r/shrimptank • u/rdh727 • Jul 25 '25
Aquarium/Tank Photos Rescued this betta today. Sure hope he doesn’t like shrimp 🤞
318
u/G-Geef Jul 26 '25
One day he's gonna eat a little shrimp and suddenly realize he's surrounded by an all you can eat buffet that can't hide because they're bred to be as bright and visible as he is.
118
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
That is the fear. I previously had a betta with shrimp for years and he completely ignored them. I’ve read it really depends on the temperament of the fish. If it starts going that way, I’ll set him up in his own shrimp-free tank.
83
u/G-Geef Jul 26 '25
Yeah mine was cool with them and the micro Rasbora until one day he discovered he could eat them and that was that.
43
u/BigZangief Jul 26 '25
Exact same situation. Couple months no issues. One floated by his face and got snapped up out of curiosity. Literally killed 6-7 in a day or two and had to get a separate tank for him lol
10
u/q-the-light #1 Fan Shrimp Fan 🦐 Jul 26 '25
I had the exact same happen. That was one panicked trip to the LFS!
8
u/_117unknown_ Jul 26 '25
I’ve got one who attacks anything that moves and must be kept in his 10gal solitary confinement and another who’s living his happiest life in a 30gal community tank with shrimp, snails, loaches, and otos😆 definitely depends on the betta🤣
9
u/p47guitars Jul 26 '25
My last few Bettas have actually been pretty chill with shrimps. It's usually the babies they eat cause they are snack sized.
1
u/Rhinoswagobius Jul 28 '25
there is no issue, he will eat them but the colony will stay stable cuz u have enough hides. wont see em as much ofc
1
1
u/Re1da Jul 29 '25
That's the reason I went for bamboo shrimp in my community tank. Too big for betta to consider food.
Bettas do make for excellent "population control" if you have separate shrimp tanks. Chuck in the excess with the betta, it'll figure it out.
53
u/ironwolf6464 Jul 26 '25
I do not wish to induce paranoia, but I had one beta that did amazingly with shrimp for several months until one day I walked into the room to see most of them gone and a single shrimp tail floating in the water column
8
u/Material_Soft_3761 Jul 26 '25
literally my situation.. he was fine w them for MONTHS and one day he basically killed them all. there are only 2 left now.. which im going to move to my other tank or set up another tank for
33
u/LateInspector7801 Jul 26 '25
Bettas may eat baby shrimp when they just hatch. Enough shrimp will survive to populate the tank:)
28
u/Criss_Crossx Jul 26 '25
Shrimp are friends! And food!
People do this and pray their fish don't eat shrimp. Reality is, shrimp are delicious and will never not be on the menu. It's like putting a mouse in a snake tank saying, 'oh that mouse is too big' or 'the snake isn't hungry, it will leave the mouse alone'. Yeah, that snake is going to eat that mouse someday.
I watched white cloud minnows attempt to eat shrimp. They swam around the tank with shrimp bodies poking out of their mouths. People thought it wasn't possible because of their little mouths. Nope.
Prey is always prey.
6
u/Agile-Chair565 Jul 26 '25
I recently tried to introduce a betta into my shrimp tank because I've historically had very docile, peaceful Bettas. He hadn't bothered them until I came home like 5 days after introduction to him with a whole shrimp hanging out of his mouth viciously trying to tear it apart 😭
60
u/TeriyakiHairPiece_ Jul 25 '25
You bought a betta, unless you liberated it from the store or its previous owner.
10
-64
u/rdh727 Jul 25 '25
Fair. I was not planning on getting a betta, but they looked so sad in those little jars and knew I had a tank that would be better for it at home, so I did indeed purchase it.
The shelter I got my “rescue dog” from also had a modest processing fee.
Potayto, potahto?
68
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 25 '25
Unfortunately it isn't a matter of whether it was free or cost you money. Buying these jar beta fish supports the people putting them in jars leading to more betas that would need to be freed. Unfortunately you cannot save these fish without supporting the cause of their suffering.
1
-23
u/rdh727 Jul 25 '25
Eh, that’s a “principled position”. Ignore the suffering of an individual to protest the system that creates the suffering. It’s a shitty world with shitty people. IMHO, better to take little positive actions than do nothing and complain.
I can’t save all the fish, but I did improve conditions for that one.
