Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates

Ghost Shrimp is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 44 freshwater species that pair well with a ghost shrimp — plus the 63 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 7, 2026 • Full Ghost Shrimp care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a ghost shrimp

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 18–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Trinidad Guppy ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 19–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Celestial Pearl Danio ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Chili Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Emerald Dwarf Danio ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Exclamation Point Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Ruby Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Scarlet Badis ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 2 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Strawberry Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Dwarf Spotted Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
With caution

Ghost Shrimp tank mates that can work with care

  • Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Adolf's Cory, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with African Butterfly Cichlid, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • African Dwarf Frog ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    African Dwarf Frog may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Agassiz's Corydoras, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Altifrons Geophagus may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Amano Shrimp may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
  • Amapá Tetra ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Amapá Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.

+ 225 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a ghost shrimp

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Wels Catfish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Redtail Catfish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Fire Eel will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Clown Knifefish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Spotted Gar will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Wolf Cichlid will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Nile Bichir ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
    Nile Bichir will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.

+ 55 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a ghost shrimp

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a ghost shrimp, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Ghost Shrimp?

We compare each fish against your ghost shrimp on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Assassin Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Blackwing Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Killifish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Clown Killifish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Crimson Red Betta✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Endler's Livebearer✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Eyespot Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Red Licorice Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Glowlight Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Gold Ring Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 18–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Hillstream Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Lambchop Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Neon Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Northern Glowlight Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 18–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Otocinclus✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Panda Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 18–23 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pygmy Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rainbow Emperor Tetra✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Tail-spot Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tailspotted Oto✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Otocinclus✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Tiger Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Trinidad Guppy✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 19–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • African Dwarf Frog⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • African Dwarf Frog may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Amapá Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Amapá Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Black Darter Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Danio⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • Blue Danio may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Emperor Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Blue Emperor Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cardinal Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Cardinal Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Emperor Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Emperor Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Flame Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Flame Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Glowlight Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Golden Dwarf Barb may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Jelly Bean Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Jelly Bean Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Marbled Hatchetfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Marbled Hatchetfish, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Phoenix Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Phoenix Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Purple Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Purple Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Red Phantom Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Red Phantom Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rosy Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Rosy Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Rosy Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Alligator Gar will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Clown Knifefish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Fire Eel will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Nile Bichir⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
    • Nile Bichir will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Redtail Catfish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Spotted Gar will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Wels Catfish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Wolf Cichlid will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Setting up a ghost shrimp community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 75 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

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How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for a ghost shrimp

As a peaceful species, ghost shrimp is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Ghost Shrimp grows to about 4 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 2 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 18–28 °C (64–82 °F), pH 6.5–8 and 3–15 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Ghost Shrimp is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 6+ of its own kind first, then build compatible tank mates around them. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a ghost shrimp live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 44 compatible freshwater species for ghost shrimp. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for a ghost shrimp?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a ghost shrimp?

Avoid Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do ghost shrimp tank mates need?

Start from Ghost Shrimp's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 75 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Ghost Shrimp care guide