Do you have a Betta fish and want to know if you can add any other fish to the tank? You may have heard that some people keep ghost shrimp and Betta fish together. But is that a good idea? What about the stories of ghost shrimp attacking Bettas, or vice versa?.
Below, find out everything you need to know about combining ghost shrimp and Betta fish. Peaceful cohabitation is possible, but you do need to keep a few things in mind!.
Keeping ghost shrimp with betta fish is a popular option for adding some extra life to your freshwater aquarium But an important question is – how many ghost shrimp can you successfully and safely keep with a betta?
In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about mixing these two species, including:
- An overview of ghost shrimp and betta fish care
- Factors that affect ghost shrimp and betta compatibility
- Recommended tank setups
- Ideal water parameters
- How many ghost shrimp per gallon of water
- Max number of ghost shrimp with a betta
- Tips to reduce aggression and improve success
First, a quick primer on ghost shrimp and betta fish if you’re new to keeping them:
Ghost Shrimp
- Scientific name: Palaemonetes paludosus
- Small freshwater shrimp native to North America
- Grow up to 2 inches long
- Nearly transparent body with some yellow/brown tones
- Peaceful omnivores that eat algae, biofilms, debris
- Help clean the tank and control algae
- Need plenty of hiding spots
- Easy to care for and very affordable
Betta Fish
- Colorful freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia
- Iconic long, flowing fins
- Males are territorial and aggressive to other male bettas
- Omnivores that eat both plant and animal matter
- Need at least 5 gallons of space with filtration and heating
- Prone to fighting with shrimp and eating them
Now that you know the basics of each species, let’s look at what affects their compatibility when housed together.
Factors That Affect Ghost Shrimp and Betta Compatibility
Many factors determine whether ghost shrimp and bettas will co-exist peacefully or not. The main ones are:
-
Individual Betta Temperament – Betta personality plays a huge role. Mellow bettas generally leave ghost shrimp alone. Aggressive ones will attack and eat them. There’s no way to know for sure until you try.
-
Betta Hunger Level – Well-fed bettas are less likely to hunt your shrimp. Keep your betta on a varied diet and feed 2-3 times per day.
-
Tank Size – Bigger is better. In a spacious tank, the betta and shrimp encounter each other less often. Aim for at least 10 gallons.
-
Plants and Hiding Spots – Shrimp need lots of thick vegetation and hides to scurry away when threatened. heavy planting also breaks up lines of sight.
-
Other Tankmates – Avoid betta tankmates that are aggressive toward shrimp like cichlids, tiger barbs, gouramis. Stick to peaceful community fish.
-
Water Parameters – Both species need clean, warm water in the 75-82°F range with pH around 7-8. Proper maintenance is a must.
As you can see, there are a lot of variables at play! Now let’s look at the ideal tank setup and conditions for housing ghost shrimp with bettas.
Recommended Tank Setup for Ghost Shrimp and Bettas
Follow these tank setup guidelines to improve compatibility between your betta and ghost shrimp:
-
Tank Size: 10-20 gallon tank minimum
-
Filtration: Quiet hang-on-back or sponge filter rated for tank size
-
Heater and Thermometer: Keep water between 75-82°F. Bettas prefer 78-80°F.
-
pH: Close to neutral around 7.0-8.0
-
Substrate: Shrimp safe like smooth gravel or sand. Avoid sharp substrates.
-
Plants and Decor: Heavy planting and rock caves, driftwood, shrimp tubes, and hides.
-
Lighting: Low to moderate intensity. Avoid intense light that promotes algae.
This setup addresses most of the factors we discussed earlier. The large, planted tank with lots of hides and appropriate water parameters gives your shrimp and betta the highest chance of success! Now let’s talk about ideal stocking levels.
How Many Ghost Shrimp Per Gallon with a Betta?
When stocking ghost shrimp in a betta tank, here are some general guidelines to follow:
- 1 ghost shrimp per 1 gallon of water
- 5-6 ghost shrimp for a 10 gallon tank
- 10-15 ghost shrimp for a 20 gallon tank
However, these are just starting points and maximums. The number of shrimp your betta tank can safely support also depends on:
- Your betta’s temperament and if he is likely to hunt shrimp
- How heavily planted the tank is to provide hiding spots
- The tank’s filtration capacity. More shrimp = higher bioload
Start with just 3-4 ghost shrimp for the first few weeks. Slowly increase to the recommended levels only if the betta ignores them. Reduce numbers if aggression occurs.
And remember, more shrimp doesn’t necessarily mean better. Focus on maintaining a happy, healthy tank environment over maximizing numbers.
What is the Maximum Number of Ghost Shrimp with a Betta?