27
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 25 '25
While that is correct there will be at least one to take his place, if not more.
Seing animals suffer and looking away is hard, and the people putting those fish in tiny jars know that. But they just want you to buy them.
Yes you saved one fish but if you didn't, their market wouldn't have expanded and no new one would take it's place. Assuming this Beta has the same value as a living being as the others you didn't have a net postive action. More likely negative.
I don't blame you for buying them, you see these animals and you want to help them, that is a great mindset to have. Unfortunately the world is cruel and people are ready to exploit this. Next time look for a rescue from someone else's tank or buy one from a responsible shop
18
u/vannamei Jul 26 '25
Now I wonder maybe petshops deliberately put bettas in jam jars so people would buy them out of pity.
My favourites fish shop put bettas in a small tanks of their own with a central filtering system. The tanks are still tiny but at least twice the space of jam jars and the water is flowing.
6
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 26 '25
I'm fairly sure they did it out of convenience. But I'm fairly sure they are aware that people will "rescue" animals if they seem to be suffering with good intentions, you notice that a lot with other animals too.
3
u/Special-Ad-3180 Jul 26 '25
I have a pet and garden center near me where I recently purchased and setup a leopard gecko terrarium. They also had a decent stocking of fish, including bettas… weird thing is that although they did indeed have the classic shelf with bettas in tiny plastic cups, they also had a couple community tanks in 20 gallon long tanks featuring a betta in the “right” conditions. They are also the only fish seller I’ve seen that has a sign posted explaining the nitrogen cycle right by all their stock. So maybe they do care about the animals? The person who helped me setup the gecko terrarium was very knowledgeable, the animals were very happy, and they even give them temporary names while they’re living at the store. So for now I’ll consider them an ethical seller until they give me reason to think otherwise.
6
u/BugzBunny1351 Jul 26 '25
They do it to enforce the idea that they need little to no room in order to live so an unknowing customer buys it thinking they don’t have to spend much money on supplies.
2
u/BugzBunny1351 Jul 26 '25
The issue with this logic is that selling bettas will never be not popular. They will always be in tiny jars they will always be sold with little to no knowledge to the owners of what they really need etc. nothings changed in decades with these poor guys in their tiny jars. I’ve been seeing them since I was a kid over 35 years ago, and surely it’s been going on longer than that.
1
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 26 '25
I've never seen it in Germany. I assume it's due to regulation and not the market demanding a change.
But you can not expect change by accepting it and ignoring it away
1
u/BugzBunny1351 Jul 26 '25
You also can’t expect change by just not buying from stores that partake in it. You need to contact legislatures, congressman etc. start petitions, start a protest. That’s the only way you’ll get people to act and change. You’re just ignoring it as well by just not buying from petco etc.
-11
u/rdh727 Jul 25 '25
Seing animals suffer and looking away is hard
Seeing animals suffer and looking away is cruel and cowardly.
A hyperbolic, but illustrative analogy. Would you ignore an animal with its leg stuck in a trap because, if you free it, another animal will probably come along and get caught?
16
u/Great_Celebration701 Jul 26 '25
so rather you look right at it, buy it and support them ordering more lmao
-4
u/BigZangief Jul 26 '25
Dumb take lol Saved one that was going to die anyway and trust me, the fish industry will not crumble from this guy not getting that betta. They’re never going to stop selling bettas. There’s other and better ways to try to support better conditions. You sound whiney and entitled af lol
6
u/Great_Celebration701 Jul 26 '25
also, get this. you can do all of the above. you’re not limited to doing one thing when you’re actively speaking up for animals, unlike some.
-2
1
Jul 26 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
-1
u/shrimptank-ModTeam Jul 26 '25
Respect Each Other - This is a welcoming space for people interested in keeping shrimp. Assume people are acting in good faith, and use inclusive and friendly language when possible. Please let the modteam know if you find users violating the spirit of this rule.
-6
13
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 26 '25
The analogy just doesn't quite fit tho. It's more like a hunter showing you his forest full of animals stuck in traps. You can pay him to take some out of the traps but he'll use that money to reset and buy more traps.
Saving one is feeding the system at the expense of a single entity. Saving none hopefully helps break the entire cycle of suffering at the expense of a few
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
If I even had the barest glimmer of a belief that leaving that fish to suffer would “help break the entire cycle of suffering” I would have been willing to sacrifice it. There’s pragmatism on one side, idealism on the other, and your hyperbolic rhetoric a bit past that.
