Angelfish are primarily peaceful but tend to eat smaller fish and invertebrates. But will angelfish eat shrimp?
Yes, angelfish will eat shrimp. As omnivores, they eat plants, small fish, and invertebrates. Angelfish can quickly devour small shrimp and even injure the giant shrimp. To protect the shrimp, you must feed the angelfish well, add a lot of hiding places for the shrimp, and limit the angelfish count.
Let’s now understand in detail why angelfish eat shrimp.
Why Do Angelfish Eat Shrimp?
Angelfish are not picky eaters. Although they are mostly peaceful, they will eat small creatures.
Given below are the main reasons why angelfish eat shrimp.
1. They are omnivores.
Angelfish eat plants, small fish, insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates in their natural habitat.
Besides, angelfish are not fussy about their food.
Because of their omnivorous characteristics, they will eat shrimp and other available creatures inside the tank.
2. They are larger than shrimp.
Angelfish are predatory fish. They are commonly seen eating small creatures that fit their mouths, including shrimp.
It’s natural for large angelfish to eat small fish and invertebrates.
3. They forage at the bottom.
Shrimp are bottom dwellers that hide among aquatic moss, plants, and other hiding places.
In the wild, angelfish are surface or mid-water swimmers. However, they also forage along the bottom for food.
So they can always eat or injure an unsuspecting shrimp.
Let’s now understand if angelfish are always a danger for shrimp.
Related: Angelfish Amazing Facts | Are Angelfish Cichlids? | Are Angelfish Schooling Fish? | Does An Angelfish Eat Other Fish?
Are Angelfish Always A Danger For Shrimp?
Angelfish don’t care what they eat as long as they find enough food in the aquarium.
So angelfish will eat small fish, insects, and other creatures that fit perfectly in their mouths.
Many hobbyists keep angelfish and shrimp in the same tank.
So there’s always a danger that the tiny shrimp will get gobbled by the bigger fish.
At the same time, it’s necessary to understand that shrimp are intelligent creatures.
They spend most of the time hiding inside the aquatic moss or other plants in the tank.
However, there’s a risk when shrimp come out of hiding to eat food.
Although shrimp are fast to evade predators, angelfish can always attack and eat an unsuspecting shrimp.
You may also sometimes find your angelfish uninterested in shrimp. It’s impossible to know their reaction.
So you will have to observe and understand their behavior to determine the risks involved.
The bottom line is that angelfish can eat shrimp. However, that’s not always true.
If you still have any apprehensions, it’s wise to avoid keeping them together.
7 Types Of Shrimp That Angelfish Will Eat
Angelfish will eat any small creatures that they come across.
So some aquarists are worried about introducing the beautiful shrimp to their aquariums.
Given below are the different types of shrimp that angelfish will eat.
1. Babaulti Shrimp
Babaulti shrimp are hardies and need low maintenance.
They have the unique ability to change color when startled or agitated.
It means they can quickly change color to suit their environment.
It’s pretty tricky for the babaulti shrimp to survive alongside hungry angelfish.
Besides, angelfish will not have any trouble eating these shrimp.
Babaulti shrimp are primarily included in a planted aquarium as they eliminate plant matter that has started to decay.
These shrimp help remove detritus before it becomes toxic to other inhabitants.
2. Blue Bolt Shrimp
Blue bolt shrimp are one of the gorgeous shrimp species you can keep in a freshwater aquarium.
The array of brilliant colors makes them the most kept freshwater invertebrates.
Blue bolt shrimp need calm environments to thrive. They will be unable to coexist with angelfish.
So, it’s not recommended to add them in fish tanks inhabited by angelfish.
These shrimp are also sensitive to poor water quality.
So it’s essential to maintain pristine water quality and check for any spike in nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia inside the tank.
3. Blue Tiger Shrimp
The natural coloration of these shrimp is blue with black tiger stripes along the body.
Blue tiger shrimp are omnivores that eat algae, bacteria, and other microorganisms.
The blue tiger shrimp don’t have any chances of survival in the presence of an angelfish.
Angelfish will devour these shrimp.
In addition, blue tiger shrimp need excellent and stable water conditions to survive.
Poor water quality and an increase in the ammonia and nitrate levels can harm the overall health of shrimp.
4. Bumblebee Shrimp
They are known as bumblebee shrimp because of the black and gold stripes resembling bumblebee.
