Are there any fishes too small to eat baby shrimps?
- Thread starter lozt
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Yes, Least Killies are very tiny and will not be a problem. I have heard Endlers leave them alone, but I have yet to check that out. The Least Killies are interesting as the males are really tiny and the females produce on fry per day for about 6 days. Too cool and not aggressive. They don't like to chase food so they don't eat fry.
I don't know of ANY fish too small to eat tiny, newly hatched shrimp...but only a few, lol. Kuhlis & CPDs come to mind, threadfin rainbows...
The smallest-sized fish that I know of that shouldn't present a problem are Boraras - either Boraras Brigittae (Chili Rasboras) or Boraras Maculatus. They seldom reach more than 1/2" in size.
Lots and lots.
It's not just size, it's prey drive and preferred diet. Bristlenose are completely capable of eating them, but have little to no interest in doing so and won't impact the colony. Hasbrosus and pygmy cories will be fine. Kuhli loaches, on the other hand, I would never ever trust. They're strongly prey driven. I believe rosy loaches would work, though. Herbivores in general will be safe but might compete for the same resources.
It's not just size, it's prey drive and preferred diet. Bristlenose are completely capable of eating them, but have little to no interest in doing so and won't impact the colony. Hasbrosus and pygmy cories will be fine. Kuhli loaches, on the other hand, I would never ever trust. They're strongly prey driven. I believe rosy loaches would work, though. Herbivores in general will be safe but might compete for the same resources.
I keep Kuhli's with my colony of shrimp I'm fairly certain they snatch up some shrimplets as I've seen a kuhli dragging around an adult shrimp before, not sure if he managed to eat it or not disappeared behind rocks and plants with it. Even so they dont eat enough to dent the population.. 8 kuhli's in all and dozens of RCS.
The silver hatchet fish in my shrimp tank never leave the top of the tank, nor show any interest in the dozens of red cherry and ghost shrimp in with them.
Wow, there so many to choose from! So hard to decide which one to go with.
You're right, I shouldn't had based it on size and not consider their preferred diet, however, I'm also looking for something small since it's only a 20 gallon tank.
I think I'm going to pick up 5 pygmy cories, but I want to get another 5 of something else.. . i'm thinking maybe Boraras.
There are so many nice looking fishes that I just seen for the first time, makes me want to get a tank in every room -- haha
You're right, I shouldn't had based it on size and not consider their preferred diet, however, I'm also looking for something small since it's only a 20 gallon tank.
I think I'm going to pick up 5 pygmy cories, but I want to get another 5 of something else.. . i'm thinking maybe Boraras.
There are so many nice looking fishes that I just seen for the first time, makes me want to get a tank in every room -- haha
Just a thought on boraras & red cherry shrimp. I kept B. maculatus with them & they were very had to differentiate from the shrimp, same size, same color. My tank was very heavily planted & several times I thought the fish had died out.