African filter shrimp

[heythatsme]

Has anyone ever housed any of these with bettas? They get about 6" long and are supposed to be really passive, so I imagine it wont touch my bettas, but somehow it just seems too big. Anyone have any experience with them?

[Posaune]

Haven't ever had one, but I imagine they can't do a lot of damage to the betta.

http://www.planetinverts.com/African_Filter_Shrimp.html

There's a nice picture of one on there. Size of the tank will need to be kept in mind, available food for it. I've read that filter shrimp need a good current to be able to get their food easier, however Bettas don't do as well in currents (it'd be like running in 60mph wind with large, loose sheets fastened all over your body. You'd be lucky to take one step :P)

[Capricorn]

Holy crud that thing is massive. o.o I'd be scared it'd go after a tiny betta.

[celine18]

that thing is scary! soo big, it could probably gobble a betta whole!

[Capricorn]

Oh dear, apparently they're incredibly rare, as well. xD I do agree with Posaune, it looks like these guys like fast currents, quite the opposite of bettas.. VERY cool find, though!

[shinybetta]

As long as you have the proper requirements, it's good!

[Posaune]

They wouldn't eat a betta :P They are filter feeders, which is why they need a current. Their arms are covered in little feather like things, and the food gets trapped in them, then put into their mouth (kind of like how a whale's baleen works, they swim through the water with their mouth open, plankton gets stuck on the baleen, then the whale gets rid of the water and swallows the plankton)

EDIT: The bamboo shrimp that can sometimes be found in pet stores is a filter feeder shrimp, also can be ordered online.

EDIT 2: This is a link to the bamboo shrimp :)
http://www.planetinverts.com/Bamboo_Shrimp.html

[JaspersANGEL]

Wow those are cool looking!
But I agree they look big and probably would prefer a current and Betta's do not.

[Capricorn]

Originally Posted by Posaune

They wouldn't eat a betta :P They are filter feeders, which is why they need a current. Their arms are covered in little feather like things, and the food gets trapped in them, then put into their mouth (kind of like how a whale's baleen works, they swim through the water with their mouth open, plankton gets stuck on the baleen, then the whale gets rid of the water and swallows the plankton)

Oh, oh, derrrrrrr, of course that's how it works. xD

[shinybetta]

They sell these at petco with the ghost shrimp. As long as you have a filter, you can have one.