Can Kissing Gourami live with Vampire Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Kissing Gourami is recorded as taking adult shrimp and is 2.0× the length of Vampire Shrimp. Dense cover helps and some individuals ignore them, but expect losses.
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 6–8 dGH.
Sweet spot: both do well at 75–82°F and pH 6.5–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Kissing Gourami | Vampire Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 75–84°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.6 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–8 dGH | 6–15 dGH |
| Adult size | 12" | 6" |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 75 gal | 30 gal |
Together, plan on at least 75 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
Where to buy
- Vampire 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 Kissing Gourami, Vampire Shrimp →Everything compatible with Kissing Gourami · …with Vampire Shrimp