Fish & Shrimp for Planted Tanks

Not every animal sold as an algae eater actually eats algae - at least not the kind you need removed, or not for long. Shrimp, snails, otocinclus and the right plecos each do a specific job. Pick the wrong one and you've added bioload, not solved anything.

Not every peaceful fish is safe for a planted tank. Plant-safety, schooling behaviour, and water parameters are three separate gates, and the wrong pick can wreck a scape in a fortnight. Here are ten small, peaceful, plant-safe species that thrive alongside live plants, plus how to stock them without crashing the tank.

This article explains how to keep ornamental dwarf shrimp such as Neocaridina and Cardina species in a planted tank and examines how to balance the needs of both planted tanks and shrimp.