Best Plants for Shrimp Tanks: What Actually Works (From Experience)

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

I’ve kept cherry shrimp and amano shrimp in my planted freshwater tanks for years. Plants aren’t just decoration for shrimp. They are the entire ecosystem. Shrimp graze on the biofilm that forms on plant surfaces, use dense foliage as cover during the vulnerable molting window, and breed far more readily when they feel hidden and secure. Fine-leaved plants and mosses are my go-to. After a lot of trial and error across 25 years in this hobby, I’ve narrowed down what actually works in a shrimp-focused setup versus what just looks good in store photos.

A shrimp tank without plants is a shrimp tank with stressed, underfed shrimp. That’s not an opinion. That’s what I’ve watched happen every time someone tries to keep a colony in a bare or fake-plant setup.

With over 25 years of experience in the aquarium hobby, I’ve assisted countless clients, hobbyists, and readers like you in overcoming their plant choice dilemmas. I’ve personally tested these plants in real-world scenarios to determine what actually works in a shrimp tank, and what gets shrimp keepers into trouble.

What People Get Wrong About Shrimp Plants

Most shrimp keepers know they should have plants. Where they go wrong is thinking any plant, or even a fake plant, does the same job.

It doesn’t. Fake plants produce zero biofilm. Biofilm is what baby shrimp eat. It’s the thin microbial film that grows on every surface in a mature planted tank, and it’s the reason a densely planted shrimp tank produces colonies that thrive versus one with sparse decoration that produces shrimp that barely survive. The difference isn’t water parameters. It’s food availability and cover density.

The second thing people get wrong is buying plants from the fish section of a big box store and dropping them straight into a shrimp tank. Emersed-grown aquarium plants are routinely treated with pesticides during commercial cultivation. Those pesticides are safe for fish. They are not safe for shrimp. Copper in particular, even at trace levels, is lethal to invertebrates. I’ve seen people lose entire colonies within 48 hours of adding new plants they didn’t quarantine. The shrimp don’t look sick. They just die, one by one, over a few days.

The Biggest Mistake Shrimp Keepers Make With Plants

Buying untreated, non-tissue-culture plants and adding them directly to a shrimp tank is the single fastest way to wipe out a colony. This isn’t a small risk. It’s a reliable way to kill shrimp that otherwise had no problems.

If you buy plants from a store that sells fish in the same water, quarantine them first. Two weeks in a separate container with no shrimp. Treat with hydrogen peroxide or a commercial pesticide neutralizer if you want extra insurance. Or spend a few extra dollars and buy tissue culture, which is grown in sterile lab conditions and arrives pesticide-free. That’s not a premium option. For shrimp tanks, it’s the standard.

Hard Rule: Never add store-bought plants directly to a shrimp tank. Quarantine first, every time, no exceptions.

The Top Picks

For those of you in a hurry, here are the top three plants I’d recommend for any shrimp tank. If breeding is your goal, Christmas moss is the call. The branching structure is unmatched for giving baby shrimp the cover they need to survive. If you want something reliable and easy to find, Java moss wins every time. If you’re fighting nutrient issues in a lightly filtered tank, Hornwort pulls its weight like nothing else. Any of these three work great in shrimp setups.

The 15 Best Plants For Shrimp Tanks

Here are 15 of my favorite aquarium plants for your shrimp tank.

We have a video above just for you all about the topic from our YouTube channel. Our blog post goes into further detail below as well. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content, as we post new videos every week!

1. Christmas Moss

• Scientific Name: Vesicularia montagnei
• Common Name: Xmas Moss
• Origin: Tropical Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to Medium
• Growth rate: Medium to slow-growing plants
• pH: 6-8
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary but recommended 

Christmas Moss or Xmas moss is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium plants that are attractive, easy to care for, and overall an excellent addition to your shrimp tank. 

The beautiful distinctive feathery branching appearance of your Christmas Moss resembles a Christmas tree. Hence, it is commonly called Xmas Moss. I chose this plant as my top breeding recommendation because it is shrimp-friendly in every way that matters. Xmas Moss provides a great habitat for your shrimp to forage and hide in its dense foliage, allowing your shrimps to live stress-free in your aquarium. The dense foliage gives young shrimp the hiding spots they need to survive in a community tank.

