Best Aquarium Plants For Shrimp [10 Pictures]

In this comprehensive guide, you will discover the best aquarium plants for shrimps! If you’re a passionate aquarium enthusiast, you probably know that creating a thriving aquatic environment for your beloved shrimp requires careful consideration of various factors.

Among these, the selection of the right aquatic plants plays a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being and happiness of your shrimps.

Whether you’re a seasoned aquarist or just starting, let’s dive in and discover the best live plants to create a perfect haven for your shrimps!

Do You Need to Have Live Plants in a Shrimp Tank?

When keeping a shrimp breeding tank, it’s advisable to introduce only a few plants that suit the size of your aquarium. This precaution ensures that you can closely observe your shrimp without any obstruction from the plants.

Despite this, incorporating a few plants into your tank can bring numerous health benefits to your shrimp and serve as excellent hiding spots for them.

Live plants play a crucial role in maintaining the water’s pH balance and oxygenating it, which promotes a healthier environment for your shrimp.

Furthermore, the presence of plant life creates a more natural habitat for the shrimp, offering them essential hiding places during their molting process. Molting is a vulnerable time for the shrimp, and having hiding spots is essential for their well-being.

One of the most significant advantages of aquatic plants is that they create biofilm, a valuable source of nutrition for the shrimp, contributing to their overall health and breeding success.

The variety of live freshwater plants available for your tank is abundant, as shrimp can thrive and breed in freshwater environments.

You have the freedom to choose between plants with roots or floating varieties, depending on your preference and the specific needs of your shrimp.

10 Best Aquarium Plants for Shrimp Tanks

1. Java Fern

Java Fern

Java Fern is a highly popular choice for shrimp tanks due to its large sprouting leaves that provide excellent hiding spots for shrimp. The best part is that it’s easy to grow in your aquarium.

These plants are versatile and can adapt to various water conditions, making them ideal for shrimp tanks.

While higher-intensity light can be used, it’s not necessary as Java Fern generally has low lighting needs. However, if you want larger leaves, using fertilizer is recommended for healthier growth.

Trim the plant if you want it to grow bigger, and ensure well-filtered water for optimal results. When planting, avoid deeply submerging the roots in the substrate; instead, you can attach them to driftwood for better results.

2. Water Wisteria

Water Wisteria

Water Wisteria is a captivating aquatic plant that enchants shrimp with its gracefully wavy leaves. It’s a versatile plant that forms lush clumps and thrives in aquariums with lower-intensity lighting setups. 

As a stem plant, Water Wisteria exhibits relentless growth, but you can maintain its size by periodically trimming the tops and replanting the cuttings. This not only keeps it in check but also fosters bushier growth. 

The care of Water Wisteria depends on your preferred size and shape. Larger plants demand more light, while a more modest-sized Wisteria can thrive in lower illumination. Additionally, this plant prefers warmer water temperatures, ranging from 74 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Cryptocoryne

Cryptocoryne

Cryptocoryne, also known as Crypts, is an aquatic plant that offers an impressive variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, giving you ample room for customization in your shrimp tank. It’s rated one of the best aquarium plants for shrimps by many aquatic farmers

Among the most popular is the Cryptocoryne Wendtii, which comes in captivating red or green varieties.

Whether you opt for the wild-looking Wendtii Crypt or the delicate pink tone of Petchiis Crypt, these plants make a beautiful addition to your shrimp tank and are relatively easy to care for.

4. Dwarf Lily

Dwarf Lily

If you have a larger shrimp tank, the Dwarf Lily, scientifically known as Nymphaea Zenkeri, is a fantastic choice. Its slow growth rate and unique appearance make it an intriguing addition.

Available in various colors, it can even produce lovely flowers when provided with the right water conditions.

However, proper planting is essential for Dwarf Lilies as the bulb should not be buried completely, as it may lead to rotting. Taking care to position the roots in the substrate and allowing time for them to anchor before introducing shrimp is crucial.

With pleasing leaves resembling arrowheads, Dwarf Lilies create an eye-catching display, and older specimens tend to fare better as they have had time to establish themselves before being placed in the water.

5. Vallisneria

Vallisneria

Vallisneria, commonly known as Vals, presents itself as a grass-like aquarium plant with long green leaves that resemble halms. These plants are an excellent choice for shrimp tanks with a significant population due to their ability to create a dense forest. 

Shrimp love to anchor themselves to objects while eating and Vallisneria provides the perfect surface for them to do so.

Additionally, if your Vallisneria thrives, it can offer shelter to a baby or small shrimp, further enhancing the natural ecosystem of the tank.

Also called Vals, these plants have a unique onion-like appearance, with crowns that produce long green foliage from their tops. Periodic trimming may be necessary to maintain their appearance and prevent overgrowth. 

