What fish species would coexist with shrimp

emmysjj
  • #1
I'm possibly doing a 5.5 gallon neocardia shrimp build. It will kind of look like the scene in Moana before she fights Tamatoa, lol. Strange creatures, fake anemones, all that Jazz. So the question is, what fish species would coexist with shrimp and add some movement to the tank?
 

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KimberlyG
  • #2
In a 5.5 you are limited. Maybe endlers or chilI rasboras. You'll be doing daily water changes.
 

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Mazeus
  • #3
My LFS has a really lovely display with caridina (wouldn't advise these for a beginner shrimp keeper) and Boraras urophthalmoides (exclamation point rasbora) and it looks great. So I'd say RCS and a boraras species such as chilI rasbora would be a winning combo.
 
Bryangar
  • #4
No fish is “shrimp safe”, they’ll all happily enjoy some shrimplets. If you want to grow your shrimp population I would not add any fish and make it shrimp only tank.

Out of all the fish you have listed, the CPDs, Sacrlet Badis and chilI rasboras would definitely make a good tank mate. Their mouths are too small to take down an adult shrimp. I’m not sure about the killifish. A betta can easily take down an adult shrimp, same for an ADF.
 
emmysjj
  • Thread Starter
  • #5
Bryangar
  • #6
You can do a 1-3. 1male with 2 females is recommended. Maybe even 3 females in the group.
 

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emmysjj
  • Thread Starter
  • #7
You can do a 1-3. 1male with 2 females is recommended. Maybe even 3 females in the group.
Ok thank you!
 
imba
  • #8
Otocinculus would be the safe for shrimp and shrimplets
 
emmysjj
  • Thread Starter
  • #9
Otocinculus would be the safe for shrimp and shrimplets
In a 5 gallon?
 
Sarah73
  • #10
Otocinculus would be the safe for shrimp and shrimplets
They need to be in a tank bigger than 5 gallons.
 

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emmysjj
  • Thread Starter
  • #11
Would green neons work? Or do they need 10 gallons?
 
Sarah73
  • #12
They need 10 gallons. How about snails?
 
emmysjj
  • Thread Starter
  • #13
They need 10 gallons. How about snails?
I will probably get a nerite in there, but something is going on with my mystery snails, so I'm going to hold off. I really want something to add movement and color Snails just aren't going to do it for me this time
 
NYFishGuy
  • #14
I just added 4 CRS to my 5.5, that is a temp holding for neons and cardnials. They don't seem interested
Also have a baby betta in there. Even tho the baby betta is only slighlty bigger than the shrimp hes hunting them.
I have java moss in there and watched him burrow to get to a shrimp.
I'm pretty sure all the shrimp are still fine, they are tiny and I could only find 3/4 however.
 

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NYFishGuy
  • #15
In a 5 gallon?

Theres a dwarf oto that's supposed to stay <2". They have a few different names but I found them at petsmart and a LFS.
I have 4 in my 10 gallon with a betta, they are very active. I would think they would be OK in the 5G as well considering its only a couple inches less length.
 
emmysjj
  • Thread Starter
  • #16
After consideration, I've decided I will not do fish in this tank. I really want to have a colony, and the fish that I want are so expensive. If I find some, I may pick them up, but for now, just shrimp
 
DarkOne
  • #17
Shrimp only is the way to go if you want a colony in a small tank. Otos only grow to 1.5" or so. I have 4 in my QT that's planned for my 20 gallon long shrimp tank.
 
emmysjj
  • Thread Starter
  • #18
Shrimp only is the way to go if you want a colony in a small tank. Otos only grow to 1.5" or so. I have 4 in my QT that's planned for my 20 gallon long shrimp tank.
Ok, great. Thank you! I love otos but I am uncomfortable with how most are wild caught.
Out of curiosity, may I see a picture of your otos? I think they are really cute.
 

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DarkOne
  • #19
I originally got 6 but 2 died within a day in QT. They almost all wild caught and usually starved on the way to the pet shops. They have bacteria in their stomachs and if they starve, the bacteria die and they can't digest food anymore so they die. Look for big, round bellies and you should be ok but it's not unusual to have 50% survival rates.

I had to wait until I had decent algae growth in my QT before picking some up. I'll probably get some more once I move these guys into my shrimp tank.

2018-06-30 13.40.07.jpg
 
Isabela11
  • #20
Hello, can you advise me on fishes that are compatible with shrimps for a 30 gallon tank? I have cherry shrimp, yellow shrimp, two mixed dwarf shrimps and a bamboo shrimp. I don't want to have too much shrimps. The fishes I would like to have are: endler guppies, guppies, galaxy rasboras, clown rasboras and neon tetras. Would they be ok with shrimps? Thank you.
 