It also keeps your tank well-oxygenated and clean by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, improving water quality and providing a healthier ecosystem for your shrimps. 

Lighting requirements for Christmas Moss

Ask anyone you like about the lighting requirements for Christmas Moss and you’ll receive mixed answers. Sure, Christmas Moss is an easygoing and hardy plant with great adaptability, but it still has some requirements. 

These aquatic plants can handle low light conditions. However, it is not sufficient for the growth of plants. Christmas moss thrives in high to moderate lighting with heavy branching and a compact growth rate.

Additionally, this plant grows exceptionally well when exposed to a photoperiod of 8 to 10 hours daily, mimicking the natural environment and ensuring the moss receives abundant light for photosynthesis. 

2. Java Moss

• Scientific Name: Vesicularia Dubyana
• Common Name: Java Moss
• Origin: Southeast Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to medium
• Growth rate: Slow
• pH: 6-8
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary but recommended 

Out of all the mosses, Java moss is my favorite everyday shrimp plant. It’s easy to keep, beginners can’t kill it, and it does everything a shrimp tank needs. Also, Java moss is an ideal aquarium plant for your shrimp, especially if you have young shrimp that need hiding places. The surface area this plant creates for biofilm is genuinely impressive. A good clump of java moss in the corner of a shrimp tank is like a 24/7 cafeteria for the colony.

Overall, it is one of the most versatile aquatic plants that works in smaller tanks as well. Try to maintain a temperature range of around 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) and always attach it to rocks or driftwood.

Lighting requirements for Java Moss

Java moss is an easy plant with low light requirements. It can survive very low light and yields different results depending on intensity. In low light, it grows lankier. In brighter lighting, the growth is denser, which is better for shrimp. Under high lighting, Java moss may grow algae on it, which your shrimp actually loves grazing on.

This versatility makes it excellent for every shrimp tank. 

3. Flame Moss

• Scientific Name: Taxiphyllum ‘Flame’
• Common Name: Flame moss
• Origin: South East Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low light to medium light
• Growth rate: Slow-growing plants
• pH: 6-8
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary but recommended 

Flame moss is a beautiful aquarium plant, ideal for shrimp tanks. It’s best known for its fiery flame-like appearance that brings an aesthetic appeal to any setup. 

Flame moss is a creeping plant that brings real benefits to your shrimp tank. It’s a low-maintenance, easy-to-keep plant that thrives in a wide range of water parameters with no additional lighting or carbon dioxide requirements. 

It provides hiding spots for young shrimps and other small fish, reducing stress in the aquarium. 

What I love most about Flame moss is its versatile attachment to various surfaces, including rocks, driftwood, and mesh to enhance the creative designs and overall layouts in the aquarium. 

Lighting requirements for Flame moss

Like Java moss, flame moss does not need any strong lighting to photosynthesize. It does really well in low to moderate lighting for around 8 hours a day. Avoid too much light or direct sunlight to prevent drying out or sunburn. 

4. Mini Weeping Moss

• Scientific Name: Vesicularia ferriei
• Common Name: Java Spring, Weeping Moss, 
• Origin: China
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Medium 
• Growth rate: Slow-growing plants
• pH: 5-6
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary but recommended 

If you have a nano shrimp tank, weeping moss is an excellent choice with its dense vegetation that provides great hiding spots for your shrimps. Like other plants, Weeping moss also improves and maintains the quality of water while supplying enough oxygen for your shrimp to survive. It also supports the growth of shrimps in a nano tank.

Even though Carbon dioxide is not necessary for the proper growth of this moss, it’s recommended to help the plant grow faster. Weeping moss is one of the best beginner-friendly plants for your shrimp tanks that can survive a range of conditions and still thrive. 

Lighting requirements for mini weeping moss

The lighting for weeping moss should be moderate to high because it needs enough light to grow and thrive. I suggest getting modern LED planted aquarium lights to enhance the growth of the plant. 

Along with proper lighting, quality water conditions, carbon dioxide level, food, and diet should be maintained with proper water changes to help the plant grow faster. 

5. Subwassertang

• Scientific Name: Lomariopsis Lineata
• Common Name: Süsswassertang, Loma Fern, Round Pellia
• Origin: South East Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to medium 
• Growth rate: Slow
• pH: 6-8
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary 

Many say Subwassertang is a liverwort but it’s actually a fern with a fragmented structure that resembles a liverwort. Subwassertang does not need any particular tank decorations to attach to and it forms a nice bush as the plant grows. It will happily grow as a floating plant if you prefer.

