Can Blue Lobster Crayfish live with Red Shadow Panda Shrimp?
Not recommended
Why
- Blue Lobster Crayfish hunts shrimp and is 4.2× the length of Red Shadow Panda Shrimp — it will eat them.
- Blue Lobster Crayfish is one of the animals to keep away from a breeding shrimp colony — either it hunts them, or it out-competes and harasses them until the colony stops replacing itself. A Red Shadow Panda Shrimp colony will not hold its numbers.
- No overlapping water hardness: Blue Lobster Crayfish wants 5–20 dGH but Red Shadow Panda Shrimp wants 0–4 dGH.
- Blue Lobster Crayfish will eat Red Shadow Panda Shrimp shrimplets. The colony still grows if there is moss or another dense hiding place for the babies.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 6.5–6.8.
Side-by-side
| Blue Lobster Crayfish | Red Shadow Panda Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–82°F | 62–72°F |
| pH | 6.5–8 | 5.8–6.8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–20 dGH | 0–4 dGH |
| Adult size | 5" | 1.2" |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 30 gal | 10 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 gallons.
Compatible alternatives
Instead of Blue Lobster Crayfish (to keep Red Shadow Panda Shrimp):
- Brazos Dwarf Crayfish — 1.5", peaceful
- Cajun Dwarf Crayfish — 1.5", peaceful
- Dwarf Crayfish (CPO) — 1.75", peaceful buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
Instead of Red Shadow Panda Shrimp (to keep Blue Lobster Crayfish):
- Flower Shrimp — 2.5", peaceful
- Amano Shrimp — 2", peaceful buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
- Bamboo / Wood Shrimp — 3.5", peaceful buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Blue Lobster Crayfish, Red Shadow Panda Shrimp →Everything compatible with Blue Lobster Crayfish · …with Red Shadow Panda Shrimp