Can Blue Velvet Shrimp live with German Blue Ram?
Caution — with care
Why
- German Blue Ram 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 Blue Velvet Shrimp colony will not hold its numbers.
- German Blue Ram is recorded as taking adult shrimp and is 2.5× the length of Blue Velvet Shrimp. Dense cover helps and some individuals ignore them, but expect losses.
- Almost no shared temperature: Blue Velvet Shrimp wants 65–78°F and German Blue Ram wants 78–85°F, so only 78°F suits both — too fine a margin to actually hold.
- German Blue Ram will eat Blue Velvet Shrimp shrimplets. The colony still grows if there is moss or another dense hiding place for the babies.
Sweet spot: both do well at 78–78°F and pH 6.5–7 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Blue Velvet Shrimp | German Blue Ram | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–78°F | 78–85°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 | 5.5–7 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–14 dGH | 1–8 dGH |
| Adult size | 1" | 2.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 5 gal | 20 gal |
Together, plan on at least 20 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.
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
Sort it with: An adjustable heater
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, German Blue Ram →Everything compatible with Blue Velvet Shrimp · …with German Blue Ram