Amano Shrimp Introduction Went Wrong

[Kombat]

I got some Amano Shrimp for my planted tank. I got just 5 as I wasn't sure my Paradise Fish would eat them or not. One in particular was interested. At first the shrimp seemed too fast to be caught, so I figured eventually the Paradise Fish would give up. After a couple minutes he finally caught it.

Anyhow, I rescued 3 of them, still can't find the last one. I'm still looking. I put them in with my Betta, who I've only had for a couple of weeks so he is still too small to eat them.

My questions are, 1) this isn't a planted tank so there won't be much algae. Will the shrimp by ok living on algae wafers and fish flakes? 2) When the shrimp get larger would it be safe to try to reintroduce them to my main planted tank?

Thanks,
Karl

 

[Glod]

If the Betta fancies fresh shrimp he will kill them. My betta doesn't bother with them, but some do. Your shrimp will be fine as long as they have plenty of places to hide. The more hiding places the more secure they feel. As for food you can get shrimp pellets or indeed use flake or other sinking food. The amanos in my community tank love to steal the pellets off the corys/catfish and scarper up plants clutching them.

As for reintroduction, it seems that your paradise fish has a taste for shrimp. It will always be a risk. All you can do is try and see.

 

[three-fingers]

Depends on the size of the shrimp. I find it hard to imagine a paradise fish taking down a fully grown amano. I've seen a few amano shrimp eating a betta once, the poor thing had its fins torn and missing quite a few scales from some glo-lights and put in the shrimp tank to recover. 20mins later, not much beta left .
1)Yes
2)I would say it would be OK.

 

[Glod]

I've seen a Betta systematically take an amano to pieces, with Bettas it's verry much down to the temprement of the individual fish. Some are actually pretty laid back, others will not tolerate even multi legged crustaceans as tank mates

Still in general Iwould think a full grown amano should be relatively safe with a betta unless it's very feisty.

 

[Kombat]

It took about 10 minutes for him to get this tiny shrimp down. He ate it like a snake, getting a little into his mouth at a time. After 10 minutes he still had the antanae sticking out of its mouth. It was kinda horrific actually.

I did see the last shrimp in the main tank this morning. I think I'm gonna try to leave him for now and see how he does. He seems to have found some good hiding spots.

Karl

 

[three-fingers]

How big are these shrimp?

 

[Kombat]

How big are these shrimp?

3/4" at the most.