Can Ghost Shrimp live with Thick-lipped Gourami?
Caution — with care
Why
- Thick-lipped Gourami is recorded as taking adult shrimp and is 2.3× the length of Ghost Shrimp. Dense cover helps and some individuals ignore them, but expect losses.
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 6–7.5 dGH.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–82°F and pH 6.5–7.6 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Ghost Shrimp | Thick-lipped Gourami | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–82°F | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–8 | 6.5–7.6 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–15 dGH | 6–7.5 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.5" | 3.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 5 gal | 30 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 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: GH remineraliser
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Ghost Shrimp, Thick-lipped Gourami →Everything compatible with Ghost Shrimp · …with Thick-lipped Gourami