The Ghost Shrimp, also famous as Glass Shrimp, belongs to the group of crustaceans. This freshwater ghost shrimp is quite popular among experienced or naïve aquarists.
The ghost shrimp is affordable, easy to care for, and works as an efficient tank cleaner. They can only live up to one year. You can keep it in a peaceful community aquarium with small fishes or feed it to big fishes as well.
If you want to know more about them, keep reading till the end.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Care Level | Easy |
| Family | Palaemonidae |
| Compatibility | Small Peaceful Fish |
| Lifespan | 1 Year |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Color Form | Clear |
| Minimum Tank Size | 5-10 Gallons |
| Size | 1.5” |
| Tank Set-Up | Tropical freshwater, caves, and plants |
Ghost Shrimp Overview
Ghost shrimp is a native of North America, first discovered in 1850. Since then, it has become famous among aquarists. The Palaemonetes family includes a variety of Ghost Shrimp species. All of them are different from each other but are known by the common name Ghost Shrimp.
They are easily available around the globe, and most are found on farms. They can be kept as feeder fish to big fish or to supply aquarium owners. Fishermen also use them as bait, but the wild ones can act as pests.
Ghost shrimp are always active and busy scavenging. They make the tank look clean by keeping the algae level down and clearing up the uneaten food.
Ghost shrimp cannot function properly in a group. So, get a single shrimp to get the full result. Aquarium fish and feeder fish are not treated equally on the farm. So, always check whether the Shrimp is bred as a feeder or for the aquarium. The life expectancy of feeder fish is less than that of aquarium fish.
Ghost Shrimp Appearance
Ghost shrimp have a unique transparent body that helps them hide from predators. The only thing visible clearly is the processed food in the form of dots on their back. This brings beauty and uniqueness to the aquarium. The color of the dots differs from species to species.
The size of the female shrimp is larger than that of the male ones, and they can grow up to the size of only 1.5 inches. Ghost Shrimp has two pairs of sensory organs in the form of antennae. One of these antennae is longer than the other. These antennae can help Shrimps detect chemicals or food in the tank. This is all we know about their use.
Shrimps have a hard shell to protect their soft body parts, called the carapace. In front of the carapace, there is a beak-like extension called the Rostrum.
The shrimp’s abdominal part has six segments, and below these segments lie a pair of pleopods (swimming limbs). The sixth segment connects to the tail. The final part of the tail is called a telson, which carries pairs of uropods fanning either side of it.
Ghost Shrimp Lifespan and Molting
How long do ghost shrimp live?
The lifespan of the Ghost or Glass Shrimp depends on the place of origin and their breeding. Still, their average life span is considered around a year. These Shrimps are easy to breed and inexpensive.
They also make great feeder fish, and many breed them for the larger fish in the aquarium. As they are inexpensive and easy to breed, feeder fish are kept in tanks with poor filtration and high densities.
It results in their early death and an increase in their mortality rate. If they are bred in poor conditions, keeping them in the new tank with healthy conditions won’t affect their health. They are still likely to die within a few days.
Although their life span is short, yet they grow rapidly, and as a result, they molt their shell quite frequently. The frequency of molting depends on how much they eat and how fast they grow.
The Shrimp become vulnerable as they shed their shell and can be hurt by the behaviors of other fish. To avoid this situation, make sure there are enough plants and crevices for the Shrimp to hide until their new shell hardens.
The discarded shell looks like a dead shrimp lying on the bottom of the tank. But you can easily identify it because of the absence of colored dots on the body. Other shrimps can feed on this discarded shell, so don’t remove it immediately after the Shrimp sheds it.
Ghost Shrimp Care and Tank Requirements
It is important to make the conditions of the aquarium suitable for the species you are putting into it. If we talk about the origin of the Shrimp, it is usually found living in lakes or rivers with flowing water, fine sediment, and lots of places to hide.
How to take care of ghost shrimp?
Given their smaller size, a tank size of 5 gallons is more than enough. It is safe to keep 3 or 4 shrimp per gallon, and as a beginner, you should start with a small number only. The capacity can vary depending on the number of other fish species in the aquarium.
To make the tank conditions ideal for the shrimp, add as many plants and crevices as possible. The plants should be live, and you can choose from Cabomba, Hornwort, and Java Moss.
Also, make sure these plants are easy to maintain, as their debris can become an additional food source for the Ghost Shrimp. The hardy plant will be able to take any nibbling from the shrimp and also help them tidy up the place.
These plants and crevices not only enhance the beauty of the tank but also provide a great place for the shrimp to hide. However, they can be harassed during the molting period.
These bottom dwellers spend most of their time on the sediment. So, it is important to choose sand or fine-quality gravel to reduce the chance of damaging their sensitive antennae. The fine-quality gravels also help to sediment food on the surface and prevent it from sinking to the bottom of the tank.
| Conditions | Parameters |
|---|---|
| Set up | Tropical |
| Water Temperature | 65 to 85oF |
| Water pH | 7.0 to 8.0 (slightly hard) |
| Nitrate level | 5 to 10 ppm |
The Ghost Shrimp can survive most water conditions, but increasing water temperature can cause stress. For better growth and to keep them active, make sure the conditions are consistent and there is a flow in the water. The air pump or filter outlet can easily generate the flow.
