How long will dwarf shrimp live? Most dwarf shrimp live between 1.5 and 3 years. There are some very long lived shrimp, such as the ope ula (Hawaiian Red Shrimp). This shrimp can live beyond 20 years in captivity. How big will dwarf shrimp get? Most dwarf shrimp stay between 1.5 and 2.5 inches.