Will Neon Tetras Eat Shrimp? Finding the Right Balance for Your Aquarium

If you’re considering keeping neon tetras and shrimp together, you may be wondering – will neon tetras eat shrimp? It’s a common question for aquarists looking to combine these popular species in one tank. In this article, we’ll examine the factors that determine the compatibility between neon tetras and shrimp.

An Overview of Neon Tetras and Shrimp

First, a quick profile of each species:

• Neon Tetras: Small, schooling fish with bright blue and red markings. Peaceful but active. Omnivorous, eating both flakes and small live foods.

• Shrimp Invertebrates that come in many freshwater varieties, Often kept for their bright colors and cleaning abilities, Omnivores that eat algae and scavenge leftovers Sensitive to water conditions

Both make attractive lively additions to community aquariums when maintained under proper conditions. But can they coexist safely?

Will Neon Tetras Actively Hunt Shrimp?

The good news is that neon tetras are generally peaceful fish that won’t maliciously hunt down larger, adult shrimp as prey. Some key considerations:

• Mouth Size: Neons have small mouths only able to eat very small foods. Most adult shrimp are too large to be eaten.

• Personality Neons are mid-level schooling fish, more likely to grab passing foods than hunt tankmates Less aggressive than other species

• Preferred Diet: Flake foods, brine shrimp, worms, etc. They don’t view larger shrimp as natural prey.

So in most cases, adult cherry shrimp, ghost shrimp, amano shrimp and other varieties are too big for neon tetras to eat, even if they wanted to. They may chase shrimplets upon hatching, but won’t deliberately hunt larger shrimp.

When Might Neon Tetras Pose a Risk to Shrimp?

There are some situations where neon tetras could potentially harm shrimp tankmates:

• Molting Shrimp: Soft-shelled shrimp after molting are vulnerable until their new shell hardens. Neons may pick at them.

• Newborn Shrimplets: Very small young may be seen as prey and eaten if accessible to neons.

• Sleeping/Sick Shrimp: Lethargic shrimp at night or with illnesses are susceptible if neons nip at them.

• Aggressive Tetras: Certain extra nippy individuals or groups may pester shrimp more.

So while deliberate hunting is unlikely, shrimp are still vulnerable at certain points in their life cycle. Extra precautions should be taken.

Tips to Keep Neon Tetras and Shrimp Safely

Here are some tips to keep shrimp safe when housing them with neon tetras:

• Provide plenty of moss, plants and decor for hiding spots. Shrimp feel safest with lots of cover.

• Use taller plants like Valisneria to give shrimp upper level shelter.

• Supplement shrimp diet with algae wafers and vegetables to minimize food competition.

• Offer shrimp hideouts like coconut caves, rock tunnels and driftwood holes.

• Arrange hardscape to break sight lines and create shrimp havens.

• Minimize water flow using baffles; neons prefer some current while shrimp do not.

• Introduce shrimp first and let them establish before adding tetras.

• Use dense plantings of moss for shrimplet protection.

• Remove aggressive tetras who excessively nip and chase.

With some planning, you can successfully house neon tetras with cherry shrimp, ghost shrimp, amano shrimp and other varieties in the same tank. Follow these tips to minimize potential risks.

Ideal Tank Size for Neon Tetras and Shrimp

We recommend a minimum 20 gallon heavily planted tank for neon tetras plus shrimp. This allows for:

• Adequate swimming space for the schooling neons.

• Plenty of territory for shrimp to establish homes among plants.

• Room for hiding places and visual barriers between species.

In smaller tanks, territorial issues are more likely to occur between fish and shrimp. But in a spacious 20 gallons or larger, they can comfortably co-exist with a lush planted layout.

Choosing Shrimp Species Carefully

While most common shrimp species can work with neon tetras, you can reduce chances of trouble by selecting shrimp carefully:

• Amano Shrimp – Very large, unlikely to be bothered by neons.

• Ghost Shrimp – Also on the larger side, transparent appearance startles fish less.

• Bamboo Shrimp – Extra large fans feed from the water column away from tetras.

If housing sensitive varieties like cherry shrimp or crystal shrimp with neons, take extra precautions. Their bright colors and small sizes make them greater targets for curious tetras if accessible.

Maintaining Proper Tank Conditions

Keep a close eye on water quality when housing shrimp and neon tetras together. Both species thrive in clean, stable conditions:

• Weekly 10-15% water changes to prevent ammonia and nitrate buildup.

• Consistent water temperature around 74-78°F.

• Solid filtration but low flow in tank to avoid trapping shrimp.

• Well-oxygenated water through plants, air stone, surface agitation.

• Monitor pH and GH to ensure mineral levels suitable for shrimp.

By proactively maintaining near-perfect water conditions, you avoid stressing shrimp and minimize risk of issues arising between the species.

Is it Worth the Risk?

At the end of the day, housing any fish and shrimp together presents inherent risks. It’s up to each aquarist to determine if the rewards of a community tank outweigh the risks and effort needed to make it work.

For many hobbyists, the vibrant activity, colors and behaviors of a neon tetra and shrimp tank create an aquarium showcase they feel is worth protecting. If care is taken during setup and ongoing maintenance, this combination can be maintained successfully long-term.

But there are no guarantees. You may still find an expensive shrimp becoming an expensive snack on occasion. It requires vigilance and preparedness for the worst case scenario. Only you can decide if the benefits are worth the risks and tradeoffs for your situation.

Key Takeaways on Neon Tetras and Shrimp

To summarize key points on housing neon tetras with shrimp:

• Adult shrimp are likely safe from being eaten by small neon tetras.

• Take extra steps to protect vulnerable molting, young, or sleeping shrimp.

• Provide plenty of hiding spots and sight barriers using plants and decor.

• Choose larger shrimp species for best results.

• Maintain pristine, stable water conditions.

• Closely supervise any newly introduced species.

• Have backup tanks available in case issues arise.

While not 100% risk-free, neon tetras and shrimp can coexist peacefully in most cases with proper precautions. This vibrant combination makes for an active community tank that brings color, activity and natural behaviors.

What are your experiences with keeping neon tetras and shrimp? Have you found them to be compatible tankmates in your aquarium when steps are taken to protect the shrimp? Share your thoughts below!