The Glass Shrimp can help keep the tank looking tidy, but you still have to change the water. A dirty tank and filters can increase the level of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in the tank. These chemicals are harmful to the fish, so make sure the level of these toxins is low. Avoid overfeeding and overstocking as well.
Nitrate is less toxic, and regular water changes will help keep the level low. If you are keeping the Ghost Shrimp as a feeder fish, you can keep it in a simple tank like the breeding tank. Make sure the water is moving and changing.
Ghost Shrimp Diet and Feeding
Keeping and feeding Ghost Shrimp is easy. Do shrimp clean tanks? Yes, they mostly feed on plant detritus, algae, and leftover food from the other fish, which helps them keep the tank clean.
What do ghost shrimp eat?
They are active eaters and will most likely consume everything you feed them. As a supplement, you can also add algae wafers, flakes, and pellets to their diet.
Feeding pellets on the surface of the water and watching the Shrimp come up to fetch them can be entertaining. But with the middle swimmers, there is a possibility they won’t get any. So, if you have a tall tank, make sure to sink the algae pellets for the shrimp.
One algae pellet is more than enough for the tank full of shrimps. But if you increase the quantity, the risk of overfeeding will also increase.
With the food mentioned above, adding calcium supplements will help in the better growth of their shell.
Many medicines contain Copper, which is toxic to shrimp and should not be introduced into the tank at any cost. Always check the ingredients of the medicine before adding it to the tank.
Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates
Ghost Shrimps are small, non-aggressive species. But the same cannot be said about other tropical fishes. If you have big fish in the tank, then adding shrimps to it is like feeding them. So, to keep variety in the tank, make sure other fishes are small and non-aggressive like them.
The following fishes are compatible with the Ghost Shrimps.
- Danios
- Characins, they may be Tetras and Hatchet fish
- Corydoras genus, a kind of small catfish
- Zebra and Kuhli Loaches they are peaceful
- Cherry Barb, these are small barbs
Apart from the fish, you can also add other species of Shrimp that share the same temperament as Ghost Shrimp. Bamboo shrimp, Amano shrimp, Vampire shrimp, Cherry shrimp are a few of them. You can also add snails to add variety and attractiveness to the tank.
Fish with a mouth big enough to fit Ghost shrimp should be avoided. That’s the first and golden rule. Secondly, fish species known for their aggressive temperament should be avoided. Betta is one of the species of fish that comes in this category. So, never put the Ghost Shrimp and Betta together.
Ghost Shrimp Breeding
Ghost shrimp are easy to breed as long as they are in a healthy environment away from aggressive fish. This quality also makes them good feeder fish.
How to Breed Ghost Shrimp?
You will need a separate breeding tank for males and females. Once the glass shrimp mature, it is easy to identify males and females. The females are bigger than the males and grow a green saddle underneath their bodies as they mature.
You can set it up like the main tank for breeder tanks but with minimal features. The bottom layer of the fish tank can be thin, and there is no need for many hiding places. You can put a few plants for the baby shrimp to feed on them. Also, use the sponge filter instead of the regular one to avoid the young shrimps getting sucked into the equipment.
The females (pregnant ghost shrimp) produce approx. 20-30 eggs every few weeks. These eggs look like green dots attached to their legs. After a few days, the males can fertilize the eggs. The fertilized eggs go into the belly of the female Shrimp. This is the time to separate the female Shrimp from the tank.
The young shrimp’s survival in the community tank is less likely. They can become food for the other fish.
The eggs take around three weeks to hatch. Once they are done, move the female Shrimp back to the main tank; otherwise, the mother will eat her babies.
With their smallmouth, they can feed on algae and plant debris in the tank. However, if you are adding a supplement, make sure to put small particles of food. Once their legs are visible, you can feed them like adults. Still, it will take five weeks for them to become full-grown adults. After that, they can be moved back to the main tank.
Is Keeping Ghost Shrimp Simple for You?
Well, there are many benefits to having ghost or glass shrimp in your aquarium. They are inexpensive, and you can easily get a Ghost Shrimp for yourself in the price range of $1 to $3. They are small, easy to breed, and maintain, so you won’t have to spend a fortune feeding them. In contrast, you will get an excellent tank cleaner at a low price.
Ghost shrimp will add variety and attractiveness to their looks. Their active search for food, whether fetching it from the top or collecting it from the bottom, can keep one entertained and engaged with them. They aren’t ideal for the tropical tank with the big fish, but they are perfect for the non-aggressive and small community tank.
Do you have Ghost Shrimps, or are you planning to have one? What are the qualities of the shrimps that you liked the most?