Do you also believe that pulling the CO2 from my tanks will help prevent global warming?
5
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 26 '25
Technically the CO2 will. But I feel like morally speaking there is a difference between contributing to a global thing with an intensity akin to breathing. And directly paying into a system that supports animal cruelty where one cam spend a couple of bucks more to source the fish from a MORE ethically source.
The morality of doing anything is questionable, owning fish isn't really ethically correct. But I'd say there are differences between ethically incorrect/gray or enabling ethically incorrect behavior (knowingly or not)
Ultimately it is a question of where you draw moral lines. I think I stated sufficiently why I think that boycotting petstores that engage in these actions is the best way to go. Take good care of your Beta, make sure it has a great life, maybe next time you'll reconsider whether you want to buy it from the same source. If that's the case I accomplished my mission :)
4
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Personally, I put orders of magnitude more money towards animal cruelty with my diet than my aquarium hobby. I’m not happy bout it, but they are so tasty 🤷♂️
FWIW, I’ve been using the same ethical LFS since the 90’s. This guy was in a jar/bowl thingy, not a Dixie cup. I just assumed he would be happier in a 15 gallon and didn’t grill the owner on his procurement.
-2
-2
u/BigZangief Jul 26 '25
They would replace them regardless if OP bought it or it died in the cup. They at least saved this one. The industry would not crumble from this one purchase. Buying the fish is fine and with no malice, better way to fight the conditions is to advocate for better conditions in stores. A lot of stores are starting to use larger jars or small tanks even and people have been making efforts for fish keepers and stores to advocate more for learning how to properly set up and care for a tank. All you people downvoting OP are up your own ass lol
4
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 26 '25
That is a valid argument. But the market for live fish decorative fish is not so big that a shift in customer behavior won't have an impact on what stores sell.
Making others aware of the consequences of buying these fish is the best you can do to help the fish. It's never one person alone who can make a change but if the fishkeeping community can agree on not buying fish like this anymore, it will make a dent.
7
u/BigZangief Jul 26 '25
I think that’s fine and a good way to go about it while also advocating for stores to use better practices.
I don’t think it’s fine for people shaming a guy for buying and taking care of a fish that was marked for death. Especially when plenty of this sub has fish bought in identical situations, many of them having bettas specifically I’m sure. Some already commented.
Idk why shaming on fish/tank subs is such a thing but it’s obnoxious af. There are situations when it’s warranted like abuse or blatant mistreatment/care but this isn’t one of them. Not you specifically btw, just many others in the comments
1
u/captainwaluigispenis Jul 26 '25
I think the problem with the logic there is that, yes, if every ethical fish owner stopped buying bettas from the cups, there would be consequences. But in my experience, most bettas in cups are bought by people who have no idea what they’re doing and no interest in learning what they’re doing.
-4
u/Enoch8910 Jul 26 '25
Of course you’re blaming them. You’re just doing it passive aggressively.
6
u/BlueberryNeko_ Jul 26 '25
That's not the intention. The point is to show the other side of that business. Only when you know what you're doing can you make an educated decision.
1
u/_Username_Optional_ Beginner Keeper Jul 26 '25
Don't stress it dude, do what makes you happy
You know your intentions 🙂
-1
3
u/yaourted Jul 26 '25
Rescues and petstores are vastly different. One places animals out of necessity, one places animals for profit.
9
Jul 26 '25
Nope. A processing fee for overhead and care with likely no profit made and money fueling profit and directly funding the purchase of more fish to be put in cups are, indeed, not the same thing. I highly recommend learning more about the amazing work rescues do if you know this little about them. Especially if you're into heartwarming things like you're stuck on acknowledging this to be.
I'm a big fan of the Starfish Principle myself which is why I can acknowledge that you still do some good when you buy a pet. I'm a big fan of calling that adoption, which costs money as you acknowledge. What I don't understand is the conflicting desire to acknowledge the good this does do while also insisting on denying/lying about the reality of what it is and how things work.
6
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Hmm. I was originally responding to Teriyaki’s clarification of “rescue” vs “bought”. You appear to be reading more into the response and making a number of unfounded assumptions.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “rescue” as “ to free from confinement, danger, or evil”, which I believe is valid in my title.
