Shrimp Mates

capper · Post by **capper** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:33 am

We have a 46g community with quite a few different varieties of fish including 10 platies. We also have a 16g tank with 6 platies and 3 hockey sticks (penguin fish). In both tank we have a handful of Yamato Japonica shrimp in both of those tanks. We also have a large number of cherry red shrimp in both tanks. Over the past few weeks, the cherry reds have been multiplying quite rapidly. It's been great! I was really concerned that the platies might eat some of the baby shrimp and / or shrimp eggs. The platies always seem hungry! Are platies a danger to breeding shrimp?

We also have a 6g tank and we recently put 3 small guppies in the tank. We would like to move some of our cherry red shrimp into the 6g with our guppies. Is this okay? Could we breed shrimp in the 6g tank along with guppies?

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:17 am

Hi capper,

Just some friendly advice. I would not keep my shrimp, especially cherry red shrimp with any fish other than Ottos. This was also stated in the article "How to Keep Dwarf Shrimp" in the areticle section. Any fish that can fit shrimp into its mouth is a threat to the shrimp! Babies being so small are at a greater risk! I would move the guppies to another tank and use the 6g tank as a shrimp only tank. Hope things work out for you and please update us on your progress.

capper · Post by **capper** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:20 pm

I have read about what you're saying about keeping shrimp separate from all other fish. However, we seem to be having good success breeding in our 2 larger tanks. Yes, they are both well planted, thus providing plenty of hiding spots for the shrimp. However, on many occasions, I have seen various fish in both tanks swim right past or hang around the area where there are very small / baby shrimp without incident. I would like to continue breeding shrimp as we are.

Anyway, our new guppies are quite small. If I put some larger shrimp in the same tank with them, I am sure they'd be fine... If they start breeding, then I'll have to watch closely at that time.

What do you think?

Are specific fish responsible for going after the little shrimp?

Shrimp&Snails · Post by **Shrimp&Snails** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:12 am

capper wrote: Are specific fish responsible for going after the little shrimp?

Anything that will take live food will generally eat shrimplets....even corydoras (which are snail safe).

I have two small female guppies in with my cherry shrimp at the moment who don't seem to bother them but when the shrimp start breeding I will move the guppies into hubby's tank.

Ottos and bristle nosed plecs are shrimplet safe.

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:13 am

capper

Any fish will try to eat Shrimp.

They will limit the number of offspring.

I have a pair of guppy's in my RCS tank. and yes, they will eat a few babbies.

John

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:09 am

Any fish that is capable of eating the smallest flake of fish food that you can see is a fish that can and will eat baby shrimp. Only fish with specialized mouths for scraping algae will not ever eat shrimp.

In one of the biology labs that I will be teaching, we do an experiment called "Optimal Foraging Behavior". The students observe guppies or mosquito fish as they are given a selection of different sized daphna to eat. The largest daphnia are about the same size as baby shrimp and the fish gobble them up quickly.

As long as breeding is not your main goal, you can keep shrimp with fish, but your shrimp will always suffer losses even if you never actually observe them being eaten.

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:35 am

Hi capper, I think it comes down to your priorities and prefferences. You have heard our advice and experiences above. Hope things go well for you no matter what choices you make and please keep us updated.