KimberlyG
  • #21
I don't know what clown rasboras are, so I can't comment. I don't know about the CPDs with other schooling fish. Mine are in a species only tank (Dream Blue Shrimp also). They can be kinda skittish even in that environment. The endlers and neons sound okay. I'm sure there is someone here that keeps CPDs with other small fish and will be able to tell you their experience with them in mixed school tanks.
It sounds like it is going to be a very nice tank.
 
Isabela11
  • #22
I don't know what clown rasboras are, so I can't comment. I don't know about the CPDs with other schooling fish. Mine are in a species only tank (Dream Blue Shrimp also). They can be kinda skittish even in that environment. The endlers and neons sound okay. I'm sure there is someone here that keeps CPDs with other small fish and will be able to tell you their experience with them in mixed school tanks.
It sounds like it is going to be a very nice tank.
these are some very small cute red fishes. I agree that's why I always like to hear people's stories with keeping fishes with shrimps thank you very much that's very nice of you to say
 

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Ohio Mark
  • #23
James Turner

Endlers & shrimp????
 
KimberlyG
  • #24
James Turner

Endlers & shrimp????
these are some very small cute red fishes. I agree that's why I always like to hear people's stories with keeping fishes with shrimps thank you very much that's very nice of you to say
Go to Aquatic Arts website. Under the Store tab, the list includes a choice of "Shrimp safe Fish, All Shrimp" Click on that link and it will give you a great idea of what you could get. Their description of each fish's needs and water parameters is pretty good as well. They started out with mainly shrimp and they do a good job rating fish as "Shrimp Safe".
 
Ohio Mark
  • #25
James Turner

Endlers & shrimp????

I tagged him because I knew he was looking at options for his Endlers and thought this thread might be informative.
 
JenC
  • #26
I've had endlers, ember tetras, and chilI rasboras with shrimp and I've never seen the fish bother them. On several occasions I've watched them collide head-on with shrimplets while swimming and the fish veered away. The shrimp literally push my endlers away from food and the fish do nothing.

Guppies and neons would be more likely to eat them, especially the shrimplets. But give the shrimp plenty of plants and hiding places and some will probably survive.
 

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Isabela11
  • #27
Go to Aquatic Arts website. Under the Store tab, the list includes a choice of "Shrimp safe Fish, All Shrimp" Click on that link and it will give you a great idea of what you could get. Their description of each fish's needs and water parameters is pretty good as well. They started out with mainly shrimp and they do a good job rating fish as "Shrimp Safe".
Thank you that was super helpful. It surprised me that they are also safe with Ram Cichlids. Did anyone try this combination?

I've had endlers, ember tetras, and chilI rasboras will shrimp and I've never seen the fish bother them. On several occasions I've watched them collide head-on with shrimplets while swimming and the fish veered away. The shrimp literally push my endlers away from food and the fish do nothing.

Guppies and neons would be more likely to eat them, especially the shrimplets. But give the shrimp plenty of plants and hiding places and some will probably survive.
Thank you very much that's helpful. Your shrimps are tough
 
Isabela11
  • #29
I have ghost shrimp with KhulI Loaches.
I always thought these were snakes
 
Nj fish
  • #30

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tjander
  • #31
Any fish will eat a shrimp if it fits in it’s mouth. Any attempt at a colony of shrimp will more then likely not work. Now, if you just want to keep the shrimp you have then anything smaller then a guppy would be fine.
I keep Amano shrimp in a community tank with neons and dwarf rainbows but the Amano are bigger then the neons so no problem there.
Good luck
 
jmaldo
  • #32
One fish I did not see mentioned is the Otocinclus Catfish. I have a Planted 10 gallon RCS shrimp tank with them along with Mystery and Rabbit snails. Good Luck with whatever you decide.


Oto.jpg
 
Isabela11
  • #33
Any fish will eat a shrimp if it fits in it’s mouth. Any attempt at a colony of shrimp will more then likely not work. Now, if you just want to keep the shrimp you have then anything smaller then a guppy would be fine.
I keep Amano shrimp in a community tank with neons and dwarf rainbows but the Amano are bigger then the neons so no problem there.
Good luck
Thank you for your help

One fish I did not see mentioned is the Otocinclus Catfish. I have a Planted 10 gallon RCS shrimp tank with them along with Mystery and Rabbit snails. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

View attachment 495890
Thank you very much, I have 5 of those. They are amazing
 
Fish0n
  • #34
Be aware that endlers and guppies can not only breed with eachother but at an astonishing rate. Not sure if your list was implying keeping them together or only one kind, but just thought I would mention that possibility.
 