Based on the standard 1 shrimp per gallon rule, here are the maximum numbers of ghost shrimp you can house with a betta before overstocking occurs:
- 5 gallon tank: 5 ghost shrimp max
- 10 gallon tank: 10 ghost shrimp max
- 15-20 gallon tank: 15-20 ghost shrimp max
However, we recommend staying well below these maximums in practice, especially in smaller tanks. For instance, just 3-5 shrimp in a 10 gallon heavily planted betta tank is plenty.
Exceeding the maximums risks creating poor water quality, inadequate space, and aggression issues that threaten the health of both species. Moderation is key when mixing ghost shrimp and bettas.
Tips to Reduce Aggression and Improve Compatibility
Here are some handy tips to curb betta aggression and improve their temperament when keeping ghost shrimp:
-
Rear the betta from a young age with ghost shrimp so it sees them as tankmates, not food.
-
Feed the betta regularly so it is less inclined to hunt shrimp. Offer treats like brine shrimp and blood worms.
-
Introduce the shrimp gradually over several days. Never add them all at once.
-
Dim the tank lights and provide plenty of dense planting for the shrimp to hide in.
-
Use a tank divider to separate the betta if needed. Let them become acclimated before removing it.
-
Add more peaceful tankmates like snails, tetras, or cory cats to divert the betta’s attention.
-
Remove excessively aggressive bettas that display persistent shrimp hunting behavior.
Determining how many ghost shrimp you can house with a betta requires carefully balancing the needs of both species. Provide a spacious, planted tank with ample hides. Start with conservatively stocked numbers of 3-5 shrimp. Slowly increase to the recommended 1 shrimp per gallon level only if aggression is minimal.
Remember that betta personality plays the biggest role in shrimp success. Maintain pristine water quality. And be prepared to remove shrimp or bettas if aggressive behavior persists. Follow these tips and you’ll have the best chance of keeping a thriving betta and ghost shrimp community tank.
Can ghost shrimp and Betta fish live together?
The short answer to this question is yes, ghost shrimp and Bettas can live together. However, pay attention, because things are a little more complicated in practice.
The long answer is that TRUE ghost shrimp and Betta fish can live together. However, not all shrimp sold as “ghost shrimp” in pet stores are actually true ghost shrimp. The term is a bit of a catch-all for transparent freshwater shrimp, not all of which are docile.
What youre after are freshwater species of the genus Palaemonetes. These are ACTUAL ghost shrimp, also called American glass shrimp or grass shrimp. What youre NOT after are species of the genus Macrobrachium, like Macrobrachium lanchesteri. These grow much too large and can attack your Betta fish.
True Palaemonetes ghost shrimp can co-exist peacefully with Betta fish. Your results may vary based on how aggressively your Betta fish hunt—some can’t be kept with other fish, while others get along great with others—but if you take the right steps, the combination could work well.
Do ghost shrimp make good “janitors”?
Yes. Some people keep ghost shrimp with Betta fish because they help keep the aquarium clean and healthy. Since shrimp eat dead plants and animals, your ghost will eat things like leftover food, algae, microorganisms, and bits of dead plants. It might even pick at Betta poop!.
Of course, you shouldnt rely on a shrimp to do your aquarium maintenance for you. Thats your job. Still, given their low bioload, a ghost shrimp can at least help you out.
5 Tips to Keep Bettas with Shrimp Successfully
FAQ
Can I put a ghost shrimp in with my betta?
How many shrimp can live with a betta?
How many ghost shrimp can be in a 10 gallon tank?
How many ghost shrimp can live in a 5 gallon tank?
How many ghost shrimp can a betta fish have?
With your Betta Fish, you can have 5 ghost shrimp in your 5.5 gallon tank. While some Bettas may not mind, some may be bothered by the presence of a Ghost Shrimp! They are scavengers who will eat anything they can get their hands on with their tiny pincers.
Can ghost shrimp and Betta fish live together?
You must avoid adding fish such as Acaras, Parrotfish, and Oscars. They do not get along very well. In many cases, ghost shrimp and betta fish can be kept in the same tank. Yes, this is a slightly more complicated process than usual, and you will need more time to adjust all the parameters, but it will make your aquarium special.
Do betta fish eat ghost shrimps?
Some hobbyists have found that their betta fish eats their ghost shrimps as soon as they are introduced into the tank while others have witnessed a slow disappearance of their ghost shrimps over time; then, of course, there are the lucky ones who have kept ghost shrimps with betta fish for years without any problems.
Should you add ghost shrimp to a Betta tank?
Always add ghost shrimp first to a tank. If you already have betta inside, remove it, redecorate the tank and add ghost shrimp first. If you add the betta first, it will consider the entire tank as its own territory, and adding other species may be impossible or extremely difficult.