Shrimp Or Snails??

I know I have posted a lot lately, but I really want to do my tank right. I do so much research, but I always overthink this. I love hearing from experienced fishkeepers.

I was kind of wanting a BN pleco (because hubby thought they looked cool), but they seem like a lot more work. This is my background:

55 gallon cycled aquarium.

2 male platies
2 make guppies
1 male molly
7 harlequin rasbora
7 albino cory
1 pearl gourami


I would love to get either snails or shrimp. What snail would work best at eating algae (I don't have much yet). Nerites are cool but are the eggs a nuisance? My son would love shrimp. Will my fish eat them?

What are your favorites? What ones would go with my stock? Thanks!

 

If it were my tank, I'd get ghost shrimp and nerite snails. I know that nerites are great at eating algae. Mine laid eggs EVERYWHERE and it is kind of annoying. I scraped most of them off with a glass scraper. They come off pretty easily. As for ghost shrimp, I like them a lot. They're on the bigger side for shrimp and my 75 has similar stocking. My ghosties aren't bothered by the fish. RCS are very pretty but they are teeny and may get eaten. Their babies would definitely be fish food, but if you're willing to try it out, they may be an option.

 

I've only had horned nerites and from anything I've read they don't seem to lay eggs in the aquarium. They're tiny though.

As for shrimp, there are kinds that are really good algae eaters and they're a little bigger so less likely to be eaten! Amano shrimp for one

 

If it were my tank, I'd get ghost shrimp and nerite snails. I know that nerites are great at eating algae. Mine laid eggs EVERYWHERE and it is kind of annoying. I scraped most of them off with a glass scraper. They come off pretty easily. As for ghost shrimp, I like them a lot. They're on the bigger side for shrimp and my 75 has similar stocking. My ghosties aren't bothered by the fish. RCS are very pretty but they are teeny and may get eaten. Their babies would definitely be fish food, but if you're willing to try it out, they may be an option.

How many ghost shrimp would be good for me to start out with in a 55? Also, what is the difference between a ghost and amano?

 

How many ghost shrimp would be good for me to start out with in a 55? Also, what is the difference between a ghost and amano?

Amanos and ghosts are different types of shrimp. Amanos are larger than ghosts, the females especially.

 

Also they have different diets. Amanos are known for eating algae while ghosts are considered more scavenger types.

 

Would get ghost shrimps since the main concern for smaller shrimps like RCS would be the molly! I have a 40 breeder with 2 guppies and they don't bother the shrimps and the shrimps are breeding! The guppies have small mouths! Also it depends on how much plants and cover you have! There is nothing wrong though with doing both snails and shrimps! If you have a sand substrate I suggest you get MTS, they burrow in the sand which helps aerates the substrate

For the ghost shrimps you can do 20! Don't know if they will breeder in a tank though? The rule for shrimps is 5-10 per gallon!

 

Would get ghost shrimps since the main concern for smaller shrimps like RCS would be the molly! I have a 40 breeder with 2 guppies and they don't bother the shrimps and the shrimps are breeding! The guppies have small mouths! Also it depends on how much plants and cover you have! There is nothing wrong though with doing both snails and shrimps! If you have a sand substrate I suggest you get MTS, they burrow in the sand which helps aerates the substrate

For the ghost shrimps you can do 20! Don't know if they will breeder in a tank though? The rule for shrimps is 5-10 per gallon!

I think I might start out with some ghost shrimp! Maybe not 20. We will see how expensive they are at my LFS.

Are MTS mystery snails? I had some 10 years ago when I had a tank. They reproduced like crazy and I could never get rid of them. My parameters were atrocious I am sure. I do have sand substrate.

 

I think I might start out with some ghost shrimp! Maybe not 20. We will see how expensive they are at my LFS.

Are MTS mystery snails? I had some 10 years ago when I had a tank. They reproduced like crazy and I could never get rid of them. My parameters were atrocious I am sure. I do have sand substrate.

Ghost shrimp are usually only a few cents each. We have them at my lfs for $.15.

No. MTS stands for Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They're tiny snails that breed like CRAZY as I'm sure you remember. Mystery snails are much bigger and come in lots of different colors. They can reproduce, but nowhere near as much as MTS. You don't really need to have any snails to aerate the sand, I don't.

 

For me the MTS don't breed as crazy! Snails only breed crazy due to high temps and excess food! For me I have probably 50-75 in my 40 breeder however most are tiny! Every couple months I use a fish net to sift through the sand and then will collect whatever is in about 1/3 of the tank and then give them away!

