Scared Shrimps

[Benscott24]

Scared shrimp.
Hello forum I'm new to this community but had aquariums for a while. I have just set up a new tank after a few years without and this time decided to keep shrimps.
My question is about the relationships between fish and shrimps in a community tank.
I cycled and slowly added fish over a few weeks with a few glowlights and a male betta. I added 2 amino and a bamboo shrimp. Everyone got on great with all the shrimps active and shedding shells so guess they are feeding enough but now I'm fully stocked with fish the shrimps hide all the time. I hardly ever see them even with the lights out. Are they scared of the fish? Apart from that all the fish are super happy and full of energy.

130 ltr freshwater community tank.
Fluval 305 filter, fluval digital heater.
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20
PH 6.5 ish
Mix of real and fake plants
Loads of rocks and some bog wood.
6 glowlights
7 cardinals
1 male betta
2 golden rams
2 fat belly mollys
1 male guppy
2 female guppys
1 bamboo shrimp
2 amino shrimps

Its a randome selection of fish but everyone gets on fine no squabbles or fin nipping.

 

[Bugdozer]

I don't know about bamboo shrimp but amanos are often much happier in a bigger group, of at least 5 or 6. I have 5 and while they tend to roam all over the tank independently, they do often club together in groups. Mine never hide much. Perhaps they don't like the absence of fellow shrimps with so many fish around?

 

[delta]

Hello there and welcome.

I found that when I only had two Amanos I hardly ever saw them, when I upped the amount I had to six they were out and about all the time. I think I may have since lost 2 brining me down to 4 but I still see the remaining shrimp out and about a lot. However, when they decide to hide, boy do they hide For all I know I still may have all six They also will hide after they have shed as they need their new shell to harden, apparently that's when they feel most vulnerable.

I see you also have a bamboo shrimp, I have no experience of these but they get quite large don't they? If the bamboo shrimp is big maybe the Amanos do feel a little wary of him. I'm sure someone with more experience than me will be along to advise you there.

Just FYI I have in my tank with my Amanos neon tetras, diamond tetras, blue tetras, harlequins, celebes rainbows and corys and khuli loaches. The only fishes I can see in your list that would be more aggressive than anything I have would be the betta and the rams I think, again, I'm sure someone who knows more than I can advise.

 

[alistairw]

I agree with everyone else, perhaps you need to up your numbers of Amano's. I have 6 in my 90 litre and they are all over the place pinching all the food and only really hide when they have she'd their shell.

I don't think they have a particularly big bio load so I wouldn't worry too much about over loading your tank.......although

 

[mitch70]

I agree with all other replies - I had 4 Amano shrimp and hardly ever saw them, upped the numbers to 10 and they are much more active, I often see all 10 right at the front of the tank, but when they do decide to hide they are almost invisible, definatley get some more and see their true behaviour.

I see mine now challenging the mollies for alagae waffers - safety in numbers!

 

[delta]

My shrimpies do make me laugh when they grab a pellet or piece of flake and then stand up to the diamond tetras when they try to steal it

 

[Benscott24]

Thanks everyone for such quick replys. I have had my bamboo shrimp almost from day one and he / she has always sat in the filter flow and hides for a day or so when it sheds. Since the last fish went in ( mollys ) he's not been out for almost a week. Its about 7 cm now and I think it will grow to about 10. Its a great idea to get more but I'm worried about over stocking the tank and them getting enough to eat.
My betta is a bit soft although I read they can change with age but he hasn't ever looked twice at the shrimps.
How close do you think I am to my max stocking levels? The filter is great and I do good water changes, in fact I will go hunting for the bamboo on saturday when I do a clean.
Thanks again.

 

[Benscott24]

Oh also the Amanos are not afraid of the bamboo, a couple of times I have seen them run over his / her face to grab a chunk of food!! Bamboo flicks them with it's fans and everythings fine again.