Is a red cherry shrimp compatible with a dwarf gourami, or a paradise fish?
A dwarf gourami may attempt to eat the smaller red cherry shrimps. Not all gourami want to eat shrimp, but I’ve had a few who did it. The greater the difference in size between the large gourami and the small shrimp, the more likely the shrimp gets eaten. Put lots of plants and hiding spaces and a couple shrimp caves in there to reduce the risk of predation. As to the paradise fish, again, it’s the same as with other types of gouramis. These fish naturally eat small surface bugs in the wild, so if it sees a “bug” (shrimp) on the ground, it may or may not go for it. Some paradise fish, especially those raised on live foods, recognize the shrimp as a tender delicious edible treat. Other gouramis show no sign of wanting to eat it. It’s a risk. Put lots of hiding spaces in the tank and have a fairly stably reproducing population of cherry shrimps, and you’ll probably be fine. Here is a Do-It-Yourself guide to building a shrimp cave:
