15 Best Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates – FishLab

If you’re hoping to add even more quirky critters to a tank that already has the incredible ghost shrimp occupying it, chances are, you’ll need to know which are the most ideal ghost shrimp tank mates!

The best ghost shrimp tank mates are typically shrimp that occupy different zones of the aquarium or are unlikely to compete for food with a ghost shrimp, such as cherry shrimp. Small fish such as cory catfish and loaches are also excellent companions for the ghost shrimp.

In this article, you will find coverage of the 15 best ghost shrimp tank mates, including an analysis of what makes them good to keep with your ghost shrimp in the same environment, and a brief look at what a ghost shrimp needs to thrive in a community tank. Let’s dive right into this topic!

Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates – What You Need to Know

Without being properly informed of not only what your ghost shrimp needs, but what to watch out for in general with potential tank mates, you may find yourself with a very unhappy tank community on your hands. Check out the categories of considerations below to prevent this:

Temperament

The tempers between tank mates are often the thing that causes the most trouble. A Ghost shrimp, luckily, is very self-focused and peaceful by nature. It will never go out of its way to bother fish, and may even spend most of its time hiding.

However, this simply means that it is all the more important to get tank mates who are also peaceful and not likely to hunt down and aggravate your peace-loving ghost shrimp.

Size

The size of any type of fish or aquarium mare is important to understand because critters that are too different in size may wind up eating or at least intimidating one another. Ghost shrimp are not much larger than one inch, or one and a half inches. They are also intensely thin.

Luckily, thanks to their small size and camouflage, they aren’t likely to be noticed often enough even by fish big enough to eat them. Still, it is not a bad idea to limit tank mates to only a few inches longer than one or two inches, total.

Competition

Competition for food between tank mates with similar diets, feeding zones, and tastes can cause trouble in a tank. Ghost shrimp eat fish waste and plant detritus, and will happily munch on any food leftover by tank mates that drift to the bottom. If you feel the need to feed a ghost shrimp beyond this, they only need a tiny pinch of flakes.

Some ghost shrimp get adventurous and leave their normal spot at the bottom of a tank to swim up and eat on the surface during feeding time. Make sure this does not cause competition from fish that tend to eat in the same zone.

Parameters ; Tank Setup

Ghost shrimp need a minimum tank size of a five gallon tank. They may not need a lot of room, but they do require plenty of plant matter to keep them feeling safe and secure. They live in most types of water hardness and temperature, but the optimal temperature is between 65 F and 82 F. Be sure any tank mates also prefer these temperatures for the best results!

15 Best Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates

Let’s examine which little critters make the best tank mates for ghost shrimp in a list of the top fifteen!

1. Bronze Cory
2. Kuhli Loach
3. Cherry Shrimp
4. Spike-Topped Apple Snail
5. Cherry Barb
6. Zebra Loach
7. Suckermouth Catfish
8. Amano Shrimp
9. Neon Tetras
10. Vampire Shrimp
11. Bamboo Shrimp
12. Bloodfin Tetra
13. Zebra Danio
14. Mystery Snail
15. Nerite Snail

Let’s dive more deeply into each creature on this list to see what makes them great for ghost shrimp tank mates!

Also check out these similar posts:

• Turtle Tank Mates
• Harlequin Rasbora Tank Mates
• Honey Gourami Tank Mates
• Fire Eel Tank mates

1. Bronze Cory

• Scientific Name: Corydoras Aeneus
• Adult Size: 2.5 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 72 to 79 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: South America

One of the most commonly found types of fish and easily accessible, the bronze cory will add a level of iridescence to the bottom zone of any aquarium. Despite this, it won’t pose any threat to your ghost shrimp in terms of aggression or food competition!

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No food competition.
• No aggression worries.

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

2. Kuhli Loach

• Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii
• Adult Size: 3 to 4 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 73 to 86 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Southeast Asia

The Kuhli Loaches stripes and long length makes a great contrast to what little transparent visuals the ghost shrimp has to offer. Though it will occupy the same zone as the ghost shrimp, it will usually not bother the smaller creature, and will leave just enough food for the ghost shrimp to live on.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No food competition.
• No aggression.

