Last updated at 4/7/2024
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The temperature of your aquarium is dependent on the temperature where you live and the kind of fish you want to keep will be influenced by it. This might be a reason for you to worry about your Shrimps.
So, do you really need a heater for your Cherry Shrimps?
Most of the time, cherry shrimp don’t need heaters. If the temperature of the room gets too hot or cold, you may need a heater. Remember, cherry shrimps are cold-blooded invertebrates, too much fluctuation in temperature can have a great impact on them.
In this article, I will break down why you would need a heater for your cherry shrimp and which heater would be good for you. Follow along!
Cherry shrimps are a type of cold-blooded invertebrate. As a result, even minor changes in water temperature have a significant impact on them, as they are unable to regulate their body temperature in response to external demands.
Another factor to keep in mind is the type of shrimp, as some require more temperature than others.
Every shrimp has an unique ideal temperature range. The temperature may change slightly when they live in the wild, especially throughout the day and night.
As a result, these shrimp have adapted to the changing temperatures, so red cherry shrimp will feel at ease at room temperature.
On the other hand, larvae and small newborn shrimps have the least control over their body temperature.
As a result, even a small difference in temperature might have profound consequences. In most circumstances, a heater will be necessary for cherry shrimp fries.
Whether or not you need a heater for cherry shrimp depends on whether or not you can keep the room temperature at an ideal level.
There is a lot of controversy over whether shrimp require a heater or can live without one.
In truth, they’ll be alright if the tank doesn’t have a heater, but this is a bit conditional. If you’re not going to use a heater, you’ll need to make sure that the room in which the tank stays is kept at a consistent temperature.
The majority of freshwater shrimp species can survive a wide range of temperatures, and most homes will stay within these ranges, so you don’t need a heater for that.
Let’s see some temperature requirements of small shrimps and find out why:
| Shrimp species | Temperature range | Recommended temperature |
| Neocaridina shrimp | 14-29°C | 22°C |
| Caridina shrimp | 16-25°C | 22°C |
| Sulawesi shrimp | 26–31°C | 28°C |
| Ghost shrimp | 18-29°C | 23°C |
| Vampire shrimp | 24-30°C | 27°C |
Even with air conditioners or dehumidifiers running, the temperature in most rooms remains about 20°C-22°C. As a result, your red cherry shrimp should be fine with it.
However, if you want to breed shrimp, you will almost certainly require a higher aquarium temperature. You will need a suitable heater for this.
The hatching habit of cherry shrimp is also affected by the water temperature in your tank.
However, even a heater has upsides and downsides that you should be aware of. You should also select the appropriate heater for the job.
There are advantages and disadvantages of installing a heater in your shrimp tank, so do keep them in mind while making your decision.
One of the upsides of having a heater is that you won’t have to worry about the tank’s stability because the heater will keep the temperature constant.
Using a heater also makes it much easier to adjust the temperature in breeding season.
Installing a heater, on the other hand, unless it is disguised, will damage the tank’s attractiveness.
Moreover, if you have multiple tanks like me, it may be more cost-effective to keep them all in the same room and maintain the overall temperature rather than using separate heaters, which is inefficient.
Let’s list ‘em all down:
There are different types of heaters that can be used in the shrimp tanks. Let’s learn about each types of heater and find out which one will be a better option.
You may submerge the entire submersible heater system because it is completely waterproof. Submersible heaters can be installed both horizontally and vertically.
Immersible heaters, for your information, do not have a waterproof coating. As a result, the control must be above the water’s surface. Only a vertical installation is possible with an immersible heater.
The heater can be placed beneath the tank substrate.A tank substrate is a collection of materials used at the bottom of a fish tank or aquarium.It remains hidden since it is buried beneath the tank’s materials.
As a result, it has no impact on the aquarium’s aesthetics and takes up no additional room. However, the most major drawback is that you will have to dismantle a major piece of the tank in the event that the heater fails.
A filter heater is a more advanced variant of a submerged aquarium. It’s a great combination of simple access and aesthetics, thanks to the immersible and submersible tanks.
However, these are quite expensive, and many of you may not be able to purchase them.
I think for most people submersible heaters are the best choice. They are inexpensive, waterproof and can be submerged into the water. Check out my favorite submersible heater for shrimp tanks on Amazon by clicking here.
Appropriate Heater As Per Your Tank Size:
Most people keep cherry shrimp in small tanks like I do. So, if your tank is 5 gallons or below, getting a 25 watt submersible heater will be just fine for you.
Check out the table below to determine the appropriate heater for your shrimp tank:
| Heater Watts | Aquarium Size |
| 25W | 1-5 gallon |
| 50W | 5-15 gallon |
| 100W | 25-40 gallon |
| 200W | 25-40 gallon |
| 300W | 40-60 gallon |
Temperatures of 68°F to 81°F (25-27°C) should serve cherry shrimp pretty well for maintaining and breeding them, with stability being the key point.
It’s better if you can maintain the temperature all the time. If it rises and falls frequently, cherry shrimps get too stressed and start swimming fast around the aquarium.
The ideal temperature for Red Cherry Shrimp breeding is 80⁰F (just about 26⁰C). Lower temperatures have a harmful effect on these shrimps’ health, behavior, and reproduction.
However, if the temperature is within (25⁰C – 27⁰C), your cherry shrimp will breed just fine.
If you want to develop a big community of cherry shrimp, you should start at least with 10 cherry shrimp.
Ideal Water Conditions For a Cherry Shrimp:
| Temp | pH | Nitrite | Ammonia | Nitrate | Water Changes |
| ~80°F | ~6.8 | 0ppm | 0ppm | >20ppm | 30% |
Shrimp can live in cold water, yes! The majority of shrimp are found in cold water anyway. Some shrimp can survive in temperatures ranging from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.
If your tank doesn’t have live plants or a filter, you’ll definitely need an airstone to keep your shrimps alive.
No, ghost shrimp just can not survive without a heater. To survive, ghost shrimp require a temperature range of 65°–80°F (18.3°–26.6°C).
They can live without a heater, but they will not breed at lower temperatures.
Maintaining the temperature of the shrimp aquarium will be difficult when the temperature drops down to or below Zero degrees or gets too high. For a healthy life, cherry shrimp need a heater during these periods.
From my personal experience, I’d suggest you get your fish a heater. The cherry shrimp reproduction mechanism benefits from the use of a heater.
While you’re installing a heater, check and double-check so that the tank doesn’t get any hotter than it should be. And last but not least, choose the correct heater for your aquarium based on its style and size.
