Betta with shrimp?

[Tl52505]

I was wondering if it is possible to successfully keep a male betta with some cherry shrimp, without them being a snack to him or without being in a huge tank. The other day I picked up 4 cherry shrimp and decided to put 3 in my main tank and try one in my betta tank. The betta chased him around, and a couple days later eventually killed him and ate him. This is the tank. Any way I could increase the chances of the shrimp surviving?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Add many more hiding places, but then, you'll never see the shrimp, they'll constantly hide from the predator

 

[Tl52505]

Wh

Add many more hiding places, but then, you'll never see the shrimp, they'll constantly hide from the predator

What type of hiding places, like more plants and rocks and stuff, or is there a specific type of thing they like to hide in

 

[Slaphppy7]

Rocks or DW with hiding spots....any of the mosses make great hangouts for shrimp

BUT...the betta has already shown the propensity for preying on the shrimp...so it may be a fruitless endeavor, anyway

Some bettas live well with shrimp, some do not...you don't know until you try

 

[Valkyrie_Lips]

In short possibly but it highly depends on the personality of the betta since they are predatory fish. Sounds like he prefers to be alone which is typical for a betta. On a side note, his tank is pretty bare especially in the top layers. I would recommend adding taller plants, floating plants or a floating log for extra cover. Bettas are very curious fish and will interact with their environment a lot if they have things to interact with/swim in/around.

 

[bananaboy]

my betta ate my shrimp

 

[Tl52505]

In short possibly but it highly depends on the personality of the betta since they are predatory fish. Sounds like he prefers to be alone which is typical for a betta. On a side note, his tank is pretty bare especially in the top layers. I would recommend adding taller plants, floating plants or a floating log for extra cover. Bettas are very curious fish and will interact with their environment a lot if they have things to interact with/swim in/around.

I decided to try again with some ghost shrimp, because if they do become a meal they are a lot cheaper. These are a lot bigger than the last shrimp I tried and I have noticed the betta is chasing a little bit, but not eating them

 

[BettasXD]

You could try making a small hideout for the shrimp that it can climb into but the betta can’t. This way the shrimp can hide in it to escape from the betta or when molting. Make sure not to make the hole too big or else the betta might get stuck in it.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I decided to try again with some ghost shrimp, because if they do become a meal they are a lot cheaper. These are a lot bigger than the last shrimp I tried and I have noticed the betta is chasing a little bit, but not eating them

Have the ghost shrimp survived?

 

[Tl52505]

Have the ghost shrimp survived?

They did for about a week, which is much longer than before, the betta just has trouble seeing them, but when he does, he doesn’t hesitate to attack

 

[Valkyrie_Lips]

They did for about a week, which is much longer than before, the betta just has trouble seeing them, but when he does, he doesn’t hesitate to attack

He's acting on instinct and that is not going to change. Bettas are predatory, aggressive fish. If you don't want him to keep killing shrimp I would suggest keeping him alone going forward.