Raising baby Betta with Cherry Shrimp

Hellooo

I've tried looking for other forums about this topic, but I couldn't find any.
I was in Petco today picking up some water conditioner and I came across some baby betta fish. I know lots of fish there have problems, and its just not the best place to buy them, but this is the first place I saw with baby bettas. If I would buy a baby female betta and put it in my 5 gallon shrimp tank, after it is cycled and after I get the shrimp, would the baby betta still be aggressive toward the shrimp, or would she grow up used to the mentality that shrimp are friends, not food lol?

Also, does anyone know how hard it is to raise a baby betta? When I got my first betta fish in my 10G, he was young, but not a baby baby, and he made it just fine.

 

It depends on the betta

 

Once they grow enough to consider shrimp as food, I think their instincts will kick in. Some bettas seem to get along with shrimp, at least with adult ones, but I think they can't resist a baby shrimp.

As for the ease of raising a baby betta, it depends on how young it is. If, as you say, you can tell that it is a female then she is not really a baby. Frequent feeding and including in their diet live/frozen food appropriate for their mouth size should do it. If too young, you would need a cover that will keep the air they breathe warm and humid.

 

Baby cherry shrimp are very tasty little morsels. If they have piles of rocks and plants to hide in they stand a better chance of making it if they fish are not up to taking down adults. Some bettas really like shrimp and some don't care.

 

Once they grow enough to consider shrimp as food, I think their instincts will kick in. Some bettas seem to get along with shrimp, at least with adult ones, but I think they can't resist a baby shrimp.

As for the ease of raising a baby betta, it depends on how young it is. If, as you say, you can tell that it is a female then she is not really a baby. Frequent feeding and including in their diet live/frozen food appropriate for their mouth size should do it. If too young, you would need a cover that will keep the air they breathe warm and humid.

I was hoping I'd be able to get adult shrimp with a baby betta, but their instincts kicking in was definitely a concern. The baby's at petco were really small, maybe around half an inch which I believe is too young to label as a specific gender so I guess I would have to just guess. How would I know if the pellets would be too big for the baby betta?

Baby cherry shrimp are very tasty little morsels. If they have piles of rocks and plants to hide in they stand a better chance of making it if they fish are not up to taking down adults. Some bettas really like shrimp and some don't care.

The tank has hairgrass, moss, anubias, and chola wood aswell as some other little decorations. Would that be enough for them to hide if needed?

 

I agree with everyone else, it really just depends on the Betta. My roommate's Betta was friendly with her snail, but her Betta stole all the algae wafers and the snail starved to death. So even if aggression isn't the issue, the shrimp getting enough food could come into play as well. Especially if there isn't a lot of consistent algae growth.

 

I was hoping I'd be able to get adult shrimp with a baby betta, but their instincts kicking in was definitely a concern. The baby's at petco were really small, maybe around half an inch which I believe is too young to label as a specific gender so I guess I would have to just guess. How would I know if the pellets would be too big for the baby betta?

The tank has hairgrass, moss, anubias, and chola wood aswell as some other little decorations. Would that be enough for them to hide if needed?

I have very rarely used betta pellets, and that is only with full grown bettas. So, I don't know exactly when they will be able to accept them. My guess is they should be larger than 1 inch, but smaller granules may work before betta pellets. You can contact an online seller specializing in fish food and ask what they have that can be given to a young betta. I usually tell them what I keep and send me a variety package that will keep my fish on rotation. However, I think a betta of that age should not be on a routine dry food diet. At least get some frozen baby brine shrimp or daphnia, or start a microworm culture to supplement dry food.

 

You have a better chance of Amano shrimp they are big enough to look after themselves

 

I have very rarely used betta pellets, and that is only with full grown bettas. So, I don't know exactly when they will be able to accept them. My guess is they should be larger than 1 inch, but smaller granules may work before betta pellets. You can contact an online seller specializing in fish food and ask what they have that can be given to a young betta. I usually tell them what I keep and send me a variety package that will keep my fish on rotation. However, I think a betta of that age should not be on a routine dry food diet. At least get some frozen baby brine shrimp or daphnia, or start a microworm culture to supplement dry food.

That’s a good idea! I do have frozen bloodworms and daphnia and I can look into other frozen foods too! Thank you!

I agree with everyone else, it really just depends on the Betta. My roommate's Betta was friendly with her snail, but her Betta stole all the algae wafers and the snail starved to death. So even if aggression isn't the issue, the shrimp getting enough food could come into play as well. Especially if there isn't a lot of consistent algae growth.

I haven’t thought about that, thank you!

You have a better chance of Amano shrimp they are big enough to look after themselves

I didn’t realize Amaño shrimp are bigger than the cherry shrimp! I’ll do some research about them!