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Ghost Shrimp tank mates

Cheap and hardy with a misleading peaceful label. Species-only or with robust community fish. Never with cherry shrimp or nano tetras.

Common mistakeMixing ghost shrimp with cherry shrimp because 'both are just shrimp' is how keepers invent missing neocaridina after every moult. Ghost shrimp often eat smaller shrimp. Keep ghosts in their own scavenging crew or with robust fish that ignore them — not as janitors in a cherry colony.

Evidence: partially verified
Confidence: medium

Each name below opens a pair check with Ghost Shrimp. That check is the decision, not the list itself.

← Full Ghost Shrimp profile·Compatibility checker·Tank builder·More invertebrate

Usually safer companions

Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.

None listed here. Use the pair checker with species you are considering.

Risky or situational

May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.

  • Amano ShrimpOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Corydoras CatfishOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Dwarf GouramiOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • GuppyOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Harlequin RasboraOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Neon TetraOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Zebra DanioOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

Fish to avoid with Ghost Shrimp

Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.

  • Cherry ShrimpSee why (pair)

    Cherry Shrimp conflicts with Ghost Shrimp on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.

Tank size and groups

  • Published minimum for Ghost Shrimp: 40L. Group minimum 5 .
  • Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other. That is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
  • Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 40L hub.

Easier alternatives to consider

Hardier first-tank names from the library. Still read the profile. Not a substitute for reading this one.

Plan before you buy

Start a pair check with Ghost Shrimp, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.

Open pair checkerOpen this plan in builder

Tank hubs: 40L

Related reading

Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.

Filtration & heating

A 40L minimum tank for Ghost Shrimp needs a filter rated for at least 160L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 18–28°C.

Filter size guide →Heater size guide →Tank setup checklist →Beginner plants guide →

Similar fish (same category)

Related (care + temperament)

Featured compatibility checks

Curated pair pages for Ghost Shrimp. Each opens a full verdict — not just a list label.

Ghost Shrimp tank mates — quick answers

What fish can live with Ghost Shrimp?
This hub has no “usually safer” (GOOD) companions for Ghost Shrimp. Workable neighbours sit in caution — for example Amano Shrimp, Corydoras Catfish, Dwarf Gourami, Guppy, Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetra. Treat every name as a pair check, not a shopping list.
What tank mates should you avoid with Ghost Shrimp?
Avoid Cherry Shrimp based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
What size tank do Ghost Shrimp need for a community?
40L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 50L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.