Can Ghost Shrimp live with Swordtail?
Caution — with care
Why
- Swordtail is 3.7× the length of Ghost Shrimp and big enough to swallow one. Some keepers get away with it in a heavily planted tank; it is a real risk.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–82°F and pH 7–8 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Ghost Shrimp | Swordtail | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 65–82°F | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–8 | 7–8.4 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–15 dGH | 12–30 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.5" | 5.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Min tank | 5 gal | 29 gal |
Together, plan on at least 29 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.
- Add only full-grown adults — never juveniles, which will be eaten.
Sort it with: A larger tank · GH remineraliser
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 Ghost Shrimp, Swordtail →Everything compatible with Ghost Shrimp · …with Swordtail