cherry shrimp tankmates

[debrab1954]

can i keep small fish that stay a small size with cherry shrimp i have a 55 gal planted aquarium if so any ideas i wasnt sure if even the small ones would pick on the baby shrimp thanks

[bochr]

I have kept Boraras maculatus together with breeding RCS without any problems for some time now.

[bochr]

I have also kept Heterandria formosa and RCS together without any problems.

[Mustafa]

The only problem with H. formosa is that it eats a lot of baby shrimp. They even follow them around in java moss and eventually snatch them. This is from my own experience with them. Once I took them out of one of my Red Cherry Shrimp tanks the shrimp population literally exploded.

[bochr]

I'll take a closer look on my formosa, and see if they should be removed from the tank.

[eraserbones]

I've been keeping tanichthys micagemmae with cherry shrimp for several months now. The shrimp are reproducing like mad, and many young are growing up -- I've never seen a young shrimp being pursued or eaten.



These fish eat food that's swirling in the water column, but I've never seen them 'forage' on the bottom or in the plants. Basically the young shrimp are sure to be safe unless they swim right in front of a fish's face. Additionally, my micagemmae are interested only in very small food particles -- I tried feeding them some adult brine shrimp, and they ignored it altogether.

A few caveats: There is a lot of plant cover in my tank. Also, I have no idea if my micaemmae are typical or not. They seem very finicky; they breeder that I got them from says that his eat adult brine shrimp enthusiastically.

I also have a couple of otocinclus in the tank -- they are the safest bet of all, if you want fish with your shrimp.

[IndianaSam]

You keep tanichthys micagemmae? That's awesome. Wish I could get some here.

Um...to keep this thread on topic. I don't keep any fish with my shrimp because I don't like to take the risk. Shrimp (even Cherries) are still somewhat too pricey for me to fool around with it.