Can oscars live with ghost shrimp?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and ghost shrimp should not share a tank. Oscars hunt shrimp. Adult ghost shrimp will be eaten.
What to watch
- Deal breakerOscars hunt shrimp. Adult ghost shrimp will be eaten.
- Watch outOscars grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for ghost shrimp.
What works
- Both are fine at 74–81°F.
- pH 7–8 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, ghost shrimp the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Ghost shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 65–82 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 7–8 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 1.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 5 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Groups of 3+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for ghost shrimp
Mystery snailYes
Endler's livebearerYes
Ramshorn snailYes
Amano shrimpYes
CorydorasYes
Celestial pearl danioYes
Questions
Can oscars live with ghost shrimp?
No. Oscars and ghost shrimp should not share a tank. Oscars hunt shrimp. Adult ghost shrimp will be eaten.
What temperature suits both oscars and ghost shrimp?
74–81 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, ghost shrimp need 65–82 °F.
What size tank do oscars and ghost shrimp need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.