Bettas With Shrimps.

[The Mottfish]

Just wondering how well bettas get on with shrimps. I've yet to research shrimps properly and was just wondering what people think of having bettas and shrimps. (Do shrimps need special living conditions?)

I'm deciding on what I should put in with a betta atm (when I eventually get my tank set up) and after seeing some shrimp down my LFS I really wanna get some!

The tank will be 7 - 10 gallons depending.

Thanks.

 

[chibi]

What kind of shrimp did you have in mind? My friend's betta eats ghost shrimp.

 

[PaPeRo]

I think it depends on the betta's personality. My betta doesn't even notice my ghost shrimp anymore even if the shrimp climbs on the betta's head.

However, when I first put the shrimp in, the betta was very curious and followed the shrimp around. My shrimp is about 1 inch and my tank is 2.5 gallons.

Make sure you have hiding place for the shrimp because it's very vulnerable when it molts. Also make note that your experience may be different from mine as shrimp color, size, and your betta's personality are all important factors that determine whether or not they'll be ok together.

 

[DarkEntity]

My Bettas just ignore my Amano and Ghost Shrimp

 

[The Mottfish]

Do you think it would be as big a problem if the shrimp were to be added first?
I've yet to really research shrimp so I don't really know what type I'd be getting but I'll make sure my tank is well planted anyway and I'll make sure hiding places aren't a problem.
What shrimp would you recommend?

Thanks again!

 

[PaPeRo]

Don't get any shrimp that gets big or have long big pinchers.

Compatible shrimp are Amano, Ghost, Cherry Fire and some others that have small claws and don't grow big.

Bamboo shrimp are harmless too but they get pretty big, bigger than a betta.

Best stocking order is at the same time or shrimp first.

 

[The Mottfish]

Ok, Thanks.

 

[starrynightxxi]

the betta will probably still be curious about the shrimp though, as it's unlikely it'll have ever seen one.

as for the shrimp you should go with, I would say ghost shrimp. This is largely because amanos, cherries, and bamboo shrimp can all be sensitive to quality. Also the bamboo/wood shrimp is a filter feeder and it can be difficult to get it enough to eat. They eat bacteria and algae and what not that can be found in a mature tank, but a new tank will starve it without special feedings. amano and cherry shrimp like tanks that have some algae for snacking one, so mature tanks are best.

Ghost shrimp can be sensitive to water quality in that a cycling tank may harm them, but otherwise it is almost impossible to kill them. They eat anything but are harmless to anything but the smallest of fry. They are also cheap so if your betta decides to snack on them you aren't out a lot of money, and they are compatible with the other shrimp types so if they DON'T get eaten, you can still get the others once the tank is settled.

 

[sylvia]

Take a look at http/www.petshrimp.com for shimp info. My personal favourites are cherry shrimp but ghost/amano shrimp are cute too (and the most common).

 

[PaPeRo]

Yes even if the shrimp is introduced first or at the same time the betta may still be curious, however, the betta will also be somewhat preoccupied from being in a completely new tank/environment so that will help a little.

 

[Richie Hell]

I'm wary of shrimp ever since I went to one one pet store and saw a Betta swimming round his tank with a shrimp firmly latched onto his fins

 

[PaPeRo]

Haha do you remember what kind of shrimp it was?

 

[The Mottfish]

Thanks all!

Is shrimp attacking other fish and stuff a common thing? Sounds nasty lol.

 

[Richie Hell]

Haha do you remember what kind of shrimp it was?

Lol, no idea what it was, we just stood there feeling really sorry for the poor Betta. It was a big shrimp though!

 

[starrynightxxi]

generally no, but sometimes LFS will sell long-arm shrimp under the name ghost/grass/glass shrimp, and longarm shrimp WILL try to eat your fish.

with ghost shrimp, you would only have to worry about very small fry, which shouldn't be an issue in this case