Tank mates for vampire shrimp
We checked vampire shrimp against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for vampire shrimp include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and assassin snail. Avoid common goldfish, fancy goldfish and dojo loach: they need different temperatures: Vampire shrimp 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
Vampire shrimp: 24–28°C (75–82°F), pH 6.5–7.5, adult size 10 cm (3.9 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full vampire shrimp care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (60)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bronze corydoras will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Common pleco will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Guppy will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
African dwarf frog will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Assassin snail will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry barb will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Chili rasbora will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Ember tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Ghost shrimp will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Glowlight tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Harlequin rasbora will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Honey gourami will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Julii corydoras will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kuhli loach will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Platy will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Pygmy corydoras will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Rummy-nose tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Sterbai corydoras will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
X-ray tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black neon tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bloodfin tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown killifish will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Diamond tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emerald green corydoras will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Endler's livebearer will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Forktail blue-eye will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Head and tail light tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Kubotai rasbora will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lambchop rasbora will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Peacock gudgeon will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Penguin tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Rabbit snail
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy loach will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scarlet badis will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Shell dweller cichlid
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Shell dweller cichlid will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Sparkling gourami will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Thai micro crab will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Threadfin rainbowfish will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Zebra pleco
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Zebra pleco will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Dwarf rasbora
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Dwarf rasbora will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Flame tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Green neon tetra
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Green neon tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Least killifish will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Silvertip tetra will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Caution Possible, with care (84)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Betta fish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Dwarf gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Neon tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Oscar · 75+ gal
- Oscar hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Zebra danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Bala shark · 230+ gal
- Bala shark hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
- Black skirt tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Boesemani rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Chinese algae eater · 80+ gal
- Chinese algae eater hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Clown loach hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Convict cichlid · 29+ gal
- Convict cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Denison barb · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Denison barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Discus · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
- Discus hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Electric blue acara hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Electric yellow cichlid · 55+ gal
- Electric yellow cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- German blue ram · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
- German blue ram hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Jack Dempsey · 55+ gal
- Jack Dempsey hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Kribensis hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Molly hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Peacock cichlid · 75+ gal
- Peacock cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
- Pearl gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Pictus catfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Red zebra cichlid · 55+ gal
- Red zebra cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Rosy barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
- Senegal bichir hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Siamese algae eater hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Silver dollar · 75+ gal
- Silver dollar hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Three spot gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Yoyo loach hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- African butterfly fish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
- Black ghost knifefish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
- Black phantom tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
- Bleeding heart tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Bolivian ram hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Buenos Aires tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Bumblebee catfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Cockatoo cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Congo tetra · 40+ gal
- Congo tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- Demasoni cichlid · 55+ gal
- Demasoni cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Dwarf chain loach hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Dwarf orange crayfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Frontosa · 200+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6.5–7.5 vs 8–9).
- Frontosa hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Gardneri killifish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Giant danio · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Giant danio hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gold barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
- Golden wonder killifish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Green terror · 80+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- Green terror hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Jewel cichlid · 40+ gal
- Jewel cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Odessa barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Odessa barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Panda garra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Paradise fish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
- Red rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Ropefish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scissortail rasbora hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Severum hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Swordtail · 29+ gal
- Swordtail hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
- Tinfoil barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Turquoise rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
- Upside-down catfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Zebra loach · 29+ gal
- Zebra loach hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
- Black ruby barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- Keyhole cichlid · 29+ gal
- Keyhole cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Moonlight gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Pearl danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
- Thick-lipped gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Variatus platy · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Avoid Bad tank mates (5)
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Vampire shrimp 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Vampire shrimp 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Vampire shrimp 24–28°C (75–82°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Vampire shrimp 24–28°C (75–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with vampire shrimp?
Good tank mates for vampire shrimp include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and assassin snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat vampire shrimp.
Can vampire shrimp live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
Can vampire shrimp live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Betta fish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
Can vampire shrimp live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can vampire shrimp live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.