Can Bamboo / Wood Shrimp live with Kissing Gourami?
Caution — with care
Why
- Kissing Gourami is 3.4× the length of Bamboo / Wood Shrimp and big enough to swallow one. Some keepers get away with it in a heavily planted tank; it is a real risk.
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 6–8 dGH.
Sweet spot: both do well at 75–82°F and pH 6.5–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Bamboo / Wood Shrimp | Kissing Gourami | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 75–82°F | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 6.5–7.6 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–15 dGH | 6–8 dGH |
| Adult size | 3.5" | 12" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Min tank | 20 gal | 75 gal |
Together, plan on at least 75 gallons.
How to make it work
- Keep a large, established shrimp colony in a heavily planted tank with moss and cover so enough survive to breed.
- Add only full-grown adults — never juveniles, which will be eaten.
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
Sort it with: A larger tank · GH remineraliser
Where to buy
- Bamboo / Wood Shrimp: buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
Live-animal shipping: add a heat pack below 50°F, expect weather holds above 90°F, and schedule delivery for a moderate week when someone can receive it promptly.
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
Skapelab plans a complete, buildable planted aquarium around your fish — a hand-illustrated layout, the exact plants and hardscape, a placement map, and a full equipment and shopping list. Free.
Design a tank with Bamboo / Wood Shrimp, Kissing Gourami →Everything compatible with Bamboo / Wood Shrimp · …with Kissing Gourami