For a shrimp tank, Subwassertang is an ideal plant because it provides greater surface area than any other moss. At first, it grows slowly, but once established, it takes off. 

The best part about Subwassertang is it converts toxins and heavy metals into safe organics and creates a natural feeding ground for baby shrimps.

Lighting Requirements For Subwassertang

Subwassertang doesn’t appreciate high lighting and does pretty well in medium lighting. Medium-light allows your plant to yield more results in terms of growth and appearance. Even though it can survive low light, the growth will be slower and the appearance duller.

6. Water Wisteria

• Scientific Name: Hygrophila difformis
• Common Name: Water wisteria
• Origin: South Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Medium to high
• Growth rate: Fast
• pH: 6.5-7.5
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary but recommended 

Water Wisteria is one of the most popular and widely available aquarium plants for shrimp tanks. It’s a fast grower that does not require a lot of maintenance, making it an ideal choice for beginners.

The fine, feathery leaves of Water Wisteria create great hiding spots for your shrimps. They also provide a great surface for biofilm growth, which is an excellent source of nutrition for your shrimps.

One thing I want to flag with Water Wisteria: it’s often sold as a potted emersed plant, which means pesticide risk is real. Buy tissue culture when possible, or quarantine before adding to a shrimp tank.

Lighting requirements for Water Wisteria

Water Wisteria thrives in medium to high lighting. It requires a photoperiod of 8 to 10 hours daily to promote healthy growth. Under low lighting, it may become leggy and lose its dense, feathery appearance.

7. Java Fern

• Scientific Name: Microsorum pteropus
• Common Name: Java fern
• Origin: South East Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to medium
• Growth rate: Slow
• pH: 6-7.5
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary 

Java Fern is one of the most popular and widely available aquarium plants for shrimp tanks. It’s a slow grower that does not require a lot of maintenance, making it an ideal choice for beginners.

The broad leaves of Java Fern create great hiding spots for your shrimps. They also provide a great surface for biofilm growth, which is an excellent source of nutrition for your shrimps. Java fern is naturally unappealing to shrimp as a food source, which means your shrimp won’t damage it while grazing.

Lighting requirements for Java Fern

Java Fern thrives in low to medium lighting. It requires a photoperiod of 8 to 10 hours daily to promote healthy growth. Java Fern does not do well in high lighting, which can cause the leaves to turn brown and die. Never bury the rhizome in substrate. Tie it to driftwood or rock instead.

8. Anubias

• Scientific Name: Anubias barteri
• Common Name: Anubias, broadleaf anubias
• Origin: Central and West Africa
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to medium
• Growth rate: Slow
• pH: 6-7.5
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary 

Anubias is one of the hardiest aquarium plants you can keep. It tolerates a wide range of water parameters, needs very little light, and shrimp absolutely love grazing on the broad leaf surfaces as biofilm builds up.

Anubias is almost indestructible, which makes it perfect for low-tech shrimp setups with sponge filters and minimal lighting. Like java fern, never bury the rhizome. Attach it to hardscape.

Lighting requirements for Anubias

Anubias does best in low to moderate light. One caution: in high light, anubias is prone to algae growth on its slow-growing leaves. Shrimp will graze that algae, so it’s not necessarily a problem, but if you want clean leaves, keep light intensity moderate and limit photoperiod to 8 hours.

9. Pearl Weed

• Scientific Name: Hemianthus micranthemoides
• Common Name: Pearl Weed, Baby Tears, Pearlweed
• Origin: Eastern North America
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to medium
• Growth rate: Moderate
• pH: 6-7.5
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary but recommended 

Pearl Weed is a versatile, fine-stemmed plant that grows into dense clumps shrimp love to pick through. The tiny leaves and dense branching create massive biofilm surface area relative to the plant’s footprint.

It also grows well without CO2, which makes it suitable for low-tech shrimp setups. Use it as a midground plant or let it float for a different look. Shrimp will explore every inch of it.

Lighting requirements for Pearl Weed

Pearl Weed does well in low to medium light, making it flexible for most shrimp tank setups. Under moderate lighting it becomes denser and more useful as shrimp cover.

