Shrimp, Fish, Or Both?

[00:00:03] Welcome to another episode of The Aquarist Edge.

[00:00:08] This is the podcast where we take a look at all things to do with fish keeping, everything aquatic in your home,

[00:00:15] and generally try to give some good advice and to share some ideas with you as a home aquarist.

[00:00:21] I'm Art from Artsfishroom and it's my pleasure to host this episode and to chat with you a bit today

[00:00:27] about the topic that we are looking at, which is shrimp versus fish, making the right choice for your aquarium.

[00:00:34] Whether you are an experienced aquarist or just starting out, choosing the right inhabitants for your aquarium can be both exciting and a little bit overwhelming.

[00:00:45] And you need to ask yourself, do you want to fill your tank with colourful fish or create a beautiful shrimp sanctuary or perhaps a bit of both?

[00:00:54] So in this episode, we'll take a look at the pros and cons of keeping shrimp versus fish, discuss compatibility,

[00:01:00] and share tips to help you create a thriving aquatic environment.

[00:01:05] Let's start by talking about shrimp.

[00:01:08] Freshwater shrimp, such as cherry shrimp and amana shrimp, have gained popularity for several reasons,

[00:01:15] not least of which is that they're colourful and somewhat unique.

[00:01:18] They come in a variety of colours, reds, blues, greens.

[00:01:21] Some of them are of more translucent colour.

[00:01:24] They are the neocaridinas, which are the ones that are perhaps a little easier to keep,

[00:01:29] and then there are the fancier caridina shrimp.

[00:01:31] They can actually become quite pricey and require very specific water parameters.

[00:01:36] But people like them.

[00:01:37] They add variety and colours to your tank.

[00:01:41] They're also natural cleaners.

[00:01:42] They are excellent algae eaters.

[00:01:44] They help keep your aquarium clean by grazing all on the algae and detritus.

[00:01:49] They are detritivores, so basically they will eat anything in your tank to help keep it clean.

[00:01:54] They also have very low bioload.

[00:01:56] It makes them much easier to maintain in a smaller tank.

[00:02:01] That said, keeping shrimp isn't without its challenges.

[00:02:04] They are sensitive to water parameters such as pH and temperature.

[00:02:07] For example, most neocaridinas can thrive in water between 24 to 26 degrees and have a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

[00:02:16] And it's important to maintain stable conditions to prevent stress or death in your shrimp.

[00:02:21] That said, earlier this year I placed several blue dream shrimp in an outdoor pond.

[00:02:27] Not only have they survived winter, but they've thrived.

[00:02:31] And it seems that as new generations of shrimp are born, they become more accustomed and adept to living in those conditions.

[00:02:38] So, while I certainly have my blue dream main colony in my fish room, there is a large colony now developing and growing in an outdoor tub.

[00:02:48] But yes, keeping shrimp is not without challenges, particularly with the higher-end caridinas.

[00:02:54] If we look at fish, we know that keeping fish can be incredibly rewarding.

[00:02:58] They have fun behaviour to watch.

[00:03:00] They are often shooting around the tank.

[00:03:02] They have stunning colours.

[00:03:04] There's an incredible variety of fish species available, each one with its own unique colour, size and behaviour.

[00:03:10] They often are more active than shrimp, providing entertainment as they swim around the tank and interact with the surrounds.

[00:03:17] And also, there's an incredible community dynamic as multiple fish species join together in schools or groups.

[00:03:24] And they create beautiful displays when they're kept together.

[00:03:27] However, compatibility is crucial when choosing fish for your aquarium.

[00:03:32] Some fish are known to be aggressive or may in fact eat smaller tank mates such as smaller fish and, yes, shrimp as well.

[00:03:41] As an example, Neon Tetris are genuinely quite peaceful.

[00:03:44] But they may snack on baby shrimp if given the chance.

[00:03:48] So always research your potential tank mates before adding them to your aquarium.

[00:03:53] Look for peaceful species that won't harm your shrimp or the smaller fish.

[00:03:57] So when deciding between shrimp and fish, or if you want to combine both, compatibility is key.

[00:04:03] You could consider fish such as otocynclists.

[00:04:06] These are small algae eaters.

[00:04:08] They're very safe with shrimp and they help keep the tank clean.

[00:04:11] While baby shrimp can be eaten by Neon Tetris, adult cherry shrimp can coexist with them if there are plenty of hiding spots.

[00:04:17] The ember tetris are another fantastic fish to keep with shrimp.

[00:04:21] They're very tiny and they won't pose a threat to adult shrimp at all.

[00:04:25] It's also important to note that there are some species that should be avoided altogether when keeping shrimp.

[00:04:31] Certainly top of the list for me would be cichlids.

[00:04:34] Cichlids are territorial and aggressive and you don't want to be keeping shrimp in a tank with them.

[00:04:39] There's sometimes a debate around whether bettors should be kept with shrimp.

