Betta fish are some of the most common freshwater species in the aquarium hobby. There are many ways to improve your aquarium to make it a better place for all of your fish, from the common blue betta to the rare galaxy koi.
Even though betta fish are known to be aggressive, they can live in a community tank with other fish. Freshwater shrimp, African dwarf frogs, and other species could be good candidates. In this post, we’re going to recommend 10 of the best shrimp to coexist with your betta fish.
Hobbyists will come across a wide variety of opinions online when keeping betta fish with shrimp. People who keep fish should know that bettas are predatory fish and that each fish has its own personality. We’ve had both types of fish do well in some of our tanks.
Before keeping shrimp with bettas, aquarium owners should either make sure the tank is well-planted or give the fish lots of fake places to hide. The larger the tank, the less likely youll notice aggressive behavior from your betta. You should also have a backup plan in case you see your betta fish acting like it wants to eat other fish. Hobbyists often keep a nano tank on hand in case they need to move any of their shrimp.
Now that you know the risks and have given your shrimp lots of places to hide, here are 10 great choices:
Amano shrimp are popular with people who like to keep fish in fresh water. They get their name from the famous aquascaper Takashi Amano and are known for eating algae. Any algae in the tank will do for these shrimp. They will even eat the infamous black beard algae.
Perhaps the most common shrimp in the hobby is the Red Cherry Shrimp (scientific name: Neocaridina davidi. They are graded, which means that the shrimp with the brightest colors are given a grade, with “AA” being one of the best grades. Whether youre keeping low or high-grade red cherries, they are an excellent choice for a community tank.
One of the most popular red cherry color morphs is known as Blue Dream Shrimp. These shrimp have been crossbred with other color variations of Neocaridinia davidi to produce a deep blue coloration. These shrimp are commonly mistaken with blue velvet shrimp.
The green color of Green Jade Shrimp can help them hide in an aquarium with lots of plants. These shrimp can be lime green or forest green, and the best ones will not be very clear.
The orange pumpkin is another common Neocaridina davidi color morph. This freshwater invertebrate has a color that looks great with darker aquarium substrates.
Orange Pumpkins are typically easy to find and often go up for sale on our marketplace.
The scientific name for the ghost shrimp is Palaemon paludosus, and it looks a lot like an Amano shrimp. It lives in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States and is known to be a bit more aggressive than Neocardinia species.
The adults of these shrimp can get up to an inch long, which is much bigger than the other shrimp on this list.
Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are popular freshwater fish kept as pets. With their vivid colors and flowing fins, bettas are beautiful additions to home aquariums While they can be kept alone, you may want to add other creatures like shrimp to liven up the tank
Certain shrimp species make excellent tankmates for bettas when kept under the right conditions. The key is choosing shrimp that are small enough not to be seen as prey, yet large enough not to be eaten.
In this article, we’ll go over the best shrimp to keep with betta fish. We’ll also cover tank setup tips to help the shrimp and betta coexist peacefully.
Best Shrimp for Betta Tanks
Not all shrimp species are well-suited for life with bettas. You’ll want to stick to these top picks that tend to make the best tankmates:
1. Red Cherry Shrimp
Red cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are a popular choice for betta tanks. Their bright red coloration makes them stand out. They stay relatively small, growing to around 1-1.5 inches. This makes them less likely to be seen as food by bettas.
Cherry shrimp are easy to care for and breed readily, so you’ll likely end up with a thriving population Make sure to provide plenty of hiding spots with plants and decorations to give the shrimp places to escape if needed.
2. Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus) are another common shrimp kept with betta fish. They earn their name from their translucent bodies. While not as vibrantly colored as cherry shrimp, ghost shrimp grow slightly larger reaching around 2 inches.
They spend more time scavenging the tank bottom, helping clean up excess food and debris. Having a cleanup crew helps maintain good water quality for your betta. Provide ample hiding places and do not overcrowd the tank.
3. Amano Shrimp
Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) make excellent algae eaters in betta tanks thanks to their voracious appetites. They grow up to 2 inches long and are transparent gray in color.
Being efficient algae eaters, amanos help keep the tank clean. They also sift through the substrate looking for uneaten food. Make sure to supplement their diet with algae wafers and blanched veggies.
