Can Longfin Bristlenose Pleco live with Oolong Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Longfin Bristlenose Pleco is not on the verified shrimp-safe list, so we will not recommend it over a breeding Oolong 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.
- Almost no shared temperature: Longfin Bristlenose Pleco wants 72–82°F and Oolong Shrimp wants 62–72°F, so only 72°F suits both — too fine a margin to actually hold.
- No overlapping water hardness: Longfin Bristlenose Pleco wants 6.5–7.5 dGH but Oolong Shrimp wants 0–4 dGH.
- Longfin Bristlenose Pleco is much larger than Oolong Shrimp but is not a shrimp hunter — it may take a shrimplet or clean up a moult. Adults are safe with cover.
- Longfin Bristlenose Pleco will eat Oolong Shrimp shrimplets. The colony still grows if there is moss or another dense hiding place for the babies.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 6.5–6.8.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–72°F and pH 6.5–6.8 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Longfin Bristlenose Pleco | Oolong Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 62–72°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.6 | 5.8–6.8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6.5–7.5 dGH | 0–4 dGH |
| Adult size | 5" | 1.2" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 30 gal | 10 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: An adjustable heater · GH remineraliser · A larger tank
Where to buy
- Longfin Bristlenose Pleco: 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 Longfin Bristlenose Pleco, Oolong Shrimp →Everything compatible with Longfin Bristlenose Pleco · …with Oolong Shrimp