Hey there! As someone who’s kept both African dwarf frogs and shrimp for years, I get this question a lot. Let me give you the straight answer right away – yes, African dwarf frogs will eat shrimp, especially smaller ones. But there’s more to the story than just that simple answer.
The Size Matters: Breaking Down Who Eats Who
Let’s look at the key players here
- African dwarf frogs (ADFs): These little guys grow up to 2.5 inches (7 cm)
- Dwarf shrimp (like Neocaridina): Only reach about 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- Baby shrimp (shrimplets): Tiny things at just 0.08 inches (2 mm)
As you can probably guess those size differences create some real problems!
Why ADFs Hunt Shrimp (Even When Well-Fed)
Here’s something important y’all need to understand – African dwarf frogs are natural predators Even if you’re feeding them plenty of other food, they’ll still try to snack on your shrimp It’s just their instinct, and you can’t train it out of them.
Think about it this way – in the wild, these frogs are opportunistic eaters. That means they’ll eat pretty much anything they can fit in their mouths. Your expensive cherry shrimp? Yeah, that’s just a tasty snack to them!
Which Shrimp Species Might Work?
If you’re still determined to try keeping shrimp with ADFs, here are your best options:
| Shrimp Species | Size | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost shrimp | 2 inches | Better chance |
| Amano shrimp | 2 inches | Can defend themselves |
| Bamboo shrimp | 4 inches | Too big to eat |
| Vampire shrimp | 6 inches | Too big to eat |
Tips for Keeping ADFs and Shrimp Together
If you’re gonna try this (despite my warnings!), here’s what you can do to improve your chances:
-
Go Big or Go Home
- Use the largest tank possible
- More space = more hiding spots
- Better chance for shrimp to escape
-
Create Lots of Hiding Places
- Add plenty of:
- Live plants
- Driftwood
- Rocks
- PVC pipes
- Plastic mesh
- Add plenty of:
-
Choose Bigger Shrimp
- Start with adult-sized shrimp
- Avoid putting any small shrimp in the tank
- Remember that even big shrimp are vulnerable when molting
My Personal Experience
I’ve tried keeping ADFs with various shrimp species, and lemme tell you – it’s always a gamble. One time, I thought everything was going great with my ghost shrimp colony until I caught one of my female frogs with half a shrimp tail sticking out of her mouth!
The Bottom Line
Look, I’m not trying to completely discourage you, but you need to know what you’re getting into. If you decide to keep ADFs and shrimp together:
- Expect to lose some shrimp
- Don’t invest in expensive shrimp species
- Be prepared for disappointment
- Consider it “expensive frog food” if things go wrong
My honest recommendation? If you’re serious about keeping shrimp, especially if you want to breed them, skip the ADFs. There are plenty of other cool tank mates that won’t turn your shrimp into snacks!
Alternative Tank Mates for Your Shrimp
Instead of ADFs, consider these more shrimp-friendly options:
- Otocinclus catfish
- Small rasboras
- Corydoras
- Nerite snails
Remember, sometimes the best tank mate is no tank mate at all – shrimp do perfectly fine on their own!
Final Thoughts
While it’s technically possible to keep African dwarf frogs and certain larger shrimp species together, it’s definitely not something I’d recommend for beginners or anyone hoping to maintain a thriving shrimp colony. The stress on your shrimp just ain’t worth it!
If you’ve got any more questions about keeping frogs or shrimp, drop ’em in the comments below. I’m always happy to help fellow aquarium enthusiasts avoid the mistakes I’ve made!
Remember: Every tank is different, and what works for one person might not work for another. Always monitor your tank closely when introducing new species!
Are African Dwarf Frogs and Large Shrimp Species Compatible?
What about other shrimp species? Are large shrimp species safe to keep with African dwarf frogs?
As we can see some shrimp species can grow pretty big. African dwarf frogs will not touch large adults as long as they are big enough for their mouths. In addition, some shrimp (such as Amano shrimp and Ghost shrimp) are not pushovers and can stand up to the pokes from the frogs.
Note: Nonetheless, some recently molted shrimp and juveniles can still be hunted.
Are African Dwarf Frogs and Dwarf Shrimp Compatible?
Let’s start with the size.
