SHRIMP SAFE LIST (was: Is there a list of shrimp predators somewhere?)

[mississippimorning]

Turning this thread into a SHRIMP SAFE list. This would mean at the very least juvis but it would be better to have adults, I'm sure. Please add your experiences with shrimp-safe fish.

• neons
• cardinals
• otos
• guppies

ORIGINAL POST: I am very interested in keeping shrimp but my hubby is vehemently apposed to our house being over-run with tanks, LOL! So I am trying to keep the number of tanks that I set up to a minimum. I have a 46g display tank in our living room with cardinals,otos, cories, a BN. It will eventually house a school of praecox rainbows and a pair of rams. From what I am reading, it is best to have the shrimp in first before the rams, if I put them in there at all. But I wanna do all the research first and then get them. So what I am getting at here is how do I find out about the fish I have without asking about every single fish (which I am sure is annoying to shrimp keepers!)

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[esarkipato]

from all my reading here, googling, and at www.shrimpnow.net, there exists no such list. I think that even the smallest tetra is capable of devouring a baby shrimp (they accept brine shrimp, right?), so a list of possible predators would be waaaaay too long!

Aside from avoiding the obvious shrimp loving fish, I think the only way to go about it is trial and error. If you are wanting to keep a more *expensive* shrimp, I and others would suggest throwing in some ghost/glass shrimp first, which can be had for like $0.30 apiece at petsmart *shudder*.

In order for shrimp to survive with ANY fish (predators), I would think they need an immense amount of ground cover (I assume you have plants )

Example: I want some cherry shrimp in my community 29 w/ rams, and angel, tetras and rasporas and cories. I don't want to lose $20 on some expensive food, so I set up a 10 gallon tank to house them in, maybe get them to breed, plus I put some ghosts in the community tank. I realize another tank is not an option (unless you beg? ), so all I can really suggest is the less expensive substitute.

[Urkevitz]

Your 46g will be good if you don't add the rams, I am not sure about the rainbows. I am pretty sure the Rams will actively hunt down cherries, especially babies. My cardinals never seem to look at the cherries.

Something else to consider is that when you purchase cherries they will be small juveniles when they arrive. Having grow out / breeding tank is still the best way to go.

[turbosaurus]

I think we should come up with a shrimp safe list instead becasue fish who WON't eath them are the exception rather than the rule.

I have had ottos that don't seem to bother the shrimp, some have good luck with bn pleco- anyone else?

[hir0]

ottos and neons here. They seem to not bother any shrimp. I have a couple male guppies too who never really leave the upper half of the tank, and I've never seen them go for any shrimp. My panda cories didn't seem to bother them, but they are no longer in there.
I've had apistogramma cacatuoides attack shrimp, endlers nip at shrimp and killies that went for them too (Aphyosemion australe).

[jeep8rus]

I'm going the same way as Ernie mentioned. I set up a 10 gallon tank to breed cherry shrimp because I didn't want them to become snacks.

I also had put a few ghost shrimp in my tanks as tester shrimp and they're still alive (with my discus). I think the ghosts might actually be breeding.

Is there space underneath your bowfront for a 10 gallon? I'm keeping mine without a heater or a filter (but I do have plants and lighting). That's just an option to keep a tank out of sight and out of mind. Plus a 10 gallon tank isn't expensive.

HTH,
-Russ

[mississippimorning]

I like the idea of a shrimp safe list. Please anyone and everyone chime on in. I really want a pair of rams in there so I may try to find a place for a small shrimp tank. Wish I could find some around here. Looks like some of us in my area will be getting together later this month. That may be a great time to acquire some!

[briandmiles]

My danios will nip at my cherries from time to time and I'm certain they keep the baby/juvenile population down but I've never seen them actually attack or kill any adults. My neons and guppies were completely shrimp neutral and I've had no problems with my oto's.

Brian

[esarkipato]

I might test out my harlequin rasporas in my 10gal shrimp tank. That seems the only way to "scientifically" create this kind of list: introduce a few of a species to a tank FULL of shrimp. If they ignore the shrimp, they can be "shrimp-safe"!

[manxcatssc]

I have guppies, cories, ottos, and a pleco with my cherry and ghost shrimp and they don't bother them.

[aquamoon]

My Harlequin and black rasboras have never touch my ghost shrimp(added after the fish)...

[lumpyfunk]

Enders are moderatly shrimp safe, I have them with mine and shrimp population has increased, but I have seen a larger female take down a 1/2 inch shrimp.

[jimmydrsv]

I had neons in my shrimp tank and I notice a lot more of them out and about now without the tetras. Also i can see much smaller shrimp moving around on the glass.

I think when they are that small, any fish will affect them to some degree.

[oceanaqua]

Neons do well, but how about cardinal?

[yoink]

I keep my cherry's with black neons, neons, various cory cats, otos, guppy fry, and a rainbow shark. Never seen anyone bother them, although I'm sure the tetras and guppy fry will eat the babies. I have a ton of the tiniest cherry shrimp in with otos and corys, they pay them no attention.