It would help if you researched well about the dietary needs of your guppies when you bring them home. And, of course, you need to cross-check each and every tank mate you keep with guppies in the same tank. You will never know which of your aquarium species might end up as a snack for guppies, such as shrimp. Don’t you think shrimp are too small to become an easy target for guppies? What if these fish eat up all your shrimp. So, ask the right question: Do guppy fish eat shrimp?
No, guppy fish will not eat shrimp present in the tank until and unless it is small enough to fit in guppy’s mouth. If the shrimp is big, then guppies will not eat them. So, if you keep these species together in a tank, get the bigger shrimp for your aquarium.
However, if you have a large population of guppies and a small population of shrimp, the guppies will likely consume all of the shrimp. So if you want to keep both species in your tank, it is important to maintain the correct ratio of guppies to shrimp. Now that we know, guppy fish do not eat shrimp, and they can live together without any hassle. But there can be some exceptions where your guppy fish might eat shrimp.
I know you still have questions and queries taking up all the space in your mind. Keeping shrimps and guppies together is a dream of many, so let’s talk about how to make it come true, shall we?
Read this entire article to know more about guppies and shrimp companionship.
Do Guppy Fish Eat Shrimp?
Guppies are omnivorous creatures which means that they will eat just about anything. But guppy fish do not eat shrimp generally, but there are some cases where they might.
If the guppy is young and still growing, it will eat those brine shrimp you drop in the tank to supplement its diet.
However, a guppy will not eat shrimp present in the tank unless it is starving or shrimps are small enough to fit in its mouth. Therefore, the guppies will not go near them if you have a lot of shrimp in the tank.
So if your tank has both guppy fish and shrimp, there is no need to worry about the former eating the latter. The only time you need to be concerned is when the shrimp is young and still growing.
In that case, you might want to supplement its diet with brine shrimp. But other than that, guppies and shrimp can live together peacefully in the same tank.
Why Are My Guppies Eating My Shrimp?
I know how you want to save your shrimp but stay kind to your guppies. If you see your guppies eating shrimp, it is not because they want to harm them.
There could be a few reasons for this. I will list them below for you:
Small Size Of Shrimp
If your guppy fish are eating your shrimp, it is most likely because the shrimp are small enough to be considered food by the guppy fish.
Guppies are just omnivorous creatures that love to eat. They will try to eat anything that can fit their mouths, including shrimp.
The good news is that guppies are not interested in eating shrimp unless they are young and still growing.
Hunger
It would help if you did not underestimate the power of hunger when it comes to guppies. If they are not getting enough food, they will start to eat anything in the tank, including shrimp. Make sure to feed your guppies enough food so they will not be tempted to eat the shrimp.
Lack Of Nutrients
Another reason your guppy fish might be eating shrimp is that they lack nutrients in their diet. This is especially true if you only feed them pellets or flakes.
You can solve this problem by adding some live foods to their diet. This will give them the necessary nutrients and keep them from eating the shrimp.
Boredom
Guppies are also known to eat out of boredom. So if they do not have anything else to do, they might start nibbling on the smaller shrimps in the tank.
They won’t bother the bigger ones that can’t fit in their mouth. You can add some decorations to the tank to keep them amused. Or, try adding more guppies to the tank so they will have someone to play with.
Stress
It is one of the silent killers in the aquarium hobby. But unfortunately, it is often the root cause of many diseases and can lead to death.
This can happen if the water quality is poor or there are insufficient hiding spots in the tank. In addition, when guppies are stressed, they sometimes start to eat other fish in the tank.
So, save your shrimp or, shall I say, shrimp babies from the guppies by just adjusting the tank condition to the optimum.
Elimination Of Competition
Your guppies might be simply trying to eliminate the shrimp due to food competition. This can happen if the shrimp are constantly bothering the guppies or if they are eating all the food.
Can I Feed My Guppies Any Shrimp?
Yes, you can definitely feed your guppies brine shrimp. As I said before, guppies are omnivores, meaning they will eat both plants and meat.
So, shrimp is definitely something that you can include in their diet. In fact, shrimp is a really good protein source for them.
But these are not aquarium shrimp but those you can buy from pet stores as dietary supplements for fish.
