Ghost Shrimp Emergency

[Kendalyn]

Today I bought 4 ghost shrimp and put them in a 6 gallon tank with a Betta and an Otocinclus. I thought the Betta would be fine with the shrimp since he is ok with the Oto, but I witnessed him munching on one only a few hours after I added them. I searched for the rest of the shrimp and found the remaining 3 still alive.

I got them out and they're in a small cup right now. I do have a 2 gallon Mini-Bow I could put them in, but it's not cycled or anything. My other option is to take them back to the store tomorrow.

What's the best thing to do? If I set up the other tank, is there a way to do it that's easiest on the shrimp?

 

[Sterbai]

How big are the shrimp? Did you acclimatise them properly as they can really suffer from a change in water parameters. I usually drip tank water slowly into the bag for an hour or so until the parameters are even.

Bettas can be aggressive and I've seen some very aggressive males but it could also be that the shrimp died and the betta started to eat it. Although the betta killing the shrimp wouldn't come as a surprise. As you added them and because they were new to your tank the fish may have thought that they were food as well because they were added from the surface, what I usually do is feed my fish just before I add new members as the new fish can sneak past the new ones without being harassed.

 

[Kendalyn]

The shrimp are maybe about half an inch long.

I did slowly add tank water to the bag when I put them in the first tank, but after the first one got eaten I kind of panicked and stuck them in another tank quickly. I did fill the new tank with water from the other tank though so the water parameters should be the same.

I don't think the Betta thought they were food. The shrimp were in the tank about 6 hours before he killed one. Also, he killed it but didn't eat it. He did come back a couple times and mess with it a bit, but he never ate it. I fished the dead body out myself. I think I'll just count my blessings that he's ok with the Oto and consider that tank fully stocked!

Hopefully the shrimp will be alright in the 2.5 gallon tank. It doesn't have a heater right now because this all happened last night after the pet stores were closed. I'm not even sure I can safely heat a 2.5 gallon tank.

 

[Sterbai]

Is it the amano Shrimp? If so they actually require slightly cooler waters anyway. I have kept cherrys with my betta but I think each betta is an individual as to what he will tolerate, unfortunately you got unlucky

 

[Kendalyn]

These are ghost shrimp. I think they're mainly used as feeders at the store I bought them from. They were only 30 cents each. I like them though.

So far they are doing fine. I did a big water change this morning and changed nearly all the water in the tank. If they last long enough in there for the tank to be cycled, maybe I'll try a female Betta in there eventually or add some more shrimp.