Tank Setup Tips for Keeping Shrimp With Bettas
While the above shrimp species often do well with bettas, success depends heavily on the tank setup. Follow these guidelines to create the safest, most hospitable environment:
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Tank Size – Aim for at least a 10 gallon tank when keeping shrimp with bettas. This allows adequate swimming space for both species. Shrimp need room to graze and forage.
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Planted Tank – Plant the tank heavily with live plants like java fern, anubias, hornwort, etc. The greenery provides infinite hiding spots for shy shrimp. It also breaks up line of sight for more territorial bettas.
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Hiding Spots – Incorporate plenty of caves, rocks, driftwood, coconut shells, and other decorations for shrimp to take cover when needed. Shrimp feel most secure with many hiding places.
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Few Tankmates – Limit other tankmates to avoid overstocking. The betta and shrimp should have the tank mostly to themselves. Other possible additions include snails or a few small rasboras or tetras.
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Soft Substrate – Use a soft substrate without sharp edges to avoid injuring delicate shrimp. Pool filter sand or soil substrates work well for shrimp. Gravel risks damaging their sensitive undersides and antennae.
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Moderate Currents – Bettas and shrimp prefer gentle water flow. Strong currents can stress them out. Direct the filter output to break up the surface rather than generate a powerful stream.
With the right shrimp species selection, tank setup, precautions, and care, shrimp and bettas can make charming tank companions. Observe their interactions closely, especially when first introduced. Be prepared to remove the shrimp should the betta become aggressive. Overall though, these peaceful shrimp do often thrive alongside bettas when provided with proper housing.
Cherry, ghost, and amano shrimp are good starter options to consider first when choosing shrimp. Their small size, natural behaviors, and hardiness help them fare better than larger, more sensitive shrimp. Give them plenty of live plants and hiding places within a spacious tank. Maintain high water quality and offer a well-rounded diet.
With the proper setup and shrimp species selection, a betta fish can cohabitate successfully with shrimp. The shrimp add lots of activity to watch while helping keep the tank clean. Take the time to create a safe environment and you’ll be rewarded with an active, balanced freshwater community tank.
Crystal Red Shrimp (with caution)
Crystal Red Shrimp should only be cared for by hobbyists with a lot of experience, since these fish are very sensitive to stress and bad water conditions. Because these shrimp like soft water, you’ll probably need to buy or make your own RO/DI water to keep them alive.
Hobbyists who want to pair these with a betta should have a backup plan ready in case the betta starts to act aggressive.
A Crystal Red Shrimp
Orange Rili (with caution)
For aquarists who are new to the hobby, the Orange Rili’s clear band might seem like an oddity rather than a desirable trait. However, shrimp have been crossed-breeding for decades to create the Orange Rili’s clear band.
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Neocardinia color morphs like the Red Cherry are more common and less expensive than orange Rili shrimp. Betta tank owners should be careful putting orange Rili shrimp in their tanks.
An Orange Rili Shrimp
Can betta fish live with shrimp? Will bettas eat shrimp?
What shrimp to keep with Betta fish?
The best shrimp to keep with Betta fish are Ghost Shrimp and Amano Shrimp. These species thrive in similar water parameters to Betta fish, and are large enough to normally avoid being eaten by the fish. Choose larger shrimp species that prefer temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do betta fish have shrimp?
Betta fish are tropical fish that many people keep in aquariums, and they have an exciting relationship with shrimp that you can take advantage of if you want to keep shrimp in your betta fish tank. If you want shrimp in your Betta aquarium, it is best to go with Amano shrimp or Ghost shrimp.
Can Betta and shrimp live together?
Betta and shrimp can live together peacefully if you pick your pets wisely. Certain shrimp species need a different water temperature or water pH level. Others are simply too small to live with a betta. To avoid problems, choose a non-aggressive betta and make safe spaces for your shrimp. Do Shrimp Clean Tanks?
Are Betta fish and shrimp good mates?
You’re probably wondering if keeping your betta and shrimp together is worth the trouble. The truth is, betta and shrimp make great tank mates once they get used to one another. They both like many plants, and many shrimp species need the same water conditions as betta fish. Not everyone likes to keep community tanks.