a fishy question - shrimp as pets?

After 1 1/2 years with a 20g freshwater, we've talked a bit about getting a 5 gallon aquarium for DD. But she really doesn't have the room for one in her bedroom, and I'm afraid of the frequent water changes. Just recently DH said he'd really like to tackle a larger aquarium for the living room, so we've started to watch Craigslist for a 45-55g setup.

DD is VERY excited about getting to help pick fish for "a HUGE fish-house" so this will satisfy "her" fish as well being a family aquarium. We know we want to stick with freshwater still, and DD's helped us narrow our fish choices down to:
3 dwarf gouramis
6 albino corys
and EITHER 4 platys
OR 6-12 rasboras or tetras depending on size. (most likely these because we can get a bigger school)
And for plants it looks like we'll need java ferns/moss and maybe some valisneria (sp?) on the bottom along with a soft substrate & several hidey-hole type rocks & houses.

But the one thing she really wants to know is if we can add shrimp. Originally we talked about a single male betta & a couple cherry shrimp for her, and she's asking if 2-3 shrimp could be added to the big setup. I know that shrimp are a "freebie" on the bio-load, but would they be possible with the other fish here? I've looked a bit into the care of shrimp, and the ones we'd be considering are the 1.5-2" cherries, amanos or other Caridina genus shrimp out there. Does anyone know if this would be possible? Especially with a school of 6 corys on the bottom too?
love,
mom

 

The corys would be fine, we have cherry's in with corys, tetras, and a pair of bumblebee goby's. However I would think the gouramis would make a snack out of the shrimp.
We started with 10, gave them plenty of plants and places to hide, and they are doing well and reproducing.

Here is a good site to get all of your fishy questions answered http://www.gcas.org/forum/

 

Here's a good website about shrimp as pets:

http://www.petshrimp.com/glassshrimp.html

Lilac

 

Well I have a 65 gallon and have a marbled shrimp with cichlids...and they have never touched it, but they're geophagus which are pretty laid back for cichlids. I personally would rather have some shrimp than a gourami any day. The shrimp is really interesting to watch and is a scavenger. I think you can get a marbled shrimp at pet smart but I like to help out the local pet shops. I hope it works out...and if you have any other questions feel free to ask.