Betta + Shrimp ??

[nik_n]

Hello
I heard some controversial opinions about keeping betta with shrimp. I think that, if enough live plants and hiding spaces are provided it could be done. I just finished cycling a 10 gallon for a betta and was wondering if I could keep/breed shrimp in there.

 

[Colin_T]

Most Bettas will eat baby shrimp but if you have lots of plants in the tank and feed the Betta well, the shrimp will breed.

 

[Abaddon]

You could also go with amano shrimp, they're too big for most bettas to mess with. They're also prolific algae eaters. The only downside is that they don't breed in freshwater.

 

[Stacey1990]

After my experience tonight I would advise against it. I started with 5 and can only find 1 after 2 hours.

 

[EllRog]

Most Bettas will decimate shrimp, some people get lucky and have a betta that doesn't bother, but you run the risk of having shrimp killed to find out. I've learned the hard way once and not bothered trying it again

 

[Stacey1990]

Most Bettas will decimate shrimp, some people get lucky and have a betta that doesn't bother, but you run the risk of having shrimp killed to find out. I've learned the hard way once and not bothered trying it again

I honestly didn't think he would bother, proved me wrong lol.

 

[Yohance1130]

In my experience:

My betta was aggressive towards my cherry shrimp and would sometimes would hunt for my cherry shrimp.

When I first added the cherry shrimp to my tank my Betta relentlessly hunted for them for hours and hours.

Even when my betta would catch a couple of the shrimp, my shrimp population was still growing I started out with 7 and now I have over 30 in the tank with my betta fish still in the tank and still increasing.

The reason the population of shrimp grew was because I had a lot of cover at the bottom of the tank for the shrimp, created by plants, caves, leaf litter etc.. The cover in my tank allowed places for the shrimp to retreat to when my betta would start chasing them.

There was lots of holes and crevices in the tank where my betta fish could not fit in but the shrimp could.

If your tank is heavily planted your shrimp population will grow even with the betta in the tank. Your betta may be able snatch a couple but not a lot of the shrimp since there are so many hiding spots for the shrimp to escape too in a heavily planted tank.

Also, most shrimp are usually faster then bettas depending which fin type of betta you have. I had a crown tail betta and the shrimp were still faster then him.


If your tank has no plants, decoration, or lots of places for your shrimp to retreat from your betta. Your betta will be able to chase your shrimp around the tank without the shrimp being able to escape somewhere away from the betta. Eventually the shrimp will get tired and give your betta a chance to eat him. Your betta will be able to harass your shrimp for as long as he wants.

If your betta is naturally peaceful that will also help lots obviously!