[00:04:43] I've managed to keep bettors in a well-plotted tank with shrimp and had no problems.

[00:04:50] I've also had some bettors that have aggressively hunted down the shrimp in the tank and it's been a definite no-go zone for shrimp.

[00:04:57] So yes, with bettors, as is often the case, it very much depends on their temperament, their personality.

[00:05:03] And I guess sometimes it's a bit of a trial and error to see whether a bettor will be able to live with shrimp in the tank or not.

[00:05:10] There are also environmental needs in terms of keeping shrimp and fish together.

[00:05:15] One, of course, being the water parameters.

[00:05:17] For example, there are fish that often require different pH levels to shrimp.

[00:05:21] If you want those fish to thrive or you want the fish to thrive.

[00:05:24] Another factor to consider in deciding between shrimp and fish is their environmental needs.

[00:05:29] For example, the water parameters may differ.

[00:05:32] There also might be different temperature requirements.

[00:05:35] And so to create the best environment for both fish and shrimp, it's essential to find a balance that accommodates both if you decide to mix the species.

[00:05:44] If you're going to go ahead and set up a tank that has both shrimp and fish, I would suggest that you don't aim for anything less than a 40-liter tank.

[00:05:53] Even that may be a bit small, but if you need to start somewhere, that's a good place to start.

[00:05:58] That you invest in a good filtration system that maintains water quality without creating too strong a current that can stress out your shrimp.

[00:06:05] Bear in mind that if you're going to use a filter with an intake, you can't have it be too strong.

[00:06:10] Otherwise, the little shrimp are going to be sucked up.

[00:06:13] They're always around this with a shrimp filter, a cover, and those are certainly things that you can buy at your local fish shop.

[00:06:22] You also want to make sure you've incorporated plants and decorations that provide hiding spots for both fish and shrimp.

[00:06:29] Always remember, of course, that patience is key when you set up your aquarium.

[00:06:33] Allow time to cycle before adding any livestock.

[00:06:35] And it's perhaps a good idea to add plants first before introducing any animals, as this allows them time to establish themselves and create a more natural environment.

[00:06:46] What about feeding?

[00:06:48] Well, shrimp will thrive on algae wafers, blanched vegetables, specialized shrimp food, high protein, both plant and meat protein.

[00:06:56] Fish will require a varied diet depending on their species.

[00:06:59] Some will prefer flakes, others will prefer pellets or live food.

[00:07:04] The bottom line is, as we always say, be cautious about overfeeding.

[00:07:08] Overfeeding can lead to poor water quality, which affects the health of both the fish and the shrimp.

[00:07:13] So that gives some idea.

[00:07:16] My personal take is that if you are breeding shrimp, particularly for a purpose of trying to develop a particular color strain,

[00:07:23] or you have an interest in a particular strain, then perhaps keep your shrimp with very definite shrimp-only species,

[00:07:30] or shrimp-friendly species, such as otocinctus, or species of snail.

[00:07:35] I wouldn't take a risk, then, of adding a fish that could very well prey on the small shrimp.

[00:07:40] You're not going to get the yield in terms of the baby shrimp that you would like.

[00:07:44] On the other hand, it's very worth experimenting, if you want to keep a mixed tank,

[00:07:49] to try various species that are peaceful and friendly towards shrimp, such as the amphiteters I mentioned earlier.

[00:07:56] I, in my fish room, have tanks that are specifically for shrimp.

[00:08:01] These are the shrimp that I'm breeding, that I'm preparing for sale,

[00:08:05] the shrimp that I want to see grow and develop colonies.

[00:08:09] On the other hand, I also have tanks where I have put cull shrimp in with various other gummy strains and other fish,

[00:08:16] and they're doing fine.

[00:08:17] There's enough hiding place for them.

[00:08:19] I'm not trying to grow large colonies of shrimp, but they just seem to get on and breed.

[00:08:23] They take cover in the plants and under some of the wood and so forth.

[00:08:27] And so it is possible to combine fish and shrimp.

[00:08:31] It all depends on the look you're going for, the type of aquarium you want,

[00:08:34] and the purpose of having the shrimp or the fish in your tank.

[00:08:40] That's a personal decision and one that only you can take.

[00:08:44] But whatever you decide to do, make sure your basics are in place.

[00:08:48] And if your basics are in place, such as regular maintenance,

[00:08:51] making sure that your tank is cycled before adding any animals into it,

[00:08:56] making sure that you have enough hiding spaces,

[00:08:58] that you create a natural place, a natural environment in your tank,

[00:09:01] provide decent lighting.

[00:09:02] If you get those basics right, you'll have a thriving aquatic ecosystem.

[00:09:07] So that's it for this episode.

[00:09:10] I trust that you have found something useful in this episode of the Aquarius Edge.

[00:09:14] This is Art signing off.

[00:09:16] Keep learning.

[00:09:17] Keep discovering.

[00:09:18] And I'll see you on the next episode.