6. Java Moss

Java Moss

Java Moss is a true favorite among beginner-friendly aquatic plants, highly regarded by shrimp keepers for its versatility and usefulness. 

This freshwater plant is tall enough for shrimp to hide in, providing them with security and a sense of comfort. What’s more, it doesn’t consume much space in the tank, allowing ample room for the shrimp to roam and explore.

Java Moss can be planted in the substrate, or you can attach it to various tank objects, such as driftwood or porous rocks. The moss thrives in lower levels of light, making it an easy addition to any shrimp tank.

7. Anubias

Anubias

Anubias is another highly suitable aquatic plant for shrimp tanks, offering a visually appealing display and extensive coverage. A well-known and widely available plant, Anubias is a popular choice among aquarium enthusiasts.

The plant comes in various sizes, making it adaptable to different tank setups. Care for Anubias is relatively straightforward, as it thrives in lower light levels. However, larger specimens may require slightly more light to support their growth.

The flexible water requirements of Anubias allow it to adapt to your shrimp’s preferred conditions.

When planting Anubias, it’s essential not to bury the plant too deeply in the substrate, you can also check out the best substrate for shrimp tanks. Opting to root them on driftwood or other decorative objects will promote healthier growth.

8. Pearl Weed

Pearl Weed

Pearl Weed, also known as Baby Tears, offers a versatile and visually pleasing option for your shrimp tank. With its rounded leaves and short stems, Pearl Weed is a relatively undemanding species that adds an enchanting touch to any area of your shrimp tank. 

One of the key reasons why it finds its place on this list is its fine leaves and small size, making it an ideal carpet plant. The combination of shrimp and carpet plants like Pearl Weed is a match made in aquatic heaven. 

The dense growth of the carpet provides the perfect hunting ground for shrimp to forage and explore. In such a setup, only a few fish or critters can reach any uneaten food that settles between the plants, ensuring that your shrimp will always have something to eat.

9. Christmas Moss

Christmas Moss

Christmas Moss is an excellent choice for shrimp tanks, offering a lush carpet for your pets to roam in. Like Java Moss, it’s easy to care for, making it perfect for beginner aquarium enthusiasts. 

The plant’s dense structure provides an ideal habitat for shrimp, even in smaller tanks. Regular trimming is essential to keep it in shape, and moderate light will suffice for its growth.

Planting Christmas Moss offers flexibility, allowing you to let it float or attach it to decorations in small tanks. For a larger carpet-like effect, root the moss using a substrate. 

10. Subwassertang

Subwassertang

Now, let’s talk about Subwassertang, another fantastic plant for shrimp tanks. These free-floating plants provide excellent coverage for shrimp and enrich the water column with oxygen, benefiting the overall aquarium ecosystem.

Young shrimp particularly enjoy the maze-like environment created by the floating plant.

Subwassertang prefers colder climates, but it can adapt to tropical temperatures with proper care. Although it grows slowly, using fertilizer in the water will promote its growth. While it can tolerate low light levels, providing a higher volume of light will encourage more abundant growth.

You have the option to attach Subwassertang to objects in the tank, but it’s not necessary for its growth. Depending on your preference, an attached Subwassertang presents a more organized and tidy appearance in your aquarium.

Conclusion

In conclusion, selecting the best aquarium plants for shrimps can significantly enhance the overall well-being of your aquatic ecosystem. 

These live plants for shrimps not only add beauty and a touch of nature to your tank but also provide essential benefits for the health and happiness of your shrimp community. 

From mosses and ferns to versatile stem plants and floating varieties, there’s an array of options to choose from based on your tank size, water parameters, and shrimp species.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Shrimps Eat Live Plants?

Certainly! Shrimp are indeed omnivores, which means they have a varied diet and can eat almost anything you place in their tank, including live plants. 

Do Artificial Plants Work for a Shrimp Tank?

Yes, artificial plants can work well in a shrimp tank. They provide decoration, hiding spots, and resting places for the shrimp without being eaten or uprooted. Some shrimp keepers prefer artificial plants to live plants for shrimp tanks.

Do Shrimps Like Sunlight? 

Avoid placing your tank in direct sunlight, even for a short time. Sunlight can raise the water temperature, which is harmful to shrimp as they are sensitive to temperature changes. Keep your shrimp tank in a shaded spot to maintain a stable and comfortable environment for them.

What Kills Shrimps in a Tank?

Shrimps can be killed in a tank due to poor water quality, high ammonia/nitrite levels, sudden temperature changes, aggressive tank mates, and exposure to toxins or chemicals. Proper tank maintenance and care are needed to ensure their well-being.

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