The popularity of keeping shrimp tanks is sky rocketing right now and although shrimp tanks have been increasing in popularity over the last couple of years, the recent viral shrimp tanks on social media have pushed various setups into the spotlight.
We already have an article going over our 1 gallon shrimp tank guide but we have noticed more and more people specifically asking about keeping a 2 gallon shrimp tank recently.
Due to this, we have decided to publish this article going over what we would recommend for anyone looking to setup a 2 gallon shrimp tank, no matter your level of experience.
We also have an article going over 9 tops for keeping shrimp in an aquarium that you may find helpful. If you are specifically looking to go with a 2 gallon shrimp tank though, you have found the right article to get the job done.
Can You Put Shrimp In A 2 Gallon Tank?
The 2 gallon shrimp tank is going to be one of the smallest tanks that you can keep shrimp in and have them thrive.
This does not mean that it automatically means your shrimp are going to die if you do not have at least 2 gallons though as the 1 gallon shrimp tank is the most popular setup right now by far.
If you follow our care guide below, you should be able to set up a 2 gallon tank successfully without issue and keep a wide range of different types of shrimp in there without issue.
In our opinion, even though the 2 gallon shrimp tank setup costs a little more, we feel that it is the more forgiving entry level tank size that is often the best choice for many beginners due to water parameters being easier to maintain.
What Species Of Shrimp Can You Keep In A 2 Gallon Tank?
Most of the neocaridina shrimp types work very well in a 2 gallon tank as they are smaller than most of the caridina shrimp types but you can still keep some types of caridina shrimp in a 2 gallon shrimp tank.
The majority of people who keep shrimp tanks tend to keep cherry shrimp, neon yellow shrimp, or blue shrimp in their tanks though due to the bright colors looking great.
The best thing about those three types of neocaridina shrimp is that all three are cheap, beginner friendly, and will usually breed fast enough to create a self-sufficient shrimp tank. Although we wouldn’t recommend it, you can usually mix most types of neocaridina shrimp in the same tank without issue too.
The same can’t be said about mixing neocaridina with caridina shrimp types though.
As we covered in our article on keeping amano shrimp with cherry shrimp, the larger amano shrimp will often dominate a tank that has neocaridina shrimp in them with the amano shrimp often being able to eat all of the neocaridina within days.
How Many Shrimp Can I Have In A 2 Gallon Tank?
We would not recommend putting more than 10-12 shrimp in a 2 gallon tank as shrimp are very active and need a lot of space to move around freely.
If you want to keep more than 12 shrimp, we would recommend that you either upgrade your 2 gallon tank to something larger or setup 2 separate 2 gallon tanks instead so the shrimp have plenty of room.
That said though, the size of your shrimp will come into play and larger shrimp like amano shrimp will need more space per shrimp so you wont be able to keep as many in as something like a tiny cherry shrimp.
If you are a beginner shrimp keeper and looking to set up your very first shrimp tank then we would recommend that you stick with the neocaridinas and go with cherry shrimp, neon yellow shrimp, or blue shrimp as you are able to keep more of them in the tank with the shrimp also being easier to keep.
Does A 2 Gallon Shrimp Tank Need Hiding Spaces?
Shrimp love to have places that they can hide away and feel safe so we would highly recommend that you try to provide plenty of hiding spaces for your shrimp in a 2 gallon tank.
Aquarium plants are going to be the best way to do this but if you cannot get live plants then artificial plants work just as well.
You may also want to try some cholla wood or even some ceramic shrimp tubes as they are great shrimp hides too. Most people will usually just stick to some type of plant or potentially a rock though.
Please note that just because your 2 gallon shrimp tank is safe for your shrimp and free from predators, your shrimp don’t know this.
They still think that every time they come out from their hiding spots, they could be eaten so by providing lots of places for them to hide, you will help to reduce stress levels which is very important for shrimp health.
Are 2 Gallon Shrimp Tanks Easy To Setup?
2 gallon shrimp tanks are very easy to setup as long as you have a reasonably sized aquarium and some basic equipment. The only thing that you really need to worry about when setting up a 2 gallon tank is making sure that your filter and heater are properly sized for the tank.
Other than that, the process for setting up a 2 gallon shrimp is very beginner friendly and the vast majority of people who are brand new to shrimp keeping should be able to do it without issue.
The best part about a 2 gallon tank is that they are cheap and easy to find a place in your home to keep them due to their small size.
Do 2 Gallon Shrimp Tanks Need A Filter?
Most types of shrimp will do better if they have a filter in their tank and setting a 2 gallon tank up with a filter will usually be the easier option for beginners even though it can be a pain to house the filter.