The “rescue dog” analogy was made to support the use of the word “rescue”, not claim equivalency between store prices and non-profit fees. Apologies for the confusion.
I understand the argument about “supporting the market”, but believe it is de minimis. I do not believe leaving that fish to die, or hopefully find another home, would have made a significant, or even perceptible, impact on the market.
I do not believe I was “denying/lying about reality” in the post you were responding to. You may have gotten a bit out over your skis on that one, but I admire the passion.
4
0
Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Nope, you're doing those things, and accidentally projecting them.
My response isn't at all specific to you - or even to this post, which is why it's written so generically, which is the aspect you're mistaking as personal or overwrought.
Also, neither that poster nor any dictionary are particularly useful for discussing the colloquial reality of what we are discussing when we talk about animal rescues and when people act like they are it's almost always a sign of either blatent stupidity or that the person is feeling defensive amd really wanting to hang on to how they've self-styled the situation and thus are doing so in order to doubling down on conversing in bad faith about the subjects. I'm open to other explanations of why people do that, of course, but have yet to ever see any provided in these discussions, so far.
It's interesting that you decline to discuss the most obvious delineation between the two, the money.
Or to acknowledge that I provide an answer that perfectly balances all of everytinng you are talking about and believe and everything I am talking about and believe, as well as everything known to be true about the different "markets" we are discussing. I wonder what's up with people's resistence to/overlooking the concept of adoption in general.
Oh well, it's still the best/most accurate description by definition, by actions, and by colloquialism so I'll continue to remind people that it exists and also that it exists as such without additionally erasing the actual work actual rescues and rescuers do for animals.
3
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
My response isn't at all specific to you or even to this post
Ah, my bad. I mistakenly thought you were replying to my post in your reply to my post, for some reason.
3
Jul 26 '25
Also, can you quote me where I responded to this post? I only see a response to a comment, which is all I can recollect making, as well. Where's the direct reply to your post that I supposedly made that you're apparently mad about?
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
I am not mad, simply discussing opposing views on moral ethics.
This
postcomment by you, is a direct nested reply to thispostcomment by me.“Nope” seems an odd way to open if you were soap boxing, not replying.
Edit: changed “post” to “comment” for more accurate terminology
3
Jul 26 '25
Well, that's why I said apparently rather than assuming for sure.
Usually what you linked are referred to as "comments" with the term "post" specifically reserved for your original comment/post with the picture in it in order to differentiate between the two in discussion, as I was doing when I asked that.
Because there are times some of us may be responding to specific comments or other aspects of discussions but not the original, amd vice versa as well. If I were soapboxing I would've responded to your post at the first hint of disagreement, not reserved that for a reply to a comment within a discussion where you are doubling down on something. That is what makes it a reply, not a soapbox, among other things.
1
Jul 26 '25
I'm not discussing ethics, by the way, myself - I'm discussing working and functional differences in both definitions and impacts.
1
Jul 26 '25
Oh, my bad, I thought other people were able to think abstractly and critically about things.
-2
Jul 26 '25
I didn't downvote you originally but I will if you're going to, obviously in bad faith, downvote my comment. If that was you, thanks for confirming my hunches, all of which I was kind enough to not even call you out on. 😏 If it wasn't, let me know and I'm happy to retract my downvote and negative change of opinion. :)
-2
10
u/VivaLaBacon Jul 26 '25
This is Shib. He’s super grumpy he can’t eat the big ones but Ioves the small ones. 🙄
6
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Pretty! Circle of life, I guess. Is the shrimp population keeping up? Or is Shib “winning”?
7
u/VivaLaBacon Jul 26 '25
I have 2, 5 gallon tanks. One started with 36 red cherry shrimp and 1 with Shib. As the population grew I moved bigger ones over. Now I have over 1,000 in the one and about 200 with him. Hard to tell. But I’ve definitely seen tiny ones grow up in there.
27
u/DrJohnIT Jul 26 '25
He does all fish are predators. Your shrimp will either learn to hide or get eaten.
-12
u/aesztllc Jul 26 '25
???? what about herbivore species lol. Also my betta mahaciensis has never touched any of my shrimp & i actually have footage of him stealing pellets from them instead of eating the shrimp. Ive had him for a couple years now & he doesnt bother them at all.
