Can Venustus Cichlid live with Cherry Shrimp?

Troubleshooting community setups: see the compatibility result using temperature, pH, GH/KH, adult size, behavior, schooling needs, and predator/prey rules.

Quick Summary: No, this pairing should usually be avoided. We evaluated Venustus Cichlid and Cherry Shrimp for 2 specific conflict codes. Plan for at least 125 gallons.

red

No, avoid this pairing

Data confidence: high

shrimp_riskJuvenile Venustus may not immediately eat cherry shrimp, but adults are predatory Malawi cichlids; this should be presented as unsafe for default long-term planning.
predator_prey_riskJuvenile Venustus may not immediately eat cherry shrimp, but adults are predatory Malawi cichlids; this should be presented as unsafe for default long-term planning.
warningProtect invertebrates from predatory fish and unstable new tanks.

Verified sources: Nimbochromis venustus overview

venustus cichlid | cherry shrimp | venustus cichlid | cherry shrimp

Observed photo context

Observed aquarium photo examples

These photos show observed aquarium setups for the selected species. They are useful context, but they do not change the compatibility result or replace tank-size, temperament, group-size, and water-parameter checks.