That said though, we do have a full guide on how to setup a no filter shrimp tank that you may find helpful too.
There are a number of new micro filters on the market now that are very small and designed for use in nano tanks so finding a filter for your 2 gallon tank should not be too hard. Just make sure that you get a filter that is rated for 2 gallons or less but these nano filters do tend to be more expensive than the older style filters.
What Container Can You Use As A 2 Gallon Shrimp Tank?
You can use a number of different types of containers as 2 gallon shrimp tanks but the two most popular options are going to be the standard 2 gallon aquarium or a 2 gallon buckets. 2 gallon aquariums are going to be the better option for beginners as they come with all of the necessary equipment and can be found very cheaply with many local fish stores carrying them as standard now due to the popularity of fish keeping.
We also have guides going over how to setup a planted shrimp bowl as well as a shrimp biorb that you can use too. It is usually very easy to find a 2 gallon bowl but a 2 gallon biorb can be difficult. In reality though, any 2 gallon glass or prospects container that is water tight and non-toxic can work as a 2 gallon shrimp tank.
As the popularity of shrimp tanks continues to keep growing at a rapid pace, we expect more and more companies to start selling shrimp tank kits. Although there are a number 1 gallon tank kits on the market now, we hope that the 2 gallon kits will be released soon where everything comes in the box needed to set the tank up and run it to keep your shrimp safe and let them thrive.
Can You Breed Shrimp In A 2 Gallon Shrimp Tank?
While you can technically breed shrimp in 2 gallon shrimp tanks, it is not something that we would recommend to beginners or people who are new to breeding shrimp. 2 gallons is just too small of a water volume to try and breed shrimp in as you will quickly end up overstocking your tank.
You have to remember that a 2 gallon shrimp tank is very close to the bottom end of the suitable shrimp tank sizes and is not suitable for constant breeding. If you are looking to breed shrimp constantly then a cheap, 10 gallon tank is probably going to be the minimum option for a shrimp breeding tank.
That said, you can use a 2 gallon shrimp tank to breed shrimp to then transfer into your main community tank if you wish. This is becoming a popular option for people who keep a number of aquarium tanks with fish species that are too small to eat adult shrimp but large enough to eat the baby shrimplets.
Keeping a separate, small shrimp breeding tank like a 2 gallon or even 1 gallon tank allows them to breed their shrimp safely and then manage the population as required by transferring shrimp to their other tanks when needed.
Please note that the neocaridina genus of shrimp can all interbreed with each other so we don’t usually recommend that you mix the shrimp types if possible. Just choose cherry shrimp, neon yellow shrimp, or blue shrimp and stick to it because as we covered in our article on letting neon yellow and cherry shrimp breed, the offspring of the type types of shrimp don’t keep their bright colors and will usually revert back to their brown color.
If you breed cherry shrimp with cherry shrimp or neon yellows with neon yellows then there is a very high chance that the baby shrimplets will keep the bright colors of their parents.
Can You Put Fish Into A 2 Gallon Shrimp Tank?
While you can technically put fish into a 2 gallon shrimp tank, it is not something that is recommended as 2 gallons is just too small of a water volume to try and keep fish in. The fish can also eat your shrimp which is another reason why it is not recommended to keep fish in with your shrimp.
If you are looking to keep fish then we would recommend going for a minimum of a 10 gallon tank as this will give you enough room to add a few different fish species into the tank. A decent 10 gallon tank setup allows you to keep a number of different shrimp with a range of fish with minimal issues.
One pairing that is very popular right now is keeping killifish with shrimp and this can work very well provided you go with something like the clown killifish that is small and usually friendly. The larger species of killifish will usually eat your shrimp though.
Other small fish species such as guppies and tetras tend to be find with shrimp in their tank too. Even some betta fish kept in a 10 gallon tank or larger will be fine with having shrimp in their tanks if you are looking to mix shrimp and fish in a single tank.
Are 2 Gallon Shrimp Tanks Easy For Beginners?
2 gallon shrimp tanks are beginner friendly because they are small and easy to set up. They also don’t require a lot of maintenance, which makes them ideal for people who are new to keeping shrimp. They are also very cheap compared to some of the larger tanks too making them perfect for anyone on a budget who wants to try their hand at shrimp keeping.
The various neocaridina that tend to be the more beginner friendly shrimp also tend to do well in these smaller 2 gallon tanks too. So if you are looking for a cheap way to get started with shrimp keeping then a 2 gallon tank is going to be the perfect option for you.
Just remember that you will need to do regular water changes, at least once a week, and keep an eye on your shrimp as they can be very sensitive to changes in their environment.
