Qns - guppies and shrimps

**Dodofish** · 11th Sep 2013, 12:57

Recently, I have been seeing my guppies searching for my cherry shrimps and they attack themin group. Just today I saw one nice cherry died after the attack.

Anyone with the same experience can share? I thought they can be together in a tank?

The strange thing my kissing gourami is the peaceful one.

**thebaldingaquarist** · 11th Sep 2013, 13:13

I have endlers and cherries. I find that guppies will put anything in their mouth. If it fits and it's edible, they eat.

They rarely attack my yamatos, which are larger than them.

**wongce** · 11th Sep 2013, 13:18

guppy/platy/molly will peck everything... including my mole on my hand also "kena'" peck...lol

the weird thing is my endlers/neon tetras/white mountain minnow do not disturb my shrimps... they do compete for food, but never chase/peck shrimps... maybe its just my fish are more peaceful?

Kissing guorami peaceful?? thats new to me, i remember last time mine keep on KISSING my gold fish ....lol

**Dodofish** · 11th Sep 2013, 13:43

Originally Posted by wongce

guppy/platy/molly will peck everything... including my mole on my hand also "kena'" peck...lol

the weird thing is my endlers/neon tetras/white mountain minnow do not disturb my shrimps... they do compete for food, but never chase/peck shrimps... maybe its just my fish are more peaceful?

Kissing guorami peaceful?? thats new to me, i remember last time mine keep on KISSING my gold fish ....lol

Haha I think maybe different environment different fish ba. Mine is very peaceful.

**J_shrimp** · 12th Sep 2013, 09:10

I do keep neon tetras with cherry shrimps and my observation is that neon tetras will only disturb the shrimps (in term of pecking) when they are fighting for the same food. Other than that, they tends to mind their own business. Nevertheless, I am not sure if keeping both together will give extra stress to the shrimps, resulting in them not breeding. Any bros or sis can advice on this?

**angus** · 12th Sep 2013, 09:44

I keep sakura,rockets and yamato shrimps together with rasboras, rummy nose, guppy(including endlers), platys.
They are one big happy family. Some times the rummy may stare as the rockets slide by, but they don't bite.
I make sure that the fishes are well fed. It may have helped. I have seen shrimplets around. it could have been more, but not sure

**Urban Aquaria** · 12th Sep 2013, 14:35

The size of the tank, the stocking density and the plant density makes a difference too.

The larger the tank, the lower the stocking density and higher the plant mass, the less likely the dwarf shrimps get harassed by fishes.

**Dodofish** · 12th Sep 2013, 23:48

Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria

The size of the tank, the stocking density and the plant density makes a difference too.

The larger the tank, the lower the stocking density and higher the plant mass, the less likely the dwarf shrimps get harassed by fishes.

Makes a lot of sense, have to agree on this. I think I have to decide either shrimp or fish.

**Urban Aquaria** · 13th Sep 2013, 00:12

Originally Posted by Dodofish

Makes a lot of sense, have to agree on this. I think I have to decide either shrimp or fish.

You could also consider planting your existing tank very densely... i've found that in my tanks which have a lot of dense plant growth and hiding places, the shrimps are still able to thrive and breed abundantly even when kept in a community amongst fishes that can eat them.

The only issue with planting very densely is that you'll probably only get to see maybe 20-30% of your shrimps at any one time, the rest all hanging out safely deep inside the undergrowth, you'll only discover all of them when you de-comm the tank.

**Dodofish** · 13th Sep 2013, 00:32

At the moment, I have one side densely plant with Pygmy swordgrass (hope I get the name right). Most of my shrimps only move around this area. The other side waiting for dwarf grass to propagate, previously using e tenullus. But don't really like the color and the way it spread.

**mdm** · 20th Sep 2013, 15:34

my 2-feet tank has guppies, endlers, neon tetras living together with shrimps

din observe such issue happening, probably because the tank's quite dense

in fact, the shrimps are reproducing fast... the endlers are reproducing as well

**Dodofish** · 20th Sep 2013, 22:47

Ok I am pretty sure they hunt for my dwarf cherry. All my cherry gone after I came back from taiwan sigh.

**wongce** · 21st Sep 2013, 08:23

Originally Posted by Dodofish

Ok I am pretty sure they hunt for my dwarf cherry. All my cherry gone after I came back from taiwan sigh.

Sorry to hear that; however peaceful they may live together, they are still predators vs prey...

Do you have someone to help you feed the fishes? the fishes might be hungry thus they hunt for food especially your kissing guorami.

Try not to keep any fish that has a mouth that is big enough to swallow the shrimps ( best is to keep shrimp only tank of course)