Can Blue Velvet Shrimp live with Discus?
Not recommended
Why
- Discus is 8.0× the length of Blue Velvet Shrimp — easily mouth-sized, and anything that fits in the mouth is a predator.
- Discus is not on the verified shrimp-safe list, so we will not recommend it over a breeding Blue Velvet Shrimp colony. It may well be fine — it simply has not been confirmed by a source, and an unverified guess is not worth the colony.
- No overlapping temperature: Blue Velvet Shrimp wants 65–78°F but Discus wants 82–88°F.
Side-by-side
| Blue Velvet Shrimp | Discus | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–78°F | 82–88°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 | 5.5–7 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–14 dGH | 1–8 dGH |
| Adult size | 1" | 8" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 5 gal | 55 gal |
Together, plan on at least 55 gallons.
Compatible alternatives
Instead of Blue Velvet Shrimp (to keep Discus):
- Vampire Shrimp — 6", peaceful buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
- 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
Instead of Discus (to keep Blue Velvet Shrimp):
- Brilliant Rasbora — 4", peaceful
- Clown Rasbora — 4", peaceful
- Dwarf Emerald Rasbora (nanus) — 0.7", peaceful
Where to buy
- Blue Velvet 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
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Design a tank with Blue Velvet Shrimp, Discus →Everything compatible with Blue Velvet Shrimp · …with Discus