African dwarf frogs (such as Hymenochirus boettgeri, Hymenochirus curtipes, etc.) can reach up to 2.5 inches (7 cm) in length when fully grown. Whereas most dwarf shrimp species (genus Neocaridina and Caridina) usually grow up to 1 inch (2 .5 cm) long. After hatching, young baby shrimp (shrimplets) are around 0.08 inches (2 mm) long.
African dwarf frogs may look like small, cute, and relatively harmless creatures to us, humans. However, in the animal world, they are active predators and also are extremely opportunistic eaters.
Although they are very blind and clumsy, they have still a pretty good reaction and are able to catch a delicious meal when needed.
Therefore, the African dwarf frog is actually a pretty big threat in a shrimp tank setting. So, if you are seriously planning to breed dwarf shrimp, I strongly believe that keeping African dwarf frogs and dwarf shrimp together is not the best course of action.
African dwarf frogs will definitely eat your baby shrimp. As for the Adult dwarf shrimp, they may be safe for some time until your frogs get bigger. Thus, eventually, even adult shrimp might be eaten.
Important: You need to understand that incompatible tank mates are one of the stress factors for the shrimp. Do not take it lightly! Stress is a great way to lose your shrimp colony. Constant stress makes them weak and vulnerable. According to multiple tests, they are likely to suffer from a shorter lifespan and might experience additional side effects that could have an overall impact on their health.
Related articles:
AFRICAN DWARF FROGS Eat Prawns for The First Time! | Aquarium Feeding
FAQ
What do African dwarf frogs eat in a tank?
Your frog’s main food should be frog food pellets that sink to the bottom of the tank, where frogs tend to hang out. You should give them these once in the morning and once at night. Offer frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp, bloodworms and tubifex worms as occasional treats.
Will African dwarf frogs eat shrimp on Reddit?
Heavy planted tank, good shrimp population- a dwarf frog will eat some, but typically (if all else is well) wont decimate a population.
Will an African dwarf frog eat a guppy?
An African Dwarf Frog may try to eat baby Guppies, if your guppies happen to spawn, but other than that, it should be just fine. Guppies make for fine African Dwarf Frog companions.
Will dwarf frogs eat small fish?
They will not eat your fish, and in fact may need to be individually fed as they aren’t good at finding food before the fish eat it. They prefer live food, but are slow and fussy eaters, and can’t compete with aggressive fish, so you need to choose tankmates carefully.
Do African dwarf frogs eat snails?
In fact, your frog will eat these frogs given an opportunity even when full. These frogs will also eat snail eggs if they get a chance, as they can swallow them easily, given their small size. The African dwarf frog will not touch the larger snails in the tank. They also detest the hard shell of adult snails.
Do frogs eat dwarf shrimp?
However, unfortunately, there are also many negative ones. African Dwarf Frogs will eat all your dwarf shrimp. It is simply inevitable. However, some species can be big enough to swallow. For example, Amano shrimp and Ghost shrimp can grow up to 2 inches (5 cm).
Do African frogs eat shrimp?
Generally, your African frog will eat your shrimp if you put them in a common tank. However, there are exceptions to this. For instance, an African dwarf frog will eat the ghost shrimp if given an opportunity. However, this does not happen in the wild, as these creatures rarely come in contact with each other.
Can African dwarf frogs eat bamboo shrimp?
The bamboo shrimp is another shrimp species you can keep with your African dwarf frog. This shrimp is bigger than the African dwarf frog, and while this may seem like a risk, it is always unwilling to try to eat its tank mates. Hence, a bamboo shrimp is a safe companion for your frog.
Can you keep dwarf shrimp and African frogs?
The short answer is that in most cases, it is close to impossible to safely keep dwarf shrimp and African frogs because of their carnivore origin. Frogs are obligate carnivores, they only feed on meat-based foods. However, if you are keeping large shrimp species, it may be possible with small African frogs.
What do African dwarf frogs eat?
As with other critters kept in captivity, the diet of pet African dwarf frogs varies from that of their wild counterparts. This frog is mainly found in the Congo River regions of Africa. In the wild, they have a carnivorous diet consisting of live shrimp, other small crustaceans, bug larvae and worms.