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

3. Cherry Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi
• Adult Size: 1 to 1.5 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 65 to 85 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Taiwan

Looking to add more shrimp to your collection? Consider this fiery companion for the ghost shrimp. Despite their similarities in size and choice of leafy habitat, the cherry shrimp is a peace-lover and will be happy to share space and food with a ghost shrimp.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

4. Spike-Topped Apple Snail

• Scientific Name: Pomacea diffusa
• Adult Size: 6 inch shell size
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 64 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 3 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: South America

Commonly found in aquariums all over the world and famous for spiky antennae, Spike Topped Apple Snails will do a great job of keeping your Ghost Shrimp company without needing too much care or causing any trouble themselves.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

5. Cherry Barb

• Scientific Name: Puntius titteya
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 74 to 79 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 25 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Sri Lanka

This fruity-colored little fish is not only easy to find and care for, but will leave your ghost shrimp alone thanks to spending most of its time in the top and middle zones of the tank.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

6. Zebra Loach

• Scientific Name: Botia striata
• Adult Size: 4 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 73 to 79 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Southern India

Also known as the Candy Stripe Loach, this fish is not only very peaceful, but enjoys living in a community tank. It tends to enjoy spending time with others of its kind, but will do no harm or even notice a ghost shrimp cleaning up the bottom of the tank!

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

7. Suckermouth Catfish

• Scientific Name: Hypostomous plecostomous
• Adult Size: 3 inches to 2 feet
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 72 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
• Care Level: Medium Difficulty
• Origin: South America

This fish may get huge in comparison to your little one-inch ghost shrimp, but it is very gentle. As long as you have a tank large enough to accommodate it and enough ghost shrimp to help cleanup without one overfeeding, it makes a great tank mate!

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• More than one ghost shrimp should occupy a tank large enough to hold suckermouth catfish.

8. Amano Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Caridina Multidentata
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 60 to 80 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Japan

Similar in near-transparency but bigger than the ghost shrimp, this is a peaceful little bottom dweller for any aquarium. It will be happy to help clean up anything your ghost shrimp leaves at the bottom of the tank!

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• Little food competition
• No aggression

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

9. Neon Tetras

• Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 68 to 79 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Peru, Brazil

If you’re looking to keep all the inhabitants of your tank tiny, the neon tetras are a great brightly colored addition to your tank! It is also peaceful enough to leave the similarly-sized ghost shrimp alone.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None

10. Vampire Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Atya gabonensis
• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 75 to 84 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: South America

Despite its sinister name, which is in place simply because it uses long claspers to filter food, the Vampire shrimp will be a peaceful, if larger tank mate to Ghost Shrimp!

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• Little food competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

11. Bamboo Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Atyopsis moluccensis
• Adult Size: 2 to 3 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 75 to 81 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Asia

This bottom-dwelling shrimp will be a pleasing change in the transparent visual a ghost shrimp provides. It is peaceful and happy as long as it has a lot of substrate to dig around in.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• Little food competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

12. Bloodfin Tetra

• Scientific Name: Aphyocharax anisitsi
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 64 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: South America

This beautiful little fish is mostly silver with bright orangey red fins. It will match just right with your Ghost Shrimp without depriving it of food or spooking it.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

13. Zebra Danio

• Scientific Name: Cyprinidae
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 64 to 74 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: East India

There is no danger of this brightly colored and patterned little fish harming your ghost shrimp. Not only is the zebra danio peaceful, but it isn’t likely to even know your ghost shrimp is there, all the while providing plenty of leftovers for your ghost shrimp to live on.

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No food competition
• No aggression

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

14. Mystery Snail

• Scientific Name: Pomacea Bridgesii
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 68 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Care Level: easy
• Origin: South America

This little invertebrate loves to eat some of the same food leftovers that a ghost shrimp might, but it is small enough to pose no real threat to the ghost shrimp’s diet. Additionally, it looks pretty cool as a way to mix up the visual energy of the aquarium with a snail instead of a fish!

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• Small enough to avoid aggression
• No food competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• None!

15. Nerite Snail

• Scientific Name: Vittina natalensis
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• Compatible With: Ghost Shrimp
• Water Temperature: 72 to 78 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 2 gallons
• Care Level: Medium Difficulty
• Origin: Africa

Although the blobby little nerite snail is mainly easy to care for and handles it’s own feeding, it can be a little tricky to maintain just the right temperature for it. Still, in terms of temperament and diet, this snail is a great tank mate for Ghost Shrimp!

Pros of keeping with Ghost Shrimp:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Ghost Shrimp :

• Needs a specific temp range.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, the 15 Best Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates include other bottom-dwellers such as snails and shrimp which won’t take up too much of the ghost shrimp’s meals or become aggressive. Fish like the neon tetra are also acceptable! Add one of the above to your aquarium today for more visual variety!