 

I would get a shrimp. They are fun to watch. I had a 1 inch gold mystery snail, who likes to climb up the glass and then free fall down and crack his shell. Also he likes to climb on my plants and break a few of my new plant stems and small leaf. He killed a shrimp while molting and another by free falling on top of a shrimp. He is only active at night. I gave the snail away. I feel my shrimps and plants are not safe from him.

You can get MTS. They get along with shrimps and fish very well. They breed a lot if you feed them too much. You can just give them away or sell them.

 

Your snail had issues! LOL I've never heard of a mystery snail doing things like that before.

 

The MTS I've seen have always been in huge numbers, but I don't personally have them, so I guess they were being overfed. Weird! I don't think I've ever seen a tank with just a few of them.

 

My MTS are the same way. Polite

 

My LFS didn't have any shrimp today but will have amanos and ghost next week. The amanos are $4.99 each and the ghost are $4.99 a dozen. How many amanos would you get for a 55 gallon? I wasn't wanting to spend that much, but my LFS gets good quality fish.

 

I have a pair in a 10g. I would get at least 4-5 for your size tank, but it's up to you.You can get as many as you want, they're low-bioload. However, their offspring do not survive in freshwater so however many you get will stay that way.

 

I got two ghost shrimp today at Petsmart. Now I am really nervous to out them in my tank. I have been reading that they can kill rasboras and guppies!! I am on my way home and am terrified they will kill my fish. What have I done?!

 

True ghost shrimp should not kill fish. However, sometimes aggressive, similar looking shrimp like macrobrachium may be sold as ghost shrimp.

 

True ghost shrimp should not kill fish. However, sometimes aggressive, similar looking shrimp like macrobrachium may be sold as ghost shrimp.

Ok. I will have to look it up. Hopefully there will be a noticeable difference between the two so I can see which one I have.

 

Ok. I will have to look it up. Hopefully there will be a noticeable difference between the two so I can see which one I have.

there should be. even though they might look the same/similiar, their personality might be totally different.

 

After doing some research I think I for sure have one ghost shrimp. The other two (I accidentally said I got 2 in my post) I am unsure. Please correct me if I am wrong. I believe ghost shrimp have a red band on their arms, antennae and two dots on the tail. One of the shrimp has these markings.

One other shrimp is probably 3/4" and is completely clear. The last shrimp is probably 1 1/2"+ and is completely clear. It is the most active of the group. I cannot tell if its pinchers are longer than the other shrimp's. The pinchers are clear and not red.

I panicked and put them in my 10 gallon tank that has been sitting for months. The media was in my 55g's filter so I hope it will be ok. I am testing the water tomorrow. I usually do not impulse buy so I screwed up.

Are amanos aggressive?? What abouse cherry shrimp? Are they too small for the stock I have?

 

Amanos and cherry shrimp are not aggressive and have low bioloads.

Post a picture?

 

Amanos and cherry shrimp are not aggressive and have low bioloads.

Post a picture?

This is the one with red bands on antennae and wrists. I don't have a picture of the littlest shrimp, but it also has red bands.





This is the one I am worried about. This was the best shot I could get. It is definitely the most active of the three.

 

They are not amanos and I'm pretty sure not cherries either. They're probably all ghosts.

I wouldn't be too worried. Just watch out for aggression.

 

Actually there are 2 shrimps that they sell that they advertise as ghost shrimps! They sell the actual ghost shrimp but sometimes they get whisker shrimps! Whisker shrimps are aggressive and people report them of attacking their betta or tetras. They will kill fish! So just watch out!

 

I have Amano shrimp and I absolutely love them. They not only eat any and all algae they'll eat pretty much anything including their shedded skin, leftover food, decay plant debris, etc. they're amazing.

 

I've only had horned nerites and from anything I've read they don't seem to lay eggs in the aquarium. They're tiny though.

The horned nerites do lay eggs in tank. It is just their eggs are also tiny. I'd say half of poppie seed size.

 

Actually there are 2 shrimps that they sell that they advertise as ghost shrimps! They sell the actual ghost shrimp but sometimes they get whisker shrimps! Whisker shrimps are aggressive and people report them of attacking their betta or tetras. They will kill fish! So just watch out!

That is what I am worried about. They are currently alone in a 10 gallon tank. I am thinking about getting amanos for my 55 gallon instead. Maybe I will make my 10 gallon a ghost shrimp tank. Maybe that was my subconscious evil plan to get another tank. My husband said he was only tolerating one!