Can Blue Velvet Shrimp live with Opaline Gourami?
Not recommended
Why
- Opaline Gourami is 6.0× the length of Blue Velvet Shrimp — easily mouth-sized, and anything that fits in the mouth is a predator.
- Opaline Gourami 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.
Side-by-side
| Blue Velvet Shrimp | Opaline Gourami | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–78°F | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 | 6–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–14 dGH | 5–20 dGH |
| Adult size | 1" | 6" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Min tank | 5 gal | 30 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 gallons.
Compatible alternatives
Instead of Blue Velvet Shrimp (to keep Opaline Gourami):
- Ghost Shrimp — 1.5", peaceful
- Bamboo / Wood Shrimp — 3.5", peaceful buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
- Vampire Shrimp — 6", peaceful buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
Instead of Opaline Gourami (to keep Blue Velvet Shrimp):
- Brilliant Rasbora — 4", peaceful
- Clown Rasbora — 4", peaceful
- Croaking Gourami — 3", 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
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 Blue Velvet Shrimp, Opaline Gourami →Everything compatible with Blue Velvet Shrimp · …with Opaline Gourami