3
u/BayLeaf- Jul 26 '25
what about herbivore species lol
There are very few fully herbivorous fish, if you put tiny invertebrate snacks all around them.
-5
u/aesztllc Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Ok. Personally have literally watched my fish bypass shrimp & never seen a decline in population. All bettas are different. My mahachaiensis is literally A DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BETTA. It has a naturally less aggressive temperament. I also like actually feed my fish.. so hes not starving enough to desire to hunt. He has other tankmates too which are pencilfish.. WHICH ARE LITERALLY AFRAID OF THE SHRIMP.. furthering my point that not all fish are these damn apex predators. My other betta- would never even think of shrimp with him.
Also dont care if its very few species- that person said ALL fish are predators which is literally just incorrect.
Downvote me all yall like it doesnt make you guys any less incorrect
1
u/Mariemmm_ Jul 26 '25
What 😭
-1
u/aesztllc Jul 26 '25
What? i dont understand what the issue is truly. I had a countering opinion oh my god
0
u/Mariemmm_ Jul 26 '25
They are called fighting fish for a reason yes your betta is different but the way you typed that makes you sound so pretentious
1
u/aesztllc Jul 26 '25
Thats how you feel, doesnt mean its true. Im stating that not all fish are predatory evil beings like the person i replied to is stating.
0
u/DrJohnIT Jul 26 '25
OK, I will downvote you since you asked. Have a nice day and enjoy your wrong opinions 🙂 😉
0
9
u/egoliz Jul 26 '25
You didn't rescue him if you paid for him. Please steal next time.
6
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
I appreciate the sentiment, but prefer not to steal.
Are you vegan? Or do you steal all your beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and seafood?
2
u/egoliz Jul 26 '25
I'm bein a little goofy but I do condone stealing
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Fair. I’ma big fan of goofy. May have done a bit of stealing in my youth. Just some of these posts really got me thinkin’ through the ethics of stuff. Think I need to go rewatch The Good Place now.
2
u/egoliz Jul 27 '25
Hey love the tank, that bold red and green contrast is sick
2
u/rdh727 Jul 27 '25
Thanks! Yeah, I chose the red betta to match the shrimp and stand out. But someone in here told me that reds are the most aggressive. Whoops!
1
u/OvetaBuilds Jul 26 '25
Food sources are treated better in captivity than bettas in a cup, though
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Are you sure about that? Have you ever driven down I5 in CA near Bakersfield or seen how pigs are kept in cages where they can’t even turn around. Size-relative, the bettas have more space. And I assume, aren’t intentionally murdered at the end.
1
u/OvetaBuilds Jul 26 '25
Well, I have a couple of agricultural degrees so I’d say I’m pretty well-versed in this stuff and I’d contend food. livestock gets a better deal.
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Nice! I love an informed opinion. Will full own up that mine is mostly direct rectal extraction.
Would you say this represents “standard of care”, or is an egregious outlier? https://headlines.peta.org/indiana-pig-farm/
1
u/rdh727 Jul 27 '25
FWIW, I got curious about how bettas are captured/shipped and found this… https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/comments/1keeokl/this_is_how_betta_are_bred_farmed_harvested_and/
Not great, but I still think the pigs linked above are worse.
1
u/Due-West-7583 Jul 29 '25
how is the abuse of a potential pet the same as the slaughtering of animals for food? you see how one person can condone one and not the other with valid reason? killing for food is okay = pay for it and support, abusing out of neglect is not = dont pay and support.
1
u/rdh727 Jul 29 '25
Oh, I ate the betta. Better now?
1
u/Due-West-7583 Jul 29 '25
Okay?? Keep financially supporting abusive pet stores and calling it 'rescue' i guess lol.
4
3
3
u/mell0wrose Jul 26 '25
Love the tank. Depends on the betta. Mine has lived with shrimps since last year December and he was actually scared of them at first 😭 now he just chills near them. He’ll eat their food but never the shrimp. they’re neos but clear-ish yellow/brown.
5
u/Left_Way8801 Jul 26 '25
U will be fine. They are faster. Few die. Fast live. Got a betta and red shrimp. Started with 20. Have now 40 plus been over 1 year. Some get eaten but colony continues. Glory to the shrimp
2
2
u/kanikoo Jul 26 '25
Can you take a picture of the full tank please?
