Shrimp and African Dwarf Frog

Constantine24 · Post by **Constantine24** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:41 pm

I have a Cherry and Ghost shrimp, the Ghost is actually quite large, bigger than the Black Neon Tetras in my tank. I wanted to know the compatibility between shrimps and African Dwarf frogs. I certainly don't want my babies to be lunch.

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:42 pm

I separated my ghosts and cherries. The ghosts were eating the babies. They also killed one of my bumblebees.

Post by **Mustafa** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:57 pm

badflash wrote:I separated my ghosts and cherries. The ghosts were eating the babies. They also killed one of my bumblebees.

I can see that that might snag babies, but I highly doubt that they kill any healthy, adult dwarf shrimp. Their claws are just not strong enough to hold on to a healthy dwarf shrimp that "zips" away.

Have you actually observed the killing or did you just see the ghost shrimp eating a dead or half-dead (but still moving) shrimp? Keep in mind that your water parameters are anything else but perfect for the bumblebees so they are likely to die on their own without any help from the outside. And of course a dying bumblebee is a nice treat for any other shrimp, other dwarf shrimp included. The ghost shrimp just tend to be faster and more efficient.

People tend to mistake scavenging for killing, especially if they see the half-dead shrimp still moving a little. That's why you hear some wild, unsubstantiated stories about Amano shrimp catching and killing fish and shrimp. Go figure....

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:35 pm

No I actually witness the killing. I was adding the bumblebees to the tank and one of the larger ghost bit it and started chewing, the same way they killed the little cherries. They did not grab & hold, they just chomped down on them. The bumblebees were juvies, but near adult.

These were the same ones that I was able to breed in fresh water, so I know thes guy are the Palaemonetes paludosus.

Post by **Mustafa** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:44 pm

badflash wrote:
They did not grab & hold, they just chomped down on them.

Interesting. They must have held them somehow as it is extremely hard to just bite down on a moving shrimp. Even my various macrobrachiums species with their huge claws cannot hold on to a "zipping" dwarf shrimp unless they get a good hold on it with their strong claws. I believe that you observed this but there must have been some other factor that might have weakened the bumblebee juvenile. Were these bumblebees that had just arrived at your house? (i.e. new purchases?). If so, then that could be why they were weak to begin with since they are already weakened, and possibly sick, imported shrimp.

Constantine24 · Post by **Constantine24** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:00 am

Will an African Dwarf frog harm my shrimp?

demented_lullaby · Post by **demented_lullaby** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:47 pm

Wow talk about off topic guys lol!

ADF might catch a shrimp every now and then but with the way they eat I doubt they could keep it down. It takes them long enough to finish off a blood worm, I can't imagine them finishing off a shrimp. Mine lives with a fairly large amano with no problems what-so-ever.

Maekellen · Post by **Maekellen** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:52 pm

I doubt an ADF would be able to harm the adult shrimp, however any babies would be consumed, if the ADF managed to catch them that is.

Constantine24 · Post by **Constantine24** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:47 pm

I am mainly concerned for the Cherry shrimp because of her small size, and I certainly wanted to know that shrimp wasn't a usual meal for that type of frog.

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:02 pm

Interesting. They must have held them somehow as it is extremely hard to just bite down on a moving shrimp. Even my various macrobrachiums species with their huge claws cannot hold on to a "zipping" dwarf shrimp unless they get a good hold on it with their strong claws

The Ghosts are opportunists and they strike without hesitation when an opportunity arises. In this case a bumblebee landed right in front of a large female who bit the shrimp on the back of the neck immediately before the little shrimp could recover from the transfer and get its bearings. One bite and it was over. I saw something very similar with a baby cherry, so I knew it wasn't a fluke.

demented_lullaby · Post by **demented_lullaby** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:57 pm

ADF's prefer easy to catch food like blood worms and other squigglies. Their mouths also aren't made for eating inverts.

Post by **Mustafa** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:48 pm

badflash wrote:In this case a bumblebee landed right in front of a large female who bit the shrimp on the back of the neck immediately before the little shrimp could recover from the transfer and get its bearings. One bite and it was over.

That's why I really think that something was wrong with that bumblebee. Shrimp have innate reflexes. They zip away if something approaches them quickly. They seem to be able to both see something coming and feel it with their feelers. I can almost guarantee you that you would not see your glass shrimp catching any healthy red cherry shrimp that are the size of the bumblebee you observed getting attacked.

Constantine24 · Post by **Constantine24** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:51 pm

Mustafa could you, you know, possibly comment on my question?

Post by **Mustafa** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:26 am

Constantine24 wrote:Mustafa could you, you know, possibly comment on my question?

I have not given my comment in this thread because I do not own an african dwarf frog and never owned one (although I do find them very interesting). I just don't like speculating on things I haven't had any experience with. I might get one in the future though, so maybe I can say more then.

demented_lullaby · Post by **demented_lullaby** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:24 pm

Constantine24 wrote:Mustafa could you, you know, possibly comment on my question?

or you know, you could just read mine, from someone who has experience with these animals

.