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WTFish?
  • #35
My cpd’s are great with my rcs, as are the ember tetras (in another tank)
 
Isabela11
  • #36
Be aware that endlers and guppies can not only breed with eachother but at an astonishing rate. Not sure if your list was implying keeping them together or only one kind, but just thought I would mention that possibility.
They can breed with each other? Is that even possible?
Yes I was thinking of that. Thank you for your answer

My cpd’s are great with my rcs, as are the ember tetras (in another tank)
What do you mean with cpd's?
 
Ohio Mark
  • #37
CPD = Celestial Pearl Danios. (Wasn't sure if WTFish?) would see this.
 
Isabela11
  • #38
CPD = Celestial Pearl Danios. (Wasn't sure if WTFish?) would see this.
Thank you
 

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WTFish?
  • #39
What do you mean with cpd's?
I’m sorry, yes, celestial pearl danios, aka galaxy rasboras
 
Isabela11
  • #40
I’m sorry, yes, celestial pearl danios, aka galaxy rasboras
No problem. You are very helpful

I’m sorry, yes, celestial pearl danios, aka galaxy rasboras
Oh and also. I LOVE YOUR DOG
 
Fish0n
  • #41
They can breed with each other? Is that even possible?
Yes I was thinking of that. Thank you for your answer


What do you mean with cpd's?
Yes it is possible there is quite the debate because of it as to if they are the same species or not. It is also why there are N class endlers which haven't been crossed with guppies at all and then K and one other "unknown" (I can't remember the letter for it though) classes for ones that have been breed with guppies and the last one is these look like endlers and act like endlers they must be an endler. You might see price differences between the classes. I would personally avoid crossing them.
 
Isabela11
  • #42
Yes it is possible there is quite the debate because of it as to if they are the same species or not. It is also why there are N class endlers which haven't been crossed with guppies at all and then K and one other "unknown" (I can't remember the letter for it though) classes for ones that have been breed with guppies and the last one is these look like endlers and act like endlers they must be an endler. You might see price differences between the classes. I would personally avoid crossing them.
I think I know what you're talking about. I was at the fish store yesterday and I was talking about endler guppies and the store manager said that these are not endlers. But I didn't ask why Maybe it's because of that..
 
lesley
  • #43
I have cherry, bamboo shrimp and vampire shrimp in with my boraras Brigitte, clown killifish, rainbow gobies and my betta without any issues. My betta is very laid back and doesn't bother a soul keeps himself to himself.
 
Triton25
  • #44
I have 4 endlers in a 5 gallon heavy planted tank with 9 cherry shrimp for about a month now. They have never had issues other than maybe fighting over a chunk of food, but the shrimp wins. They can hang out right next to each other for awhile. I only have a few juvenile shrimp as most are large females and have not had any baby shrimp yet. I love watching them interact.
 
JaksAquatics
  • #45
I know there are ottos any 99% shrimp safe fish
 
Jellibeen
  • #46
Fish will pretty much eat anything that fits in their mouth. Smaller fish may be adult shrimp safe, but they will still prey on shrimplets. I had a molly fry growing out in my shrimp tank. I caught him slurping down shrimp almost as big as him.

You can't trust anyone.
 
Platylover
  • #47
A lot of nano schoolers, like cpd, will be fine with the adults. I currently have some cpds with shrimp and there’s been no issues. Granted, they are likely to eat the shrimplets. If you have it heavily planted with lots of moss and such you may have a few survive though.
 
tjander
  • #48
No such fish IMO, fish eat shrimp as mentioned above adults maybe ok, but fry will most likely be consumed. If you want to do fish and shrimp then go with Amano shrimp, or flower / bamboos shrimp they are big, I am unsure about flower shrimp and there fry, but Amano do not reproduce in fresh water the fry need salt water to start off with.
 
86 ssinit
  • #49

D03AE346-5604-4F48-837E-4C54E1080EC4.jpeg I have blue and gold rams a bosmanI rainbow,sae ,ottos a neon and Rasboras and about 9 Cory’s in this tank. Shrimp been in there about 3 months
 
Jellibeen
  • #50
No such fish IMO, fish eat shrimp as mentioned above adults maybe ok, but fry will most likely be consumed. If you want to do fish and shrimp then go with Amano shrimp, or flower / bamboos shrimp they are big, I am unsure about flower shrimp and there fry, but Amano do not reproduce in fresh water the fry need salt water to start off with.

Bamboo shrimp also don’t reproduce in fresh water.
 

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