What tank size does a Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp need?

A Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp needs an aquarium of at least 20 litres (5.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 30 cm (11.8 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp need?

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp does best at 25–30 °C (77–86 °F), pH 7.3–8.5 and a general hardness of 4–12 °dGH.

What group size does a Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp need?

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp is a social species — keep a group of at least 10 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp suitable for beginners?

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.

Species library

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp

Caridina dennerli

Atyidae

InvertsDifficulty: ●●●●○Data: well-established

📷 Kai Löhr (kai_pirinha) · CC BY 4.0 · resized · iNaturalist

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp — Caridina dennerli — 📷 Kai Löhr (kai_pirinha) · CC BY 4.0 · resized · iNaturalist

About

The Sulawesi cardinal shrimp is a small, striking dwarf shrimp endemic to the ancient lakes of Sulawesi, Indonesia, prized for its deep crimson body dotted with brilliant white spots and white-tipped legs. Utterly peaceful, it defies the usual soft-water shrimp rulebook: it demands warm, hard, alkaline water and a stable, mature biotope, making it a rewarding project for experienced keepers only.

Care

Keep in a dedicated, mature Sulawesi biotope with warm (27-29 C), hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.2) and rock-solid stability. Highly sensitive to copper and to any swing in temperature or parameters.

Diet

Omnivorous grazer that feeds on biofilm, algae and detritus across rock and substrate. Supplement lightly with fine powdered shrimp foods and a touch of spirulina; never overfeed a Sulawesi tank.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Saddle and berryStrong · at 12–18 mm body length — under 10 mm nothing shows
The ovaries show through the shell behind the head as a pale yellow or green patch shaped like a saddle. Those are unfertilised eggs, and their appearance is what tells you she is mature. Once she is carrying, they move under the tail and are fanned by her swimmerets.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp need?: A Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp needs an aquarium of at least 20 litres (5.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 30 cm (11.8 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp need?: Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp does best at 25–30 °C (77–86 °F), pH 7.3–8.5 and a general hardness of 4–12 °dGH.
What group size does a Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp need?: Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp is a social species — keep a group of at least 10 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp suitable for beginners?: Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature25–30°C

Optimal temp.27–29°C

pH7.3–8.5

Hardness (GH)4–12°d

Carbonate (KH)3–10°d

Adult size2.5 cm

Min. volume≥ 20 L

Min. tank length≥ 30 cm

Group size≥ 10

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~1.5 yrs

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