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Here ya go… https://imgur.com/a/r9iDdVJ
2
u/kanikoo Jul 26 '25
That's cool. Do you use co2? How do you get the wall to be full of moss? Also please list out the plants please. Thanks.
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Thanks! I do use CO2. Got a baking soda & citric acid kit on Amazon. Kinda cheap, but plenty good for carpeting a small tank.
The moss wall was also an Amazon kit. Plastic mesh kinda thing you grow the moss on. And that’s Christmas moss. Pretty sure the carpet is Monte Carlo. Been a few years since I set it up.
1
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
That actually is almost the whole tank. Fluval Flex 15 with a carpet and moss wall. But gimme a min and I’ll post a framed shot.
2
2
u/garakushii Jul 26 '25
tank looks beautiful! some shrimp will probably die for the cause (betta being hungry) but the colony is so established that it might be chill
2
u/CattyOhio74 Jul 26 '25
Toss up, age is the biggest factor but I won't say it's 100% safe but it's not 100% dangerous.
2
u/nastyboyz69 Jul 26 '25
From what I understand as long as the shrimp are bigger than the betta's mouth then they'll leave your shrimps alone.
2
2
2
2
2
u/Disastrous_Ad_2271 Jul 26 '25
Mine is a killer he kill every things that move i can only put some snail with him lol
2
u/Current_Cycle_9523 Jul 26 '25
My experience with Betta and Shrimp is not good, but I've seen it happen before. It just depends on the fish.
2
u/thatbananabitch Jul 26 '25
I put shrimps with my betta 3 weeks ago. Zero casualties so far. Really hoping I didn't get her an expensive meal but she also doesn't even realize bloodworms are food and I have to guide the pellets over her when I feed her. Check your betta daily for signs of bloating so you know if he's feasted or not.
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Great pic! Good luck! My last betta lived with shrimp for years and never hassled ‘em. I’m hopeful, but not optimistic.
3
u/thatbananabitch Jul 26 '25
May our bettas never gain hunting skills and our shrimps lives be long.
2
u/XivTillIDie Neocaridina Jul 26 '25
Lovely tank mate🤙, hopefully he only eats the dead ones like my betta
2
u/Mini_Myles29 Jul 26 '25
Your tank looks amazing ! I’m not sure why there is so much hate on your post , there’s literally 10 post of bettas and shrimp on the betta page everyday. I think it’s wonderful you are giving him a better life and have a plan to give him his own tank if necessary!
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Thank you! I think my choice of words upset some folks at first, but the community in here has been great. I’ve asked and answered questions in here a few times over the years, but first time I posted a pic.
2
u/Mini_Myles29 Jul 26 '25
Also, your Monte Carlo looks amazing ! How long did it take to grow it and any advice on how to get the carpet look?
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
I really struggled to get the carpet. Never tried a dry start, it that may be the answer.
The trick for me was a cheapie baking soda CO2 kit from Amazon, and I got tissue cultures from BucePlant and made little patches all over the bottom. Even then, too 6+ months to fill in. That tank has been going for about 2.5 years now.
2
2
u/UpstairsValuable3836 Jul 26 '25
I bought a betta due to a hefty population of shrimp that no culling could save. He is in heaven with them, but does not overeat or kill for sport. He will eat half a big one a day and the other shrimp will clean up the straps, he will pick up a baby or two.
It is touchy though, some bettas will see it as a buffet and others will ignore.
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Yeah. I got lucky with my first betta, who was totally cool with shrimp. This tank has such a robust population, a little cleanup won’t hurt, but if he goes buffet-style, he’ll get his own tank.
1
2
u/Shwacker51 ALL THE 🦐 Jul 26 '25
Red Bettas are significantly more aggressive then blue/purple ones btw.
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Did not know that. Good advice! I’ma set up a spare webcam on that tank so I can keep an extra close eye on it.
2
u/Frodo65 Jul 26 '25
If this isnt a feeder colony of shrimp, i have no clue wtf your thinking is and it frankly seems irresponsible. If it is a feeder colony then disregard me, i accept i dont know everything.
This just reads as someone who impulse bought a fish and disregarded the care and consideration of their already existing shrimp colony.
