Apisto macmasteri with established cherry shrimp colony

[Maya Boone]

Hi everyone,

I recently set up a 75 gal planted tank, into which I transferred everything from the smaller tank I had previously. Included in that transfer was a large population of cherry shrimp, several hundred at least. While at the fish store to pick up some fish for the new tank, I got a male Apisto macmasteri, not knowing that they are notorious shrimp eaters (this is what I get for not doing my research). I’ve seen the Apisto nab several shrimp in the last day or so and am wondering how sustainable this might be.

From what I’ve since read online, it sounds like if you have lots of plant cover and a large enough shrimp colony, the shrimp breeding will outpace any that become snacks. My shrimp love the huge clump of floating hornwort I have but I’m curious if I should just throw in the towel and get a less problematic centerpiece fish…he’s so pretty that I would love to make it work but I don’t want to do so at the detriment of my shrimp.

Thanks!

 

[kansas]

Even is your apisto doesn't eat all the shrimp, the survivors will be shy and you won't see much of them.

 

[TClare]

I haven't ever kept shrimps, but macmasteri are one of the larger Apistogrammas and I imagine they would eat the shrimps, its possible that a few shrimps might survive once your plants have grown and filled a lot more space than they do at present, at the moment there are few hiding places for them. And I agree with Kansas, with a predator in the tank they are likely to hide all the time anyway..

 

[Maya Boone]

I haven't ever kept shrimps, but macmasteri are one of the larger Apistogrammas and I imagine they would eat the shrimps, its possible that a few shrimps might survive once your plants have grown and filled a lot more space than they do at present, at the moment there are few hiding places for them. And I agree with Kansas, with a predator in the tank they are likely to hide all the time anyway..

Thanks for the replies! Yeah, I think I’ll end up bringing him back. Too bad because he is an awesome fish but I don’t want my shrimp to get obliterated.

 

[tinylostwine]

I've kept shrimp with A. pucallpaensis; these are a lot smaller then macs; maybe 1/2 to 1/3 the size; i've seen a few times the shrimp 'punch' them in the nose if they get too pushy around them - of course i'm sure they eat a lot of young shrimps... but i have no way of measuring such.