Which shrimp should I stock?

[enrique4jc]

I have a 29-gallon community tank (see stock below). I throw in a 10 or so ghost shrimp every once in a while, but it never seems to take long for them to disappear. I couldnt figure this out when I first started stocking them until I saw one of my mixed fruit tetras with a shrimp hanging halfway out of its mouth trying to eat it up. They never seem to survive in the long-term.

I am perfectly okay with dropping 26 cents on the ghost shrimp (one of the few things I'll get at Walmart) to give my fish a chance to hunt them down and get some extra nutrition. Some of you may think it cruel, but it is a perfectly normal part of the natural process. No big deal. However, I do like the look of shrimp in my tank, and would love to have some that would stick around for a while.

I was at an LFS the other day that sells ghost shrimp for 89 cents each that are signficantly larger than the ones I can get at Walmart. I don't know if this is a good price, but since they are larger, they might not fall prey to the fish so easily. Would this make a difference? If the larger ghost shrimp wouldn't work, what shrimp are there that would have a better chance of survival in my tank?

Thanks in advance for any advice you have!

 

[Star_Rider]

you can try the larger shrimp..many times if there is enough moss etc..the shrimp learn to hide and feed at night.

I don't add shrimp..to my tanks as they are stocked with SA cichlids and shrimp are just an expensive snack.
for them.

 

[MikenDanielle]

Just amke sure ya have lots of small places for the shrimp to hide. Try Cherry Fire Shrimp.

 

[tanker]

Remember that shrimp is natural prey to most fish.

 

[hitman12131976]

I prefer the bamboo shrimp aka wood shrimp.

 

[BrkD]

you can try red cherry shrimp they go for at least $1 each from online breeders. you can also try other inverts like snails and dwarf crawfish.

 

[Rbishop]

You can try the larger ones, but IMO, you will just be shelling out for a more expensive snack.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

if they are eating the ghost shrimp they prob will eat most all other shrimp. the only thing i could think is get another tank up for breeding them so you always have your own supply.

 

[Rbishop]

Yep, a shrimp only tank with plants, is awesome.

 

[x0x0x0]

or you could try bamboo shrimp? i like mine. they are in a 30 gallon SAC. they've molted twice already. they get to be a really bright red color or brown when they get annoyed or don't want to be bothered with.