Adding shrimp to a community aquarium can add interest and color. But what fish can safely live with shrimp without eating them? Here are the top 14 fish species compatible with shrimp tankmates.
Shrimp are very popular for freshwater aquariums today Their bright colors and peaceful nature make them a joy to watch. However, most shrimp are dwarfed by fish and are very vulnerable to being eaten.
Not all fish will readily attack shrimp though. By selecting peaceful community fish that won’t view adult shrimp as food, you can safely keep shrimp in a community tank.
Here are the best shrimp-safe fish companions and tips for keeping them together:
Best Fish for Shrimp Tanks
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Neon Tetras – Peaceful schooling fish with small mouths Provide hiding spots for shrimp young
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Guppies – Usually ignore adult shrimp but may eat babies Don’t keep hungry.
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Platies – Generally calm, but may eat small shrimp. Give plenty of plant cover.
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Mollies – Peaceful community fish, just don’t keep with expensive shrimp.
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White Cloud Mountain Minnows – School in top layer, low risk to shrimp below.
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Endler’s Livebearers – Very active fish, may eat baby shrimp. Give lots of plants.
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Ember Tetras – Tiny, peaceful schoolers, show shrimp colors nicely.
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Harlequin Rasboras – Safe with adult shrimp, but may eat babies.
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Otocinclus Catfish – Peaceful algae eaters, bottom dwellers like shrimp.
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Corydoras Catfish – Ignore shrimp mostly, but provide sand substrate they prefer.
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Kuhli Loaches – Shy bottom dwellers, generally leave shrimp alone.
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Bettas – Can be aggressive, have backup tank for shrimp if issues.
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Gouramis – Usually peaceful but may eat small shrimp. Give plant cover.
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Plecos – Most attack shrimp but Bristlenose safe. Don’t disturb breeding shrimp.
7 Tips for Keeping Shrimp Safe with Fish
Follow these tips to help keep shrimp safe when adding fish:
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Choose small, peaceful community fish species under 2 inches long. Large fish eat shrimp.
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Provide plenty of hiding spots with plants and decorations. Shrimp need escape routes.
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Use shrimp too large for fish to eat. Adult cherry or Amano shrimp safer bets.
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Feed fish well so not hunting shrimp. Underfed fish may attack shrimp.
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Have backup tank for shrimp if issues arise with aggressive fish. Bettas in particular.
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Avoid known shrimp eaters like cichlids, goldfish, gouramis. Check fish profiles.
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Remove pregnant shrimp or young to raise safely if fish eat babies.
Bottom Line
With some planning and research, you can pick compatible fish species for a thriving community shrimp tank. Stick to small, peaceful fish that won’t view adult shrimp as food. Provide plenty of plant hiding spots and backups if issues arise.
Feed or be fed
Keeping potential predators with potential prey will undoubtedly have some effect on the behaviour of both parties. Shrimp may hide more frequently and breed less frequently.
As it is, shrimp can take a while to get used to new tanks. If your shrimp are still hiding after a few weeks of being with fish, it’s possible that they’re being chased at night.
See “berried” (pregnant) female shrimp but no babies, or if you don’t see berried females even when the water conditions are perfect. Then, take a close look at the other fish in the tank.
Shrimp can miss out when it comes to feeding. Fish are usually faster to the food and less likely to run away when a shrimp shows it is a threat. Also, fish that are thought to be friendly to shrimp tend to naturally compete for the best algae or biofilm.
Without their habitual diet, young shrimp are less likely to survive. Aquascapers-to-be might also want to stay away from keeping fish with their shrimp because fish can hurt plants.
Spiny eels love to snack on shrimps.
All of this is before we even talk about how live fish can hurt shrimp! The problem is that fish will eat just about anything. That’s largely true, but not always. Many fish will indeed automatically hunt anything that is small enough for them to eat, but some won’t. And some that could, hypothetically, still don’t. And then there are those that will eat juvenile shrimp but not adults. So which fish are best to keep with shrimp?.
First, we can get rid of any big fish and cichlids (yes, that includes Angelfish and Discus). Even dwarf cichlids are hunting machines and they will quickly clear up any shrimp they can find. Amano shrimp, Caridina multidentata, may survive, but they will certainly have sense to hide. Other fish that shouldn’t be near shrimp are goldfish (of any size—their mouths are bigger and greedier than you might think), large rainbowfish, large gourami of any kind, spiny eels, large livebearers, and most loaches, especially those from the Botia genus that are known for being snappy.
