Can Shrimp Live With Bettas? The Honest Answer

You've got a betta tank and want to add some shrimp. Or you've got shrimp and think a betta would look nice. Either way, you're asking the question every aquarist eventually asks: can shrimp live with bettas?

The short answer: sometimes. The long answer: it depends on your betta's personality, your tank setup, and whether you're okay with potential shrimp losses.

Let's break it down.

The Truth About Bettas and Shrimp

Bettas are carnivorous predators. In the wild, they eat insects, larvae, and yes, tiny crustaceans. Shrimp look a lot like food to them.

Some bettas ignore shrimp completely. Others hunt them relentlessly. You won't know which type you have until you try, and by then, you might be down a few shrimp.

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"My betta couldn't care less about my cherry shrimp. They eat together and he's never bothered them." - r/bettafish

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"Added 10 cherry shrimp to my betta tank. He ate 8 within a week. The survivors live in the moss now." - r/shrimptank

Both experiences are common. That's what makes this pairing unpredictable.

Factors That Influence Success

◆1. Betta Personality

This is the biggest factor, and unfortunately, it's the one you can't control.

Signs of a shrimp-friendly betta:

• •Calm, slow-moving
• •Ignores snails and other tank mates
• •Doesn't flare at his reflection constantly
• •Been in a community tank before

Red flags:

• •Aggressive, always flaring
• •Attacks his reflection
• •Killed previous tank mates
• •Constantly patrols territory

There's no way to know for sure without testing. Even "calm" bettas can turn predatory when shrimp are introduced.

◆2. Tank Size

Minimum: 10 gallons. Preferably 20+.

In a small tank, the betta will encounter shrimp constantly. In a larger tank, shrimp can establish territories the betta doesn't patrol.

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"In my 5 gallon, no shrimp survived more than a week. Moved the betta to a 20 long with tons of plants and now they coexist fine." - r/shrimptank

◆3. Plant Cover

This might be the second most important factor after betta personality.

Shrimp need hiding spots. Dense plants, moss, driftwood with crevices, and hardscape give shrimp places to escape and hide.

Best plants for shrimp hiding:

• •Java moss (dense, shrimplets can hide inside)
• •Subwassertang (same benefits as moss)
• •Dense stem plants (creates "forest" areas)
• •Floating plants (breaks line of sight)

A bare tank with one ornament? Your shrimp are sitting ducks.

◆4. Shrimp Species and Size

Better choices:

• •Amano shrimp (too big to eat, usually)
• •Ghost shrimp (cheap, replaceable)
• •Large adult cherry shrimp

Risky choices:

• •Shrimplets (tiny = snack-sized)
• •Small Neocaridina
• •Any expensive shrimp you'd be upset to lose

Adult Amano shrimp can reach 2 inches, making them difficult for most bettas to eat. They're the safest choice for betta tanks.

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"Amanos are the only shrimp I keep with bettas now. Too big to eat and they're fast." - r/Aquariums

◆5. Feeding Schedule

A well-fed betta is less likely to hunt. A hungry betta sees everything as food.

• •Feed your betta consistently
• •Consider multiple small feedings vs. one large meal
• •Target feed (drop food where the betta is, away from shrimp)

This isn't foolproof. A betta might hunt for sport even when full.

Setup for Best Odds

If you're determined to try, here's how to maximize success:

◆Start With a Planted Tank

Set up the tank for shrimp first:

• •Dense plants throughout
• •Lots of moss
• •Driftwood or rocks with hiding holes
• •At least 10 gallons, preferably larger

Let the shrimp establish a colony for several weeks before adding the betta. Established shrimp know their hiding spots.

◆Add Adult Shrimp Only

Baby shrimp are betta snacks. Even peaceful bettas often can't resist shrimplets.

• •Add at least 10 adult shrimp
• •Accept that you may lose some initially
• •If the colony can breed faster than the betta eats, you're golden

◆Choose Amanos for the Best Odds

Amano shrimp are the safest choice:

• •Too large for most bettas to eat
• •Fast swimmers
• •Hardy and adaptable
• •Great algae eaters

Downside: Amanos don't breed in freshwater, so you can't establish a self-sustaining colony.

◆Have a Backup Plan

Before adding shrimp to a betta tank, know what you'll do if it fails:

• •A separate shrimp-only tank ready
• •A friend who'll take survivors
• •Acceptance that some might not make it

The Experiment Approach

Some keepers use "feeder" shrimp to test their betta:

1. •Add 5-10 cheap ghost shrimp
2. •Watch the betta's behavior for 2 weeks
3. •If most survive, cautiously add nicer shrimp
4. •If the betta hunts, you have your answer

This sacrifices some ghost shrimp but protects your more valuable cherry or Amano shrimp from being the guinea pigs.

Signs It's Not Working

Remove shrimp if you see:

• •Betta actively hunting (stalking, darting at shrimp)
• •Shrimp disappearing rapidly (more than 1-2 per week)
• •Shrimp staying hidden 24/7 (too stressed to forage)
• •Dead shrimp with betta-sized bite marks

A stressed shrimp colony won't breed and won't thrive. Even if they survive, that's not a good life for them.

Success Stories

Not all bettas are murderers. Many keepers successfully maintain betta-shrimp tanks:

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"My betta swims right past my cherry shrimp. They've been together 8 months with multiple generations of babies." - r/shrimptank

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"15 gallon, heavily planted, 1 betta, ~50 cherries. He ate a few shrimplets at first but now ignores them. Colony is growing faster than he can eat." - r/bettafish

These successes share common factors:

• •Larger tanks (15+ gallons)
• •Heavy planting
• •Established shrimp colonies
• •Calm bettas

Alternative Tank Mates

If you decide the risk isn't worth it, consider other betta tank mates:

Safe options:

• •Nerite snails (too hard to eat)
• •Mystery snails (large, protected)
• •Otocinclus (fast, ignored by bettas)

Or keep shrimp separately:

A 5-gallon shrimp-only tank next to your betta tank gives you the best of both worlds. No stress, no losses, both tanks thriving.

My Recommendation

If you're asking "should I put shrimp with my betta," here's my honest advice:

Go for it if:

• •You have 15+ gallons, heavily planted
• •You're okay losing some shrimp initially
• •Your betta has shown tank mate tolerance
• •You'll use Amano or cheap ghost shrimp first

Skip it if:

• •Small tank (under 10 gallons)
• •Aggressive or territorial betta
• •You're using expensive/rare shrimp
• •You'd be upset losing any shrimp

The safest shrimp keeping happens in shrimp-only tanks. But if you want to try the combo, set yourself up for success with space, plants, and the right shrimp species.

Quick Compatibility Chart

Final Thoughts

Can shrimp live with bettas? Sometimes yes, often no, and always with some risk.

If you try it, start with expendable shrimp in a well-planted, larger tank. Watch carefully, have a backup plan, and be prepared for any outcome.

Or play it safe with a shrimp-only setup and enjoy both species without the gamble.

Related Articles

• •Cherry Shrimp Care Guide
• •Best Plants for Shrimp Tanks
• •Complete Shrimp Tank Setup Guide