[Gilligans_Island]

Following….I would like to add a few shrimps also I recently upgraded to 20 gal tank.

Currently Inhabitantas: 1 Dragon Betta, 6 peppered cory cats, 9 venezuelan cory cats and 5 ramshorn snails.

Cheers, Em

 

[Gilligans_Island]

Hello,
My name is Anna and I recently got a betta fish and was wondering if I could put a cherry shrimp in the tank with it. My male betta is in a 5 gallon cubed aquarium with a filter and heater, plus live plants. This is my first time with a planted aquarium. (I have had a betta before but I used silk plants). Compared to my previous betta fish, my current fish (named Cosmo) is more curious about his environment and less skittish. So i’m worried about how he will treat a cherry shrimp. I have done research about putting the fish and shrimp together but still have some questions.

1. Can I only have one shrimp or does there need to be more than 1. I have read many different things about this on websites and I am confused.
2. This might seem to be a stupid question but I need some clarification on it. Do I have to feed my shrimp? I know they “clean up” the fish tank by eating so I was wondering if you have to also feed them with shrimp food. If you need shrimp food what type would you recommend?
3. How would you introduce the shrimp into the bettas tank? I have seen a few articles say you take the betta out of its tank and put the shrimp in so it can adjust and find places to hide. Then after 20-30 minutes you put the betta back in and monitor the shrimp and fish for about 20 minutes. But other articles and websites just say drop the shrimp into the tank with the betta and monitor their interactions for 10 to 20 minutes. (With both methods I would float the shrimp, and acclimate it to the water by adding tank water in every 5-10 minutes)
4. From what I understand there are different colors of cherry shrimp. Is a certain color better than others to be with a betta. (I know bettas can be attracted to bright colors so that is why I am asking)

I was doing some reading and Bettas like cherry shrimp (the bright color and size) Best shrimp to add are Ghost as best and Amano

Hi! Just thought I'd throw in my two cents here. I never kept shrimp with bettas until recently. The tank I put them in is a 9 gallon, and I only have one betta and two nerite snails in it. I decided that I wanted to try introducing some cherry shrimp since I've never really tried keeping them with bettas before. I started off with three cherry shrimp, and for the first week, they were doing great. Then, one night my betta finally found them and I woke up to all 3 shrimp dead in the morning. It was clear my betta attacked them. I don't think I will be keeping neocardinia shrimp with bettas anymore, because its not worth the risk to them. This, of course, is just my opinion--I know that many people have good luck keeping them together, but that's not what I've experienced with my betta.

All bettas have different temperaments, so there's no way to tell for sure how yours will react to shrimp. My betta was fairly docile, and he still made the shrimp into a snack. If you wanted, you could always start with a couple of ghost shrimp and see how he reacts to those before you invest in more expensive or colorful shrimp. I agree with FernandoTheBetta, I would introduce the shrimp to the tank first. It will give them some time to explore and find hiding places without feeling threatened by the betta, in case he does turn out to be aggressive towards them. Make sure you observe the betta for any aggression, and keep him well-fed so he doesn't hunt the shrimp out of hunger.

If you do decide to try it, I'd be interested to hear how it works out, because everyone has different experiences. I hope this helps! Good luck!

I did some investigative reading and cherry shrimp is a NoGo for betta....best match is Ghost or Amano.
I like the cherries too but from what I read unless you want problems and/or cherries eaten stick with what Ghost or Amanos.

 

[Gilligans_Island]

I've done some further investigation after having 10 ghost shrimps in my tank.

All but one has died for a few reasons my Venezuelan corydoras are jerks. Not aggressive to my Betta or their mixed group of peppered and Venz but they have systematically eliminated the shrimp.

Additionally upon thorough reading tank requirements for shrimp I want (BEE) it's just not 100% best option IMO to have them as tank mates the parameters for shrimp just not similar enough for me to add more and honestly I'm not confident in my beginner aquatic life abilities. I'm still learning and cautious.

I've thought to have shrimp tank with my new incoming fish cycled tank but haven't felt confident enough to do it. Experimenting that results in death makes me feel bad 😞

For now I make sure my one lone shrimp keeps thriving along with my boy Gilligan and the Cory Gang.