Ghost Shrimp With Betta

[amandalynn]

I have a male Betta in a two-gallon (US) tank with a heater and filter. I've heard/read that ghost shrimp will live fine with a betta. Is my tank roomy enough for the both of them? Has anyone had any problems with the two being together? Thanks!

 

[Chuka1212]

Should be fine I would imagine. Even if your betta does eat the little guy they are super cheap and would be a good source of protein for your betta

 

[amandalynn]

Should be fine I would imagine. Even if your betta does eat the little guy they are super cheap and would be a good source of protein for your betta

Haha, well I was thinking of getting new kind of food to vary my betta's diet..

 

[Snooks1!]

Ghost shrimp should do fine with a betta. Though, as Chuka said...They might make a fancy snack out of them, however, they are very cheap so it's not a giant loss out of your wallet. Though, if I were you I would get a live plant or two for your tank so the shrimp have something to hide in if need be. 3-5 shrimp would be just fine , I recommend you start out with one or two just to see how your betta reacts to them.

 

[amandalynn]

Ok thanks. I put one in today, and my betta flared his gills at it once and then ignored him. So I guess they'll do fine together! I'll probably look into getting a couple more; I think they're so cute! I've got a couple of plastic plants in there that the shrimp discovered and like to crawl in, but I am looking into getting a live plant.

 

[Snooks1!]

There ya' go then .

Shrimp are pretty good in [smaller] betta tanks because they help to clean up the tank. Albeit, it's not much, but every bit counts I suppose.

 

[Minni3]

Do ghost shrimp poo alot? No use in getting a tank mate to clean when it makes more poo itself lol!

 

[amandalynn]

Do ghost shrimp poo alot? No use in getting a tank mate to clean when it makes more poo itself lol!

From what I read, I guess they don't. I guess I'll find out!

 

[Snooks1!]

Do ghost shrimp poo alot? No use in getting a tank mate to clean when it makes more poo itself lol!

From what I read, I guess they don't. I guess I'll find out!

No, shrimps have little to no bioload.

As opposed to [most] snails. Snails are very messy...big poopers

 

[amandalynn]

No, shrimps have little to no bioload.

Good!

 

[wodesorel]

Just FYI - I lost not one, but TWO bettas to ghost shrimp. One blue male, and one yellow female, both were very aggressive and would eat anything, expecially dead ghost shrimp.

Yeah, you guessed it - they swallowed the ghost shrimp WHOLE! I found them both dead with just the antennea of the shrimp sticking out of their mouths.

I managed to save a third red betta by netting him and pulling the shrimp out by force. It was still alive.

Mind you, I had about five other bettas (males and females) in with ghost shrimp, and they never touched them. I just never knew when it was going to a risk.

 

[amandalynn]

Just FYI - I lost not one, but TWO bettas to ghost shrimp. One blue male, and one yellow female, both were very aggressive and would eat anything, expecially dead ghost shrimp.

Yeah, you guessed it - they swallowed the ghost shrimp WHOLE! I found them both dead with just the antennea of the shrimp sticking out of their mouths.

I managed to save a third red betta by netting him and pulling the shrimp out by force. It was still alive.

Mind you, I had about five other bettas (males and females) in with ghost shrimp, and they never touched them. I just never knew when it was going to a risk.

Wow! Henry pretty much ignores the shrimp, but I will be keeping an eye on him in case he changes his mind. That's just tragic..