Population Question

[happyannie]

I have a Betta in a 10 gallon tank and want to get him some red cherry shrimp as tankmates. How many can I put in with im without overcrowding? Will they reproduce in there so I need to be mindful of that? I don't really want to breed them at this point and don't want their reproducing to cause an overpopulation. Thanks alot in advance!!

[badflash]

No matter how you try, you'll never overcrowd a betta with cherries. As fast as you put them in, he'll take them apart and eat them.

[happyannie]

I'd always read they made compatible tankmates. Well...

[badflash]

Bettas are bug eaters in the wild. Their mouths are perfectly designed to grab stuff off the surface that falls in. A shrimp looks just like a bug, so I wouldn't chance it. Bettas can be very agressive.

Cherries are best kept with snails, by themselves or with very non-agressive fish like ottos or plecos. I've had good luck with endlers with my amanos, but I think the cherry babies could still be a snack for them.

If you have enough plants for them to hide in you could probably get away with it.

[happyannie]

You're probably right. I do have alot of plants in there and a coconut hut with java moss on it that they could crawl into the edges of.

[zapisto]

You're probably right. I do have alot of plants in there and a coconut hut with java moss on it that they could crawl into the edges of.

no matter what hiding place you have the betta will snack them one after one.

i am new in shrimp but i am not new with fish, and let me tell badflash give you the rigth answer.

[happyannie]

Well then it's sure not worth it for anyone involved except the Betta who's getting a free meal. I'd hate to get something only to have it die. Thanks guys.

[happyannie]

Are there other kinds of shrimp that would be ok to put with a Betta? I've heard ghost shrimp. True?

[badflash]

They will take apart a ghost shrimp too. Anything tough enough to deal with a Betta will likely eat the Betta. It would be best if you just kept him by himself.

[alexperez]

I put in 4 cherries in my daughters one gallon betta tank and its been 3 weeks and the shrimp are still alive. Problably won't be alive for much longer but so far they are making it. I do see the Betta trying to catch them but the shrimp are to fast. I have plenty of cherries so losing 4 is not a problem, but if you only have a few I wouldn't risk it.

[Mustafa]

Just do yourself and the shrimp a favor and set up a separate tank for the shrimp. A ten gallon tank is very cheap ($8-$11). A shrimp tank does not need much technology so all you need is a light and an air driven sponge filter. Done. At least that way you get to enjoy all facets of their natural bahvior instead of just one if you have a beta: hiding and zipping away.

[RobertDD]

I have plenty of cherries so losing 4 is not a problem

Apart from the fact that it is a little cruel, of course... (That's what you meant to say, right?)

[happyannie]

Thanks for your responses. I had my heart set on those red beauties but watching an animal die is so awful. I relied on a clerk at a store's advice once and I blended in some fish where they didn't belong. It was absolutely terrible but I learned some huge lessons on that.

Yeah losing only 4 is still losing though. They are little creatures but still creatures as much as the larger kind. Sometimes we can forget that when something is tiny and quiet.

Thanks Mustafa for your advice. I just might start a little environment only for shrimp. They are really intriguing and beautiful.

Thanks again everyone for being candid. Very helpful!

[leto3113]

I wanted to chime in here and say that I've kept ghost shrimp with bettas a few times and it worked out pretty well. Bettas can vary greatly from one fish to the other as far as personalities are concerned. A very nice display I had once was a gorgeous betta, a school of White Clouds, and a few ghost shrimp. I did add the betta last so maybe that was the reason why he was actually peaceful towards the other tankmates.
I have a weirdo dwarf puffer now(in an Eclipse 6 system) who within 6 hours killed the other 2 DP's that were added to the tank the same time he was but he totally ignores ghost shrimp.