These shrimp are peaceful and shy.
They are no better at defending themselves against the large angelfish.
Angelfish can quickly devour them as they are small. So you need abundant cover for the shrimp to hide.
Bumblebee shrimp also need pristine water conditions to survive.
Poor water quality and increased ammonia and nitrates can adversely affect their health.
5. Crystal Red Shrimp
Crystal red shrimp are some of the most beautiful shrimp.
Besides their stunning red and white pattern, they are way too expensive and are bred in unique shrimp aquariums.
Angelfish is not the best companion for the crystal red shrimp.
Angelfish will eat these shrimp if you try to keep them together in a community tank.
These shrimp need a clean and well-oxygenated tank with stable water parameters.
Before adding these shrimp to a fish tank, you need to ensure that the tank is completely cycled and free of extra nitrogen.
6. Panda Shrimp
Panda shrimp are a result of cross-breeding crystal red and crystal white shrimp.
They are easy to breed but need stable water parameters.
It’s best to keep them away from angelfish as angelfish are pretty aggressive toward small crustaceans.
Predatory fish like angelfish will likely eat these shrimp. So most breeders won’t take that chance.
To keep the panda shrimp alive, you must ensure that the water quality is always high.
Any traces of ammonia or nitrites can be fatal. You will need to check and maintain pristine water quality frequently.
7. Snowball Shrimp
Snowball shrimp, also known as white pearl shrimp, are aesthetically pleasing.
They are easy to care for, breed quickly, and multiply into a large colony.
The chances of snowball shrimp surviving in an angelfish tank are poor.
Angelfish won’t necessarily seek snowball shrimp but will devour them if they cross each other’s path.
These shrimp easily survive on detritus. They can quickly clear algae and other waste from the tank.
However, you need to create a dense underwater landscape to protect these shrimp.
Related Questions
Will Angelfish Eat Amano Shrimp?
Angelfish will eat Amano shrimp if they fit in their mouths. However, the size will matter.
Bigger Amano shrimp have a better chance of surviving angelfish than most other shrimp.
Will Angelfish Eat Ghost Shrimp?
Yes, angelfish will eat ghost shrimp.
Although they won’t necessarily go hunting for ghost shrimp, the chances of angelfish eating these shrimp are very high if they come across each other in the tank.
Will Angelfish Eat Cherry Shrimp?
Angelfish will happily eat cherry shrimp.
These shrimp are unlikely to survive around angelfish as the size of angelfish is big enough to gobble these tiny crustaceans.
Will Angelfish Eat Bamboo Shrimp?
Yes, angelfish will eat bamboo shrimp if they’re kept together.
Bamboo shrimp have a non-aggressive demeanor and lack the claws or pincers that they can use to attack or defend themselves.
4 Ways To Stop Angelfish From Eating The Shrimp
Many aquarists have experienced that angelfish are primarily peaceful but eat small fish, worms, and invertebrates.
However, using a few techniques can make them hesitant to attack and devour shrimp.
Given below are four ways to stop angelfish from eating shrimp.
1. Create unfamiliar territory.
It’s best to introduce angelfish in the aquarium after the shrimp have established their territory.
Angelfish won’t be aggressive in an unfamiliar environment. This will increase the survival chances of your shrimp.
However, never make the mistake of adding shrimp into an angelfish tank.
2. Feed angelfish adequately.
Angelfish are mostly surface or mid-water swimmers.
However, they swim along the bottom to eat worms, shrimp, and other invertebrates in the wild.
So ensure you feed them properly with flakes, pellets, granules, and veggies.
It will keep them calm and make them less hostile toward the shrimp.
This will also prevent the angelfish from foraging along the bottom of the tank.
3. Create hiding places.
Adding decorations, covers, aquatic moss, and plants will create plenty of hiding places for the shrimp in the aquarium.
It’s also recommended to introduce aquatic plants that have broad leaves.
This will give your aquarium a distinct look that resembles the natural habitat of angelfish.
This change will also make the angelfish more comfortable and relaxed.
4. Limit angelfish count.
Don’t overstock angelfish in the aquarium.
Although angelfish are social and like to remain in a group, limiting their numbers is best.
Try to keep relatively small groups, perhaps two to three angelfish at the most.
The more the angelfish in the tank, the more likely are they to hurt the shrimp.