With any of these, it is not a matter of if but when they will eat your shrimp. Personally, I would put the bigger tetras and barbs in this group, but I’m sure some hobbyists have kept them together without any problems.
Pseudomugil are a big maybe.
Then there are the fish that might or might not eat your shrimp.
If you don’t want to breed them, these could be a good middle ground because they will almost certainly eat the young. Nevertheless, it is worth giving your shrimp colony time to build up before you add the fish.
Adding lots of plants and hiding spots for the fish and making sure they have plenty to eat will help keep losses to a minimum. Some fish in this group are guppies, Endlers, rasboras, small danios and rasboras, Kuhli loaches, smaller pencilfish, clown killifish, and corydoras.
White Cloud Mountain minnows and the small rainbowfish of the Pseudomugilidae are also good potential tankmates.
One fish in particular that people want to keep with their shrimp is the Siamese fighter, Betta splendens. Without trying to make fish into people, keeping them with invertebrates seems to depend on the fish’s “personality” and a lot of luck. Some people have kept a Betta that didn’t bother shrimp at all, while others have had whole colonies of shrimp killed in just a few days. The same applies to Dwarf puffers, Carinotetraodon travancoricus; again, this is a gamble that may not pay off.
Otocinclus are 100% safe Who’s in?
All things considered, which fish are completely safe to keep with shrimp of all sizes?
In the first place, if it eats algae, it probably won’t want to (or even be able to) eat your shrimp, no matter how big they are. Unfortunately, these aren’t usually the bright, colorful fish that people dream of. Instead, they’re usually dull, shy grazers that only come out to move around the tank and shuffle over plants or rocks. Otocinclus and its close relatives Parotocinclus or Hypoptopoma are the most likely candidates.
If you want something a little different, you can look at Zebra otos, Otocinclus cocama, but they cost a lot more than a regular Oto. If you have the room and want something bigger, Farlowella or other thin but long suckermouths might be the way to go.
If you want a splash of color in your aquarium, I suggest the Dwarf rasboras of Boraras, especially B. brigittae, B. merah or B. maculatus. These are striking to look at, calm, not too expensive, and small enough to keep with shrimp. They also have very small mouths, which is an added bonus. Any losses will be restricted to the tiniest and youngest shrimp.
The real question isn’t “what fish can I keep with my shrimp?” but “should I keep fish with my shrimp?” And, of course, you are the only one who can decide.
It can work well if you are simply interested in keeping adults, rather than breeding.
However, after seeing your male shrimp race around the tank with all his might to find a newly formed female releasing her pheromones and then spending day after day watching your berried female grow in size until you can see eyes starting to form in the eggs, the last thing you will want is for your fish to eat your precious shrimplets.
With some time and a tank just for shrimp, you can have an aquarium full of active, colorful invertebrates that are bright enough to compete with any fish. Try it; your shrimp will thank you for it.
Crystal red bee shrimp.
Top 12 Tank Mates for Cherry Shrimp You Need to Try!
What kind of fish should I keep with my shrimps?
These small and colorful fish are great types of tropical fishes to keep with your shrimps. You can choose to keep them alone or with a group of other peaceful fish. Rasboras fish generally prefers tank water that is slightly acidic and bit soft. They can also be kept in neutral or slightly alkaline water without any issues.
What kind of fish can a shrimp eat?
The safest options of all are other shrimp, aquarium snails, micro crabs, and Oto catfish – but adult shrimp will almost always be able to live happily alongside well-fed and peaceful little fish like micro Rasboras and small Tetras. JJ has had a passion for learning about aquatic life since age 5.
What fish eat cherry shrimp?
Ideal tank mates include Ember Tetras, various Rasbora species, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Corydoras catfish, Otocinclus catfish, and snails. Avoid aggressive fish, such as male Bettas, which may harm these petite shrimp. Cherry Shrimp’s vibrant colors make them a striking addition to any tank.
What types of shrimp do aquarists keep with fish?
Here are some common shrimp types that aquarists often keep with fish: Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi): Cherry shrimp are the most popular freshwater shrimp for community tanks. Their vibrant red coloration and hardy nature make them a favorite among aquarists.