What Fish Can Live With Ghost Shrimp? 23 Compatible Tank Mates

You’ll probably need to know which other fish are the best tank mates for ghost shrimp if you want to add some more interesting animals to the same tank where the ghost shrimp is living.

The best shrimp to keep with a ghost shrimp are usually ones that live in different areas of the aquarium or won’t fight over food, like cherry shrimp. Small fish such as cory catfish and loaches are also excellent companions for the ghost shrimp.

This article talks about the 15 best tank mates for ghost shrimp and why they are good for keeping with ghost shrimp. It also gives a quick rundown of what a ghost shrimp needs to do well in a community tank. Let’s dive right into this topic!.

Ghost shrimp are a popular freshwater shrimp choice for aquarists. Their semi-transparent bodies and peaceful nature make them an interesting addition to community tanks However, finding suitable tank mates can be tricky. When housing ghost shrimp, it’s essential to choose fish that won’t intimidate, attack or eat them

After researching numerous online forums and fishkeeping resources I’ve compiled this guide on the best fish that can live with ghost shrimp. Let’s explore 23 compatible options to create a thriving freshwater community tank.

Overview of Ghost Shrimp and Their Needs

Before introducing tank mates, it’s vital to understand the needs of your ghost shrimp. Here are some key considerations

Size: Adults reach around 2 inches, making them suitable for nano tanks.
Water Parameters: They prefer pH between 7-8 and temperatures of 68-82°F.
Behavior: Ghost shrimp are peaceful and may be timid around boisterous fish. Provide plenty of hiding spots.
Diet: Omnivores that eat fish food, algae and debris. Overfeeding can foul the water.
Tank Size: Recommended minimum 10 gallons. The larger the tank, the more stable the water parameters.

With their basic needs in mind, let’s look at suitable fish that can coexist in a ghost shrimp tank.

23 Fish Species Compatible With Ghost Shrimp

1. Neon Tetra

Peaceful schooling fish, under 2 inches size.
Enjoy planted tanks with dim lighting.
Add 6 or more for best results.

2. Ember Tetra

Bright orange color pops against planted tanks.
Max size under 1.5 inches, peaceful temperament.
Tolerate a wide temperature range, 72-82°F.

3. Endler’s Livebearer

Active community fish, around 2 inches length.
Males exhibit vivid colors, best kept in trio.
Peaceful but may eat baby shrimp. Monitor closely.

4. Celestial Pearl Danio

Tiny fish with vibrant galaxy-like colors.
Peaceful temperament, fine with shrimp.
Requires heavily planted tank with hiding spots.

5. Green Neon Tetra

Iridescent blue-green stripes on silver bodies.
Slow swimmers that won’t disturb shrimp.
Grows to 1.6 inches, suitable for small tanks.

6. Chili Rasbora

Fiery red fish, max length just over 1 inch.
Bottom dwellers, occupy different tank level than shrimp.
Peaceful schooling fish for planted nano tanks.

7. Pygmy Corydoras

Armored bottom dwellers, perfect shrimp tank mates.
Grow under 1.5 inches, prefer schools of 6+.
Help clean up extra food debris.

8. Otocinclus Catfish

Peaceful algae eating fish, ideal for planted tanks.
Social schooling fish, add 6 or more.
Max length 2 inches, no threat to grown ghost shrimp.

9. White Cloud Mountain Minnow

Hardy fish that tolerate a wide temperature range.
Relatively small, max size under 2 inches.
Peaceful schooling fish for nano community tanks.

10. Zebra Danio

Active fish with distinctive stripes. Not aggressive.
Grows to 2 inches, suitable for 10 gallon tanks.
Keep in schools of 5-6 fish.

11. Harlequin Rasbora

Bright red, black and silver colors. Peaceful natured.
Size reaches 2 inches. Add 6 or more to a school.
Compatible water parameters as ghost shrimp.

12. Sparkling Gourami

Tiny fish with vibrant iridescent colors.
Peaceful temperament, may skirmish with each other.
Max 1.5 inch size. Provide plenty of cover.

13. Dwarf Corydoras

Ideal nano tank bottom dwellers. Playful but peaceful.
Grow under 1 inch, safe tank mates for adult shrimp.
Help clean up uneaten food.

14. Mosquito Rasbora

Also called chiller rasbora. Tiny fish around 1 inch length.
Schooling fish that occupy mid to top levels.
Peaceful and active. Requires planted tank.

15. Dwarf Pencilfish

Slender fish with horizontal black stripe.
Grow to 1.2 inches. Suitable for small tanks.
Shy, peaceful schoolers that keep to mid-level.

16. Least Killifish

Tiny fish, adults around 0.6 inches long.
Bottom dwellers, low bioload.
Peaceful community species.

