Ironically enough, shrimp makes a lovely meal for platies. Therefore, they can’t be tank mates and give you the best of both worlds. Amano shrimp may be an exception due to their superpowers. They’re not easy to catch, so platies can’t eat them.
Ever wondered if you can keep shrimp with platies? Do platies eat shrimp?
Platies are fun, colorful fish to keep if you’re a first-time hobbyist. They have a peaceful temperament, and they exist in various colors, patterns, sizes, and types.
Shrimp, on the other side, saves you the hassle of cleaning the tank. Who wouldn’t want a fish that cleans and looks adorable?
Throughout the article, you’ll understand why you should keep platies and shrimp in separate tanks. You’ll also learn a few tricks that may enable you to keep them together; if you’re really set on it.
Why Do Platies Eat Shrimp?
Platies are omnivorous and will eat your shrimp if given the opportunity; this hinders the choices you have in mind for your tank population.
Even though your platies cannot eat the adults due to their size, there is always the possibility that they will torment the shrimp to death.
Don’t forget about the young ones. Unless you stuff the tank with decorations and plants, no newborn shrimp will survive in your tank with a platy fish.
What might surprise you about platies is their ravenous appetite. They practically gobble up anything in their environment to satisfy their curiosity.
Even if you feed your platies properly, they will constantly suck up algae and other food and munch on plants to supplement their nutrition. Obesity is a prevalent problem in platy fish because of this.
In fact, platies are often so concerned with food that they eat their own fry! So, protecting a platy fry is critical if the fry is to live.
3 Reasons Why Platies and Shrimp Aren’t a Good Fit Together
There are many reasons why shrimp make a good chase for platies. However, these three reasons give you a clear overview of why you shouldn’t have platies and shrimp as tank mates.
Shrimps Won’t Be Able to Eat Well
As mentioned above, platies eat pretty much anything that comes their way. For that specific reason, shrimps in your tank will be unable to eat any of the food you offer them.
Accordingly, your shrimps won’t be able to survive on the leftovers. They, too, require a healthy diet to thrive. Otherwise, they’ll become feeble and waste away if they don’t receive adequate nutrients, representing a yummy snack for your platies.
Platies Will Most Probably Bully Shrimp
Shrimps are at the bottom of the food chain. They make a delicious, easy meal for most fish.
Thus, platies find them tempting. Their predatory instincts will encourage aggressive behavior.
Even if the shrimp is too large to go in your platy’s mouth, the fish will harass it aggressively—sometimes even damaging and ripping down the shrimp.
Shrimp Are Vulnerable.
Shrimps are active aquarium cleaners. These benign animals live purely for the sake of cleaning. They, unlike lobsters, do not have claws to protect themselves. Perhaps this is why shrimps are so susceptible and easily intimidated by many fish.
Furthermore, shrimps are typically tiny, growing around one inch long. As a result, a tiny shrimp may easily fit inside the mouth of your platy’s mouth.
Assuming you exerted all your effort to provide a safe haven for your shrimp. It’d still be risky for them to roam around the tank. One wrong move and they’ll quickly become your platy’s supper for the day.
Tricks That May Help Your Shrimp Live Longer
You could do a few tricks to minimize the stress you’d be putting your shrimp into by placing it with platies. It might not be a hundred percent accident-proof, but it’ll help do the trick.
Firstly, it’d make a significant difference if you first introduced the shrimp to your tank. You’ll be giving your shrimp time to get used to the tank and know all the hiding spots. They’ll also get the chance to start their colonies, and the tinier ones will further grow.
Consequently, your platies’ urge to hunt shrimp down will minimize; they won’t want to attack a colony of adult shrimps.
Secondly, it’s always a bonus for shrimps if you include many tank plants. They’re tiny creatures. Impenetrable, thick plants will save them the chase.
Shrimp has favorite plants. They’d rather hide behind a Java moss, Guppy grass, Water Wisteria, Java Fern, and a Water Lily. The shrimp may hide within the architecture of these plants, successfully avoiding getting eaten.
Lastly, it’s optimum if you reduce the ratio of platies to shrimp. This will help shrimp breed and grow. Again, a vast colony of shrimp won’t tempt a platy’s appetite. Inversely, platies will chase down the few shrimp you keep to clean the tank. They’ll vanish before you know it.
Shrimp That Go Well With Platies
Size may or may not determine if a shrimp will make a quick snack. However, platies are capable of harassing shrimps till they die.
Having said that, there may be types of shrimp that can make relatively good tank mates with platies.
Amano shrimp comes on the top of the list. They can lead a peaceful life with platies as they have a set of superpowers. For instance, they’re large-sized. They also have a clear body and can easily camouflage.
On the other hand, cherry and brine shrimp mustn’t be put in a tank with platies as they won’t make it out alive.
Conclusion
Platies do eat shrimp. If you’re considering partnering them up in one tank, you’ll have a tank of only platy fish and a dead shrimp. One or two tricks could help you make the shrimp’s life more manageable. However, a long life span isn’t guaranteed for your shrimp unless they’re Amano. They stand a chance to live with platies without getting eaten.