10. Dwarf Sagittaria

• Scientific Name: Sagittaria subulata
• Common Name: Dwarf Sagittaria, Sagittaria Subulata, Narrow-leaf sagittaria
• Origin: Eastern North America, South America
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to medium
• Growth rate: Moderate
• pH: 6-7.5
• CO2 Requirement: Optional

Dwarf Sagittaria is one of my favorite carpeting plants for shrimp tanks. It spreads via runners and creates a lush grass-like carpet that shrimp love to forage through. Baby shrimp especially love working through a healthy Dwarf Sag carpet looking for microorganisms.

It’s also one of the easier carpeting plants to grow without CO2, which makes it practical for low-tech shrimp setups. It does best in a nutrient-rich substrate.

Lighting requirements for Dwarf Sagittaria

Dwarf Sagittaria grows well in low to medium light. In lower light it grows taller and less carpet-like, but still provides good shrimp coverage. For a true carpet look you’ll want moderate light and nutrient-rich substrate.

11. Hornwort

• Scientific Name: Ceratophyllum demersum
• Common Name: Hornwort, Coontail
• Origin: Worldwide (except Antarctica)
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low to medium
• Growth rate: Fast
• pH: 6-7.5
• CO2 Requirement: Not necessary

Hornwort is the best nutrient-control plant on this list. It grows fast, pulls nitrates aggressively, and in a lightly filtered shrimp tank that matters a lot. Shrimp tanks typically run sponge filters without heavy mechanical filtration, so a plant that absorbs waste compounds quickly is genuinely valuable.

Hornwort also sheds needles when it’s unhappy, so keep it in good conditions. But in a stable shrimp tank with decent light, it’s one of the most reliable plants you can add.

Lighting requirements for Hornwort

Hornwort grows in low to medium light. It actually grows fast enough in low light that you’ll need to trim it regularly. In higher light it grows even faster. Float it or plant it, both work fine.

12. Bucephalandra

• Scientific Name: Bucephalandra spp.
• Common Name: Black Pearl Buce Black Pearl, Buce plant, Buceps
• Origin: Island of Borneo
• Skill Level: Easy, moderate
• Lighting: Low light
• Growth rate: Slow
• pH: 6.0-8.0
• CO2 Requirement: No, but recommended

Bucephalandra or buce plant is an excellent live aquarium plant if you’re looking for something fun and decorative that also attaches itself to rocks and driftwood. Since many Bucephalandra varieties are small, they work well in nano shrimp tanks. Tissue culture buce is widely available and is one of the safest options for shrimp tanks.

Lighting requirements for Bucephalandra

Medium to high light allows the Buce plant to grow better and keeps the colors vibrant. Under low light, results are slower. CO2 is not needed but helps with new leaf development and better color.

13. Cryptocoryne

• Scientific Name: Cryptocoryne wendtii
• Common Name: Wendt’s water trumpet, Wendt’s cryptocoryne, Wendt’s crypt, Sri Lanka Cryptocorynes
• Origin: Sri Lanka, Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: Low-high
• Growth rate: Low, moderate
• pH: 6.8-7.2
• CO2 Requirement: Not needed

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced aquarist, Cryptocoryne is an ideal plant for shrimp tanks. It provides great foraging area for your shrimp and tolerates a wide range of conditions. Make sure to provide this plant with a nutrient-rich substrate for healthy growth. Keep the rhizome uncovered and above the substrate to avoid rotting. 

Lighting requirements for Cryptocoryne

Cryptocoryne adapts to a range of lighting conditions. Moderate lighting is enough for healthy growth. Avoid overly intense light as it may trigger algae growth, though your shrimp will graze on any algae that develops.

14. Vallisneria

• Scientific Name: Vallisneria spiralis
• Common Name: Eelgrass, Tape grass, vallis, Jungle Val.
• Origin: Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australia, Europe
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: low-high
• Growth rate: Moderate, High
• pH: 6.5-8.5
• CO2 Requirement: Optional

Vallisneria can grow big, so if you don’t have enough tank space it may not be practical. But if you’ve got enough room, it’s a beautiful plant for shrimp tanks with a dense, grassy forest appearance that shrimp love to navigate.