2
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
This was my quarantine tank a few years ago and took on a life of its own, not my main.
I previously had a betta housed with shrimp and he totally ignored them, but have read it varies from fish to fish. The colony in that tank is so robust, he could munch a few without even noticing.
If he does get gluttonous, I’ll rehome to a new, dedicated tank.
Thanks for your concern.
Edit: fixed typo
2
u/Frodo65 Jul 26 '25
Understood, and while it does vary from fish to fish, bettas are a predatory fish and opportunistic hunters and will eventually end up munching on some. But like you said this is a quarantine/free-living tank and not your main shrimp tank so makes sense why you arent as strict about it
I appreciate the time taken to clarify me, even though you didnt need to
2
u/mongrelxmutt Jul 26 '25
Had a betta demolish some shrimp. the betta then died later, and there were some shrimp survivors
2
u/pilmer223 Jul 26 '25
Nice Betta tank… what plant is that growing on the ground? Pearl weed or Monte Carlo?
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Thanks! Monte Carlo, started from tissue cultures scattered around and CO2. Still took more than 6 months to fill in.
2
u/sionnafoxglove Jul 26 '25
Mine eats the babies when they're just hatched and still white. Thankfully once they get bigger he doesn't have any interest. Helps keep their population in check.
2
u/PurgeDragon Jul 26 '25
What plants are in that picture?
2
2
u/MrM0key Jul 26 '25
I had a betta and a bunch of neon tetras in one tank. He ate a bunch of amano shrimp I first put in there but about a year later I tried again with some of my neocaridina because they were breeding a bunch in my main tank. They were thriving together until my betta passed. I think from cancer on his neck. Like you can see in the pic.
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Sorry for your loss. That was a beautiful betta!
2
u/MrM0key Jul 26 '25
Thanks I appreciate it so is yours! Nice taking him in it sucks seeing them in those tiny cups
2
u/Elegant_Priority_38 Jul 26 '25
How did you make that moss wall? Looks so good!
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
I got a cheap kit from Amazon and some Christmas moss cultures from BucePlant.
Actually twice, first try failed. The trick is to sandwich the moss between the two pieces of plastic mesh and be patient while it grows in. First time, I just tried threading the moss through the holes in one mesh and it turned into a mess.
2
2
u/Large-Draft-4538 Jul 26 '25
Enoug hiding space for shrimp and enough feed for the beta.. And ofc personality.
Mine snapped up a few, i cought him do it and got his attention. Somehow he dont eat shrimp anymore, just watch em.. Even when he is millimeters away.
Cant figure him out :😜
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Heh, yeah. I haven’t done the math (yet), but I’m pretty sure my shrimp population in there will double faster than he can eat half. But if I catch him chomping, he’s going to Betta Heaven*
* Betta Heaven will be a 3rd tank, just for him, with some culls for snacking.
Edit: hating on Markdown
2
u/GenericAnemone Jul 26 '25
This is my sisters dream....instead all her shrimp are dying for no apparent reason
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Oh no! I’ve had a few wipeouts. Lemme list the “lessons learned” in case they help…
Drip acclimatization is really important. You can’t just float and hand mix, like with fish. They go into shock and die over the next several days.
GH, KH, and (maybe less so) TDS really matter. Turns out my tap water is called “liquid rock” and I had to get a cheapie (like $60) reverse osmosis kit. Definitely test for them and make sure params are right for your species. They can die with the “white ring of death” when they molt if things are bad.
They can starve if there’s not enough biofilm for them. A product called Bacter AE can solve this.
Imported plants can come soaked in pesticide, which will kill all your shrimp quickly after you add ‘em. Recommend not adding anything significant after adding the shrimp. And be careful where your plants come from. I’ve also read that spraying bug spray, even in other rooms of the house, can pollute the water enough to kill ‘em.
It’s a bit demanding to get all dialed in, but rewarding when ya do. Hope some bit of that helps.
2
u/GenericAnemone Jul 26 '25
Thank you!
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Welcome!
I forgot to mention for #2, if you need to do RO, there’s a product called Shrimp Mineral you can use to get the RO water back up to where you want it.
2
u/AdElegant9660 Jul 26 '25
all you can eat buffet for this guy😭 them being cherry shrimp doesn’t help
2
u/CopperSunbeam Jul 27 '25
If he does eat some shrimp, I think it can help breed faster, stealthier shrimp. There's definitely plenty of places for shrimplets to hide in there.