Your guppies will eat the brine shrimp, not cherry shrimp or any other shrimp. However, you might find these fish eating the smallest shrimps or baby shrimps in the tank; it is completely unintentional.
So, if your guppy is young and still growing, it will eat those brine shrimp you drop in the tank to supplement its diet along with other fish food like pellets, flakes, and even live foods.
Is Brine Shrimp Good For Guppy Fish?
Brine shrimp is definitely good for guppy fish. As I said, it’s a great protein source and something you can include in their diet.
In fact, brine shrimp is one of the most popular foods for guppy fish. It’s also really good food for fry (baby guppies) because it’s small and easy for them to eat.
So, if you want to treat your guppy fish with brine shrimp every now and then, that’s fine. Just remember not to overfeed them because that can lead to health problems down the road.
A good rule of thumb is only to feed them what they can eat in two to three minutes or less. Anything more than that, and you’re just causing them to overeat.
And as with any other food, don’t forget to remove any uneaten brine shrimp from the tank so it doesn’t start decaying.
Do Guppy Fish Eat Shrimp Eggs?
Sadly yes, guppy fish will eat shrimp eggs if they can find them. This is one of the reasons why it is hard to breed shrimp in an aquarium with guppies.
The good news is that there are some things you can do to protect the shrimp eggs, like using a breeding trap. But even then, you might not have much success if the guppies can find a way to get to the eggs.
If you really want to breed shrimp in your aquarium, it might be best to do so in a separate tank from your guppy fish. That way, you can be sure the guppies won’t get to the shrimp eggs and eat them.
Remember, your guppies will eat those eggs and the smaller and weaker female shrimp. So, keeping them separate is best if you want to breed shrimp successfully.
Can Guppy Fish And Shrimp Live Together?
Yes, you can keep guppy fish and shrimp together in the same tank. In fact, many people do because they make a nice combination. But there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to keep these two species together.
You need to make sure the shrimp are big enough. If the shrimp are too small, the guppies will just see them as food and try to eat them.
So, it’s important to get shrimp that are at least similar in size to your guppy fish. That way, they can defend themselves if the guppies do try to eat them.
How To Save Shrimp From Guppy Fish?
If you already have shrimp in your aquarium and you’re worried about the guppies eating them, there are a few things you can do.
Maintain The Guppy To Shrimp Ratio
First, you can try to increase the number of shrimp in your tank. The more shrimp there are, the less likely it is for guppy fish to eat any one shrimp.
You should also make sure the shrimp are big enough. If they’re too small, the guppies will see them as food and try to eat them.
Keep Shrimp First
Another option is to add the shrimp to your tank before adding the guppies. That way, the shrimp will have a chance to establish themselves before the guppies start trying to eat them.
Drop Right Kind Of Food For Each Species
You can also try dropping the right kind of food for each species into the tank. For example, shrimp like to eat algae and other plants, while guppy fish prefer any food you drop in the tank.
If you drop the right kind of food into the tank, the shrimp will have something to eat, and the guppies will less likely try to eat them.
Include Plants And Hiding Spots
Another way to protect shrimp from guppy fish is to include plants and hiding spots in your aquarium. Shrimp like to hide among plants, so if you have plants in your tank, the shrimp will have somewhere to hide. The hiding spots will also give the shrimp a place to go if the guppies do try to eat them.
What Type Of Shrimp Can Live With Guppies?
There are many different types of shrimp that can live with guppy fish, but some of the most popular choices include:
- Tiger shrimp
- Red cherry shrimp
- Amano shrimp
- Bamboo shrimp
- Crystal red shrimp
- Cardinal shrimp
Each type of shrimp has different care requirements, so be sure to do your research before adding any to your tank. However, these shrimp are relatively easy to care for and make great additions to a guppy tank.
Conclusion
In conclusion, guppy fish can certainly eat shrimp – and they will if given a chance! However, this is not necessarily good for your shrimp or guppy population. If you’re looking to keep both species in your aquarium, it’s important to take measures to protect your shrimp. This includes maintaining the correct ratio of guppy fish to shrimp, keeping plants and hiding spots in your tank, and feeding each species the right type of food.
With a little care and planning, you can have a successful aquarium with both guppies and shrimp!
Good Luck!
Thanks for reading!!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!
