Hey there! I’m a passionate aquarist who’s kept dojo loaches for years, and today I wanna talk about a common question that keeps popping up in the fish-keeping community: do dojo loaches eat shrimp? Let me give you the straight answer right away – YES, dojo loaches will definitely eat shrimp if given the chance. But there’s more to this story that you need to know!
Quick Answer Summary
- Dojo loaches are natural predators of smaller aquarium creatures
- They will eat most types of shrimp that fit in their mouth
- Not recommended to keep dojo loaches with ornamental shrimp
- Some larger shrimp species might survive but it’s still risky
Understanding Dojo Loaches
Before we dive deeper into their shrimp-eating habits lemme tell you a bit about these fascinating fish. Dojo loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) are bottom-dwelling scavengers originally from East Asia – places like Japan Korea, and China. These days, they’re super popular in the aquarium trade because they’re
- Easy to care for
- Super active and fun to watch
- Great at cleaning tank bottoms
- Available in different colors and sizes
- Total goofballs with awesome personalities!
The Truth About Dojo Loaches and Shrimp
Here’s the deal – dojo loaches are designed by nature to be expert hunters of small creatures. They’ve got this amazing ability to sniff out and search through the tiniest spaces in your tank. So when it comes to shrimp, they’re basically like tiny underwater vacuum cleaners!
Shrimp Species That Are at Risk:
- Cherry Shrimp
- Ghost Shrimp
- Crystal Black/Red Shrimp
- Amano Shrimp
- Panda Shrimp
- Snowball Shrimp
- Bumblebee Shrimp
- Cardinal Shrimp
Can Any Shrimp Survive with Dojo Loaches?
I’ve heard some fish keepers say they’ve had success keeping larger shrimp species with their dojos, like
- Bamboo Shrimp
- Long Arm Shrimp
But honestly? I wouldn’t risk it. Even if your dojo loach starts out smaller than the shrimp, they’ll eventually grow bigger and might turn your expensive shrimp into an expensive snack!
Alternative Tank Mates for Shrimp
If you’re dead set on keeping shrimp, here are some better fish companions:
- Small Rasboras
- Tetras
- Hillstream Loaches (they mainly eat algae)
Tips for Dojo Loach Owners
If you’re keeping dojo loaches, here’s what they actually need in their diet:
- Algae wafers
- Quality pellets
- Flake food
- Live foods
- Frozen foods
Temperature Considerations
One thing that often gets overlooked – dojo loaches prefer cooler water (around 72-74°F). This can actually limit your tank mate options since many tropical fish need warmer waters.
Real Talk: My Experience with Dojos
I’ve kept dojos for years now, and let me tell ya – they’re like underwater puppies! They’re super active, always hungry, and yeah, they can be little troublemakers sometimes. Mine are constantly rearranging my carefully planned aquascaping (drives me nuts!), but their silly personalities make it totally worth it.
The Bottom Line
Look, if you’re thinking about mixing dojo loaches and shrimp, here’s my honest advice: don’t do it unless you’re planning to use the shrimp as expensive fish food! These loaches are awesome pets, but they’re just not compatible with keeping a shrimp colony.
Instead, focus on creating an awesome environment for either dojo loaches OR shrimp – trying to keep both will just lead to disappointment (and some very well-fed loaches!).
Pro Tips for Success:
- Choose one or the other (shrimp or dojos)
- If you must try, go with larger shrimp species
- Provide lots of hiding spots
- Keep your loaches well-fed
- Monitor behavior closely
Remember, every tank is different, and what works in one setup might not work in another. But when it comes to dojo loaches and shrimp, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
FAQ Section
Q: Will baby dojo loaches eat shrimp?
A: Even smaller dojos will hunt tiny shrimp. As they grow, they’ll tackle larger prey.
Q: Can I keep dojo loaches with other bottom dwellers?
A: Yes, but choose tankmates carefully. They do well with similar-sized peaceful fish.
Q: How many dojo loaches should I keep together?
A: They’re social fish – keep at least 3-4 together for best results.
Have you had any experiences with dojo loaches and shrimp? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more aquarium advice, don’t forget to check out our other articles.
Remember, every tank is unique, so what works for one person might not work for another. The key is to observe your fish and make adjustments based on their behavior. Happy fish keeping!
What Do They Look Like?
The Dojo Loach is a long, eel-like fish. They have a small, rounded tail and a similar-sized dorsal fin that is set quite far back.
Like other loaches, the Weatherfish has 1o little whiskers around its mouth. These structures are actually called barbels and they help the fish to find food.
Their color varies a lot and they can be plain, striped, or marked in spots and blotches. In the aquarium hobby, interesting albino and golden color morphs are also available.
Gold Dojo Loaches are a really cool color morph that has a plain, golden yellow body color, usually with dark eyes.
Albino Dojo Loaches can be a little lighter in color than the gold dojos and have red eyes.
Dojo Loaches are medium-sized fish that usually grow to about 6 inches long in the home aquarium. They can grow to double this size in the wild, however. If you can provide them with a nice big aquarium and great water quality, you might just be surprised at how big they grow!
Health and Disease
Dojo Loaches are usually very hardy, low-maintenance fish for cool water aquariums. They do pick up issues from time to time though, so let’s take a look at how to identify and avoid health problems.