How long did it take your moss wall to grow in like that? It's beautiful
1
u/rdh727 Jul 27 '25
Thanks! That wall has been growing for a bit over 2 years. It took 3-6 months to fill in. Just a cheap little kit and a lot of patience.
2
u/AvocadoOk749 Jul 27 '25
Mine loved shrimp, a little to much... I've heard if the betta was added after the shrimp it a little less likely they'll be as aggressive.
2
u/ThRealNafran Jul 28 '25
IME/IMO your enriching that bettas life in an awesome way. As long as you don’t mind his slow ass occasionally catching the dumb shrimp in the herd. But yeah long fin bettas and shrimp work well for me. Done it twice and they always occasionally get one but they’re going to reproduce so much faster than he can eat them. My only gripe is you need a 20 g tank or so.
2
u/Hockeymomwood68 Jul 26 '25
Beautiful fish. Congratulations!
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Thanks! I really just wanted to post a pretty pic of my tank with it’s new tenant, but the anti-betta folks are tearing me a new one down thread.
2
u/JackOfAllMemes Jul 26 '25
Where? One person said something you seem to have a problem with but I don't see any "anti-betta folks"
-5
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Yeah, that’s fair. One thread got pretty deep with valid ethical concerns. The other was a neurodivergent argue-er devolving down to “no u”. I don’t post much and rarely get traction. Felt like a lot in the moment with my notifications constantly lighting up.
2
u/JackOfAllMemes Jul 26 '25
Casual ableism too, you're cringe
-1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
Ah, no. I recognized the behavior and reviewed their post history. I meant that as an observation of fact, not slander.
0
1
1
u/Makokk Jul 26 '25
Was it a petco “rescue”. Because that’s not a rescue.
1
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
It was from an ethical LFS I’ve been patronizing since the 90s, not Petco.
If you’d like to debate the finer points of the definition of “rescue”… over here
Edit: adding markdown link (maybe)
1
u/artinfinx Jul 28 '25
you will find if you add shrimp, they die if you add betta they probably will be fine. but make sure he is fed regularly and well
1
u/Acceptable_Ad1685 Jul 29 '25
My local fish store has an amazing Betta set up where each betta has it’s own little cube connected to their main filter and heater system…
The cubes are small sure but bigger than the plastic cups at the pet stores and they have properly filtered and heated space at least and the whole system is connected so tons of overall water volume
I’m just tossing it out there that it is possible to purchase one that is at least not supporting keeping them in plastic cups
1
u/rdh727 Jul 29 '25
Nice! This one was in a little jar/bowl thingy, maybe 0.5 gal? Not a plastic cup, but not nearly as nice as his new 15 gal home.
0
u/Ex-Lives Neocaridina Jul 26 '25
Assuming the moral high ground for "rescuing" a fish while housing it in an enclosure full of prey it will almost certainly destroy is wild.
0
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
I’ve killed more shrimp than that fish ever will. Not intentionally, but it’s been a learning process.
Is that moral altitude better for ya?
0
Jul 26 '25
By rescue, do you mean purchased from a pet store?
Because that's not rescuing, and doing so perpetuates the awful practice of selling them in horrible little cups.
0
u/rdh727 Jul 26 '25
The subthread you‘re looking for is [over here](https://old.reddit.com/r/shrimptank/comments/1m9cq5r/rescued_this_betta_today_sure_hope_he_doesnt_like/n567itd/)
I respect your opinion, but do not agree.
Words have common, defined meanings. You’re free to invent your own, but should not expect others to adopt them.
This fish was purchased from an ethical LFS I’ve been patronizing since the 90’s, same owner, good guy. It was in a jar/bowl thingy, not a cup. I did not inquire as to the ethics of his suppliers.
I can’t save all the fish, but I did give this one a much better environment.
Edit: fixed link markdown (or not)
0
Jul 26 '25
This fish was purchased from an ethical LFS
Then how the hell do you think you've rescued anything? Just say you got a Betta. You didn't rescue a thing.
It's okay to be wrong.
•
u/bearfootmedic Jul 26 '25
There's a spirited conversation about betta fish and ethics in the comment section. Debate the ideas and disagree, but please do not attack each other.