Hey aquarium lovers! I’ve kept both ghost shrimp and guppies for years, and one question I get asked all the time is whether these two species can live together peacefully. Let me break down everything you need to know about keeping ghost shrimp and guppies as tank mates.
Quick Answer: Yes, ghost shrimp and guppies can absolutely live together! Adult ghost shrimp are too big for guppies to eat, and they actually make fantastic tank mates. Just watch out for baby shrimp – they might become guppy snacks!
Why Ghost Shrimp and Guppies Make Great Tank Mates
Here’s what makes these two species work well together
- Ghost shrimp are peaceful bottom dwellers
- Guppies prefer swimming in the middle and top of the tank
- Both species enjoy similar water conditions
- Adult ghost shrimp are too large for guppies to eat
- Ghost shrimp help keep your tank clean
Perfect Tank Setup for Ghost Shrimp and Guppies
Tank Requirements:
| Parameter | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Tank Size | Minimum 10 gallons |
| Temperature | 75-82°F |
| pH Level | 7.0-7.2 |
| Water Type | Fresh to slightly brackish |
| Water Flow | Slow to moderate |
Essential Tank Features:
- Plenty of live plants for hiding spots
- Gravel or sand substrate
- Good filtration system
- Tank lid (both species can jump!)
- Decorations and caves for shelter
Feeding Your Ghost Shrimp and Guppies
What to Feed:
-
Guppies:
- Quality fish flakes
- Live or frozen brine shrimp
- Bloodworms
- Spirulina
-
Ghost Shrimp
- Algae
- Bottom feeder pellets
- Leftover fish food
- Blanched vegetables
Feeding Schedule:
Feed guppies 1-2 times daily and don’t worry too much about the ghost shrimp – they’re great scavengers and will find plenty to eat!
Potential Problems and Solutions
Size Matters
Make sure your ghost shrimp are bigger than your guppies’ mouths. I learned this the hard way when I first started – lost a few baby shrimp to hungry guppies!
Territory Issues
While these species generally get along, here’s what to watch for:
- Provide enough space (3-4 ghost shrimp per gallon)
- Add plenty of hiding spots
- Keep your guppies well-fed
- Monitor any aggressive behavior
- Add ghost shrimp first (they need time to establish hiding spots)
- Acclimate new additions slowly
- Monitor behavior for first few days
- Ensure proper feeding schedule
- Maintain clean water conditions
Common Questions I Get Asked
Will Ghost Shrimp Eat Baby Guppies?
Nope! Ghost shrimp are peaceful and won’t bother your guppy fry.
Do I Need to Feed Ghost Shrimp Separately?
Not really – they’re excellent scavengers and will find plenty to eat in your tank.
How Many Can I Keep Together?
For a 10-gallon tank, you can safely keep:
- 3-4 guppies
- 10-12 ghost shrimp
My Personal Experience
I’ve kept ghost shrimp with guppies in my 20-gallon community tank for over 2 years now. They’re honestly some of the easiest tank mates I’ve ever had! The ghost shrimp keep my tank clean, and the guppies add beautiful colors and movement to the upper levels.
Final Thoughts
Ghost shrimp and guppies are a match made in aquarium heaven! Just remember these key points:
- Keep adult ghost shrimp with guppies
- Provide plenty of hiding spots
- Maintain proper water parameters
- Feed both species appropriately
- Monitor behavior during introduction
Starting out with ghost shrimp and guppies? Got more questions? Drop them in the comments below – I’d love to help you create the perfect tank setup for these awesome aquatic pals!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this article further?
Category #2: Small Algae Eaters
While most aquarium fish are not purely herbivorous, there are several species that like to graze on algae and aufwuchs (e.g., aquatic microflora growing on underwater surfaces). Otocinclus catfish are amazing algae eaters that are both peaceful and small in size. In our experience, they are slower eaters and most likely will not outcompete your shrimp. Stiphodon gobies are another type of nano aufwuchs grazer with a suction cup-like mouth built for scraping biofilm and microorganisms off rocks. Finally, consider dwarf plecos, like the clown pleco (Panaqolus maccus), that are known for eating algae and wood. While any of these fish may opportunistically snack on a baby shrimp, they generally leave the adult shrimp alone.
Category #1: Small Invertebrates
Our first idea for shrimp-safe tank mates is to look at other nano invertebrates. For example, little snails — like nerite, mystery, bladder, and Malaysian trumpet snails — are mostly scavengers and detritivores that won’t eat living shrimp. They do like to eat the same types of foods as cherry shrimp though, so you may see fewer shrimp babies if the snail population outbreeds them. Larger filter-feeding shrimp, such as bamboo and vampire shrimp, are also a good choice because they predominantly eat tiny particles floating in the water. Similarly, Thai micro crabs use their hairy claws and legs to grab little crumbs, but they are quite shy and may be hard to spot in your aquarium.
Vampire or African fan shrimp (Atya gabonensis)
Other dwarf shrimp, like amano and ghost shrimp, can do well with cherry shrimp because they are roughly the same size and have similar care requirements. However, crystal shrimp and other Caridina shrimp may not be a good fit because they often prefer drastically different water parameters than cherry shrimp. While some hobbyists have kept them together, we often find that one shrimp colony tends to be happier and reproduce more than the other colony. Finally, avoid bigger crustaceans — such as long-arm shrimp, prawns, crayfish, and lobsters — because they are voracious creatures that will consume any source of protein they can find, including their smaller cousins.