Compatable Shrimp for my tank...

LasColinasCichlids

So, I would like to add a shrimp to my 15 gallon set up, and unsure of which kind to get as far as compatablility with my other fish in the tank.

I know the rasbora wont bother any shrimp, and my betta wouldnt care either. I dont know how ADFs might react, as I have only had ghost shrimp back in the day but they were housed with livebearers (and this was probably about 5+ years ago). And I dont know if my snail and a shrimp might have issues (this is my first snail), but I doubt snails and shrimp have issues together.

Anyways...based on that, any recommendations? I was thinking of either a cherry shrimp, a crystal red shrimp, or a bumblebee shrimp...as these I can easily find. And I dont want to buy a shrimp that costs $3-7 and have it get ate or die...and I dont want to go with ghost shrimp regardless of how cheap they are.

Tank Stats:
15 gallon glass tank (24"x12"x12")
sand substrate with a bit of gravel sprinkled on top
live plants ( 7 at the moment -both stem & rooted-, more being added in 2 wks)
temp is 79F
pH is around 6.9
water is mod hard
0 ammonia & nitrites, nitrates reading around 10ppm
fert used is 7.5 ml of API Leaf Zone Pro Series weekly
Current tankmates listed in my signature for the 15 gal, but 5 black kuhli loaches will be added in 2 weeks.

Shrimp suggestions or advice regarding compatablity with current and future fish? (I know bettas are known to ocassionally attack and eat shrimp, but I have full confidence my boy wont...he's super easy-going and gets along with all his tankmates and actually enjoys having tankmates verses being solo.)

Thanks folks!

Cassandra90

You should be fine with any small shrimp like ghost shrimp, snowball shrimp, cherry shrimp, crystal red shrimp. I am not to sure about Bamboo Shrimp, or the other numerous small shrimp like the yellow, tiger shrimp.

I have had experience with ghost shrimp, snowball shrimp, and cherry shrimp, those are very easy to keep.

Cassandra90

Snowball Shrimp | White Pearl Shrimp | The Shrimp Farm
I have used this site numerous times to gain some more information on shrimp species. It may help you with your decision.

LasColinasCichlids

Thanks, I appreciate it!!

I started thinking about it, and I might just set up my 5 gal this summer and make it nothing but shrimp with tons of live plants and a big moss ball.

I heard that Bamboo Shrimp love heavy currents...which is cool and easy to do, as they tend to feed in the current.

I think the red crystal shrimp (or whatever they're called) are what I am highly considering. Although I did just want one or two in my 15 gal to pick up leftovers that the frog and snail leave behind.

Cassandra90

The Crystal Reds are amazing. I have been looking for some for a few months since I was interested in breeding. But they are hard to come by. I never kept only one or two, I have always kept my shrimp in large groups like five or more.

The only problem with Bamboo Shrimp is they tend to leave the tank if they can get out since the will move on to look for other food.

LasColinasCichlids

My local Petsmart actually has the crystal reds in all the time... as well as ghosts, the shrimp that look like ghosts but are mean, and the often carry a shrimp that looks just like the crystal reds, but they have black where the red should be...forgot what they are called. The CRS are like $4.99 at my petsmart, I think that's my biggest issue, paying $5 for one little shrimp. And if I do a solo shrimp tank then I want like 10 in it...so that's $50 in un-eatable shrimp, lol.

My 5 gal is open for debate whether or not it will become a shrimp home, or a vampire crab home. I guess it depends if my LFS has managed to get their hands on another vampire crab or not, as they are very hard to come by.

As far as a good scavenger in my 15 gallon, do you think a true ghost shrimp would be okay? As in not attacking my frogs (which have poor vision), and would not bother my betta's fins?

If the ghost is okay, then I will wait and get my 5 gal set back up and cycled and will decided between a vampire crab and some crystal red shrimp.

Thanks again!

Cassandra90

Yeah CRS can cost alot, but you are lucky that your LFS carries them. My local aquarium store carries different shrimp but I never seen CRS there.

The ghost shrimp will be fine. Just make sure their claws are not red, if so those are the aggressive ones. But most ghost shrimp will have a red band on their front legs or atneas. I have not had any problem when housing ghost shrimp with bettas and ADF. I know some people have had a problem with the betta eating them or the shrimp trying to eat at the bettas tails. So just watch them when you do get them.

LasColinasCichlids

Thanks for the heads up!!!

Cassandra90

No problem.

eileen

I would go with Red Cherry shrimps, The Cyrstal red shrimps are a bit harder to keep and breed and they are more sensitive to the water qty then the Red Cherries. Try craigslist. I have seen people on craigslist have the red cherry shrimps for $1 each. I would cover the filter intake with a netting. I got some fine netting at the fabric store and used a plastic tie wrap over mine. You have to clean it out every so often so that the water flow is not low when it gets dirty and clogged. I keep endlers in with my shrimps and 1 bushy nosed pleco as they stay on the small size. I also have Assassin snails in with my red cherries and crystal red shrimps. Bigger fish will eat the babies that are born as they are really tiny in size.Make sure that you have a well planted tank to keep the shrimps. They like Java Moss to hang out in on the surface. I have Java Moss tied with fishing line on driftwood with java ferns that look nice.

Good scavenger is assassin snails, mystery snail, horned nerite snail, bushy nosed pleco. The white and Black shrimps are Crystal Black Shrimps the wild color of the ones created that are red and white Cyrstal Red Shrimps. get some Indian almond leaves, oak leaves as the shrimps like those and breed like crazy with some in the tank. You can get them on Aquabid, or E-bay.

Good luck with your shrimps. checkout www.planetinverts.com for shrimp information a good website.

Here are some pictures, I know their is a gouarmi in with the crystal shrimps but these are fire honey dwarf gouarmi's and they are the same size as the shrimps and do not bother mine. If they get bigger as they grow i can move them to a 30 gal. or 20 gal. tank. They are in a 6 gal. tank in my kitchen

Attached Images

	dwarf honey gouarmi 001.jpg (101.4 KB, 46 views)
	dwarf honey gouarmi 003.jpg (101.5 KB, 46 views)
	Java Fern attatched to driftwood & a little red cherry shrimp.jpg (101.8 KB, 46 views)