17. Pea Puffer

Cute little fish with lots of personality.
Max size 1 inch. Avoid keeping with slow/nippy tank mates.
May eat baby ghost shrimp but otherwise peaceful.

18. Scarlet Badis

Brightly colored nano-sized fish. Males exhibit best colors.
Max 2 inches size. Peaceful but may eat baby shrimp.
Best in species only tanks. Monitor closely with ghost shrimp.

19. Guppies

Avoid fancy varieties that may nip fins. Stick to common guppies.
Colorful fish that grow to 2 inches size. Peaceful community fish.
Monitor for potential baby shrimp eating.

20. Clown Killifish

Tiny fish with vibrant colors. Highly active.
Grow to 1.5 inches. Jumping ability requires tight lid.
Peaceful but require space to swim. Not fin nippers.

21. Betta Fish

Avoid plakats and male varieties. Females work best with shrimp.
Under 3 inches size. Provide hiding spots for shrimp.
May eat baby ghost shrimp. Monitor during feeding.

22. African Dwarf Frog

Fully aquatic frogs that remain under 2 inches size.
Peaceful and compatible with ghost shrimp.
May eat babies but otherwise safe.

23. Snails

Nerite, mystery and ramshorn snails make great clean up crew.
Won’t harm adult ghost shrimp. Monitor egg clutches and babies.
Help consume excess food and algae.

Key Takeaways

Conduct research before introducing new fish with ghost shrimp. Avoid known shrimp eaters like goldfish.
Focus on small, peaceful community fish under 2-3 inches adult size.
Provide plenty of hiding spots using plants and décor to reduce stress.
Monitor during feeding time. Hungry fish may chase baby shrimp.
Perform routine water changes and test water parameters. Good water quality reduces aggression.
Introduce tank mates gradually and observe interactions. Remove aggressive fish promptly.

what fish can live with ghost shrimp

Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates – What You Need to Know

If you don’t know what your ghost shrimp needs or what to look out for in potential tank mates in general, you could end up with a very unhappy group of fish. Check out the categories of considerations below to prevent this:

The tempers between tank mates are often the thing that causes the most trouble. A Ghost shrimp, luckily, is very self-focused and peaceful by nature. It will not go out of its way to bother fish, and it might hide most of the time.

That being said, this just makes it more important to find peaceful tank mates that won’t try to hunt down and bother your peaceful ghost shrimp.

It’s important to know the size of any fish or aquarium mare because animals that are too different in size may end up eating or scaring each other. Ghost shrimp are not much larger than one inch, or one and a half inches. They are also intensely thin.

They are small and blend in with their surroundings, so even fish big enough to eat them probably won’t notice them very often. Still, it’s not a bad idea to keep tank mates to no more than a few inches longer than you are.

When tank mates have similar tastes, diets, and feeding zones, they may fight over food, which can be bad for the tank. Ghost shrimp eat dead fish and plants, and they’ll happily eat any food that drifts to the bottom from other fish in the tank. If you want to feed a ghost shrimp something else, all they need is a tiny bit of flakes.

When it’s time to eat, some ghost shrimp get brave and swim up to the top of the tank to eat instead of staying at the bottom. Make sure this does not cause competition from fish that tend to eat in the same zone.

Parameters ; Tank Setup

Ghost shrimp need a minimum tank size of a five gallon tank. They don’t need a lot of space, but they do need a lot of plants to feel safe. It doesn’t matter what kind of water it is or how hard it is, but the best temperature for them is between 65 F and 82 F. Be sure any tank mates also prefer these temperatures for the best results!.

Top 12 Tank Mates for Cherry Shrimp You Need to Try!

What fish eat ghost shrimp?

The best ghost shrimp tank mates are typically shrimp that occupy different zones of the aquarium or are unlikely to compete for food with a ghost shrimp, such as cherry shrimp. Small fish such as cory catfish and loaches are also excellent companions for the ghost shrimp.

Can ghost shrimp live with catfish?

Ghost shrimp can live with Zebra Loaches, Guppies, Otocinclus Catfish, Ember Tetras, and Hatchetfish. These fish are relatively peaceful and share similar water requirements as the ghost shrimp. To ensure they coexist, one should maintain a clean tank with a sufficient amount of hiding places.

Can ghost shrimp mate with other fish?

You can also pair them with other peaceful bottom dwellers like Kuhli loaches, freshwater snails, Cory catfish, Cherry Shrimp, and Amano shrimp. These tank mates will mind their own business and let your ghost shrimp do their thing undisturbed. As for tank mates to avoid, you should avoid pairing them with any aggressive fish no matter what.

Are ghost shrimp good for aquariums?

Ghost shrimp are peculiarly transfixing aquarium specimens. Their peaceful temperament and determined cleaning make them an excellent addition to almost any tank. It’s because of these same characteristics that both beginner and experienced aquarists enjoy setting up tanks just with ghost shrimp.