.

Between 68F and 82F is the ideal temperature for cherry shrimp, as this is when they will be the most active, and breeding will be most successful.

Anything below 68F or above 82F can start to have negative effects on your shrimp, so it’s important to keep an eye on the temperature in your tank.

So these extreme little shrimp can survive quite low temperatures. Their versatility in the cold is fantastic, however, if you want your shrimp to live its best life, you should add a heater and keep the temp stable between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

A bigger enemy than a constantly low temperature is a temperature that swings wildly. These abrupt moments of cold and warm are very hard on your shrimp and can cause stress and death so it’s best to keep the temperatures stable.

What Shrimp Can Live in Cold Water?

Most aquarium shrimp species can adapt to cold water just fine. Cherry shrimp, red cherry shrimp, crystal red shrimp, tiger shrimp, and ghost shrimp can all live in cold water as long as they’re not exposed to it for too long at a time.

But they prefer a more tropical setup, with temperatures closer to 82F. In fact, The issue with shrimp is their genetics vary by so much between species and within a species based on their locale, that it’s tough to make a sweeping statement about all shrimp.

Different types of shrimp from different parts of the world have evolved to withstand different conditions. So as a general rule, most shrimps can live in cold water, but some will do better than others.

So if you’re looking for a shrimp that has a higher tolerance for lower waters, you will have to look at each species individually.

Wild-caught shrimp are also much more tolerant of cold. Some of these shrimp live 600 meters below the surface in frigid arctic conditions.

Whether you can put these into an aquarium is another question entirely.

Some of these shrimp are difficult to breed in the aquarium, and they’re often caught for food. So finding a reliable supplier can be tough, but it’s also why wild-caught shrimp are so expensive.

Do cherry shrimp need a heater?

The name of the game when it comes to keeping shrimp alive in an aquarium is stability. Temperature is an important factor too, But shrimp can live in a wide temperature range.

Heaters give the stability that is needed to keep your shrimp healthy. A heater is not necessary for a tank that has a temperature that ranges from 68F-82F. However, if you live in an area where the temperature drops below 68F, you will need to add a heater to your tank.

In some places in the world (like where I live right now), the indoor temperature and subsequently, the aquarium temperature, if left unchecked, can fluctuate 5-10 degrees up or down on any given day between night cold and day heat.

These fluctuations can be extremely hazardous for shrimp and can cause death in a short period of time.

A heater will help to stabilize the temperature in your tank so that your shrimp can live a long and healthy life.

So, should you get a heater for your cherry shrimp? The answer is yes if the temperature in your area falls below 68 degrees Fahrenheit or if you find it bounces up and down a lot and you need more temp stability in your tank.