Vals are great for shrimp because they turn a tank into a dense forest with time. They provide great shelter to baby shrimp, and the long ribbon leaves give adults a huge surface to graze along.

If you have a tall tank, Vallisneria is worth the investment.

Lighting requirements for Vallisneria

Vals don’t need exceptionally high lighting. They grow well in low to moderate light. If you want accelerated growth, add CO2 and keep levels around 30 ppm. 

15. Peacock Moss

• Scientific Name: Taxiphyluum Sp
• Common Name: Peacock Moss
• Origin: Unknown
• Skill Level: Easy
• Lighting: low-moderate
• Growth rate: Slow to Moderate
• pH: 6.0-7.5
• CO2 Requirement: Optional

Peacock Moss looks like a slightly flatter, less puffy version of Christmas moss. Like Christmas moss, it works great for shrimp and any other community inhabitants you keep. It can be attached to hardscape or left floating.

It’s a hardy aquarium plant that tolerates a variety of conditions. Being a moderate grower, trimming isn’t too demanding even in a CO2 injected environment.

Lighting requirements for Peacock Moss

Like most mosses, Peacock Moss doesn’t require much light. Any planted LED setup suited for plants will do well. Avoid high-end high-intensity lighting systems unless you place this plant at the bottom of the tank.

How To Choose Plants For A Shrimp Tank

Of course, you need to consider a few things before adding plants to your shrimp tank.

Water parameters

Keeping water parameters optimal and within the range is the biggest factor in the well-being of your shrimps and aquatic plants. Always choose plants with the same water requirements and parameters as your shrimps. To provide a quick reference, here are the water parameter stats for a Cherry Shrimp, one of the most popular freshwater shrimp species available:

Temperature Range	65-73 Degrees F (18-23 degrees C)
Water Hardness	6-12 GH
pH Range	6.5-7.5
Filtration/Flow Rate	Gentle

Substrate requirements

Always go for plants that need a similar substrate as your shrimp tank already has. While other plants require a nutrient-rich substrate, soil-based substrates, such as Fluval Stratum, are great for both shrimp and plants.

Always choose aquarium plants that are compatible with the type of substrate you’re already using. One of the best shrimp specialty soils is Fluval Stratum.

The Benefits of Plants in a Shrimp Tank

Some people avoid keeping aquarium plants in the shrimp tank because live plants are believed to be high maintenance and difficult to maintain. That’s not accurate. Freshwater shrimp tanks benefit enormously from aquarium plants:

Ideal Hiding Spots

Live aquarium plants are natural hiding places made for small creatures like shrimps to reduce stress and hide from predators. During molting, shrimp are completely defenseless. Dense plant coverage is what keeps them alive through that process.

Nutritional Source

Aquarium plants are a primary source of nutrition for shrimps. Live aquarium plants create biofilm on their surface and shrimps feed on it constantly. Plants are also a great surface for algae growth and other microorganisms that your shrimps love. The more dense plant coverage you have, the more biofilm surface area. It’s that simple.

Water Quality And Filtration 

Plants absorb nitrates and other toxins to reduce ammonia spikes and promote a healthy ecosystem. Plants also help oxygenate your tank through photosynthesis. In a shrimp tank running a sponge filter, this plant-based biological support is especially important. 

Mimics Natural Habitat

In their natural habitat, shrimps thrive in waters with dense plant growth. Keeping plants in an aquarium helps mimic their natural environment and allows your shrimp to graze, explore and breed freely. 

Aquarium Decor

Plants provide great aesthetics and enhance the visual appearance of your shrimp tank. A well-planted shrimp tank is one of the most visually stunning setups in freshwater fishkeeping. You’re not just growing a colony. You’re building an ecosystem.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Shrimp and plants aren’t two separate things you’re managing in the same tank. They’re a single system. The plants feed the shrimp. The shrimp fertilize the plants. When the plant coverage is dense enough, baby shrimp survive their most vulnerable moments and your colony actually grows. When coverage is too sparse, or when you’ve dropped in untreated store-bought plants that carry pesticide residue, everything falls apart fast.

Start with java moss. Add christmas moss if you’re serious about breeding. Get tissue culture whenever you can. Quarantine everything else before it touches your shrimp tank. Build the plant density first, then the colony follows.

The plants aren’t decoration in a shrimp tank. They’re the whole point.

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