Ghost Shrimp, also called Glass Shrimp are one of the easiest species of freshwater shrimp to keep. They are primarily translucent, small and highly active. Ghost shrimp are extremely popular due to their low price. Ghost shrimp can often be purchased en mass for as little as 20-50 cents each. This price makes them attractive to prospective owners but also as a live feeder for larger carnivorous fish. Ghost Shrimp are scavengers and do an excellent job of cleaning the aquarium of rotting debris and algae. They are effective at actively reducing nitrates within the aquarium and having a very low biomass footprint.
When compared to other types of shrimp, like Crystal Red Shrimp and Red Cherry Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp are very tough and can handle a lot. For this reason they are the best beginner shrimp to trial before moving on to more expensive varieties. They are easy to breed and maintain. Ghost Shrimp will consume almost any type of food. They are also effective scavengers. Ghost shrimp are tolerant but are still sensitive to water fluctuations. Water chemistry should be kept stable when housing Ghost Shrimp. If they begin to look unwell in the aquarium immediately check the water temperature and recent additives.
Ghost shrimp are a popular freshwater aquarium shrimp. Their scientific name is Palaemonetes paludosus. With their transparent bodies and scavenging behavior, ghost shrimp make interesting additions to planted community tanks.
One aspect of ghost shrimp that fascinates aquarists is that they readily breed in captivity. Females develop eggs that are clearly visible under their tails. This leads to the question – how long are ghost shrimp pregnant for before the eggs hatch? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the ghost shrimp gestation period.
Identifying a Pregnant Ghost Shrimp
Before we get into the duration, it’s helpful to understand how to identify a pregnant female.
Gravid ghost shrimp carry clusters of eggs attached under their abdomen The eggs are enclosed in a brood pouch formed by the shrimp’s swimming legs
When she first develops eggs, they will be very dark green or black in color. Over time, the eggs lighten to an olive green or brown as they mature. Right before hatching, the eggs appear yellowish or light green.
The egg clutch is usually easy to see on a gravid female. The mass of eggs is large relative to her body size, making her abdomen swollen and distended.
Pregnant females also tend to act more reclusively, hiding amongst plants and decor more than usual.
Ghost Shrimp Life Cycle and Reproduction
To better understand the pregnancy timeline it helps to learn about how ghost shrimp mate and reproduce.
Ghost shrimp breed through sexual reproduction, A male will fertilize a newly-molted female during her brief fertile period right after she has shed her exoskeleton
The female then carries the developing eggs attached in her brood pouch. She fans the eggs with her swimmerets to oxygenate them as they mature.
When the eggs finally hatch, tiny free-swimming larvae emerge. The larvae go through several planktonic developmental stages, feeding on microorganisms.
After about 2-3 weeks, the larvae morph into miniature versions of the adults. They grow quickly by frequently molting their exoskeletons.
Typical Ghost Shrimp Pregnancy Duration
Now that we’ve covered some background, the main question remains – how long are ghost shrimp pregnant for?
The incubation time can vary a bit based on conditions like temperature. But in general, female ghost shrimp carry eggs for 2-3 weeks before they hatch.
Here are some key points about the pregnancy period:
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At cooler water temps of 70°F, expect eggs to take closer to 3 weeks to develop.
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Warmer temperatures around 75-80°F will shorten the gestation to 2-2.5 weeks.
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Females continue eating and behaving normally while pregnant.
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Stress may cause them to drop eggs prematurely.
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Fungus-infected eggs turn white/fuzzy and won’t hatch.
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After hatching, larvae enter the water column as plankton.
So under optimal aquarium conditions, pregnant ghost shrimp typically incubate eggs for 14-21 days before releasing tiny larvae. But the exact duration can be a bit shorter or longer based on factors like temperature and water quality.
Caring for Pregnant Ghost Shrimp
What can you do to support pregnant ghost shrimp in your tank? Here are some tips:
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Minimize disruption – Don’t handle or move gravid females more than necessary. Extra stress may cause them to lose eggs.
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Offer nutritious foods – Feed blanched veggies, algae wafers, shrimp pellets, etc. a few times per week. This gives them nutrients for developing eggs.
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Maintain pristine water – Test parameters frequently and do partial water changes to keep ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate low. Clean water is vital.
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Increase aeration – Use air stones or sponge filters to improve oxygen levels. This benefits females and larvae.
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Provide hiding places – Give pregnant shrimp ample plants, rock caves, driftwood, etc. to feel secure releasing larvae.
With optimal conditions in the tank, ghost shrimp usually have high egg hatching success rates. Then you may get to see the larvae swimming around as they grow into juveniles!
Raising Ghost Shrimp Larvae
Hatching the larvae is one thing – getting them to adulthood is tricky. Ghost shrimp larvae have extremely low survival rates without perfect care. Here are some pointers if you want to try raising them:
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After eggs hatch, move the mother shrimp out of the breeding tank so she doesn’t eat the vulnerable larvae.
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Feed newly hatched larvae several small meals per day of infusoria, green water, rotifers, or fry powder foods.
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Keep water changes frequent but small to maintain water quality. High nitrates are deadly for larvae.
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Use an air-powered sponge filter or control water flow to create a gentle environment for the weak swimmers.
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Grow an algae bloom to provide microscopic food sources. But don’t let algae deplete oxygen levels.
Even in ideal nursery conditions, most larvae will die off. But if you’re lucky, a handful will survive through the planktonic phase and metamorphose into juveniles.
Ghost Shrimp as live feeders
- It is possible to breed ghost shrimp to feed aquarium fish. Oscars, Arowanas, Cichlids, Angelfish, Discus, and Trigger Fish, as well as other larger freshwater species, will benefit. Ghost shrimp have a lot of natural fats and oils that help them color and grow.
- Ghost Shrimp are much less likely to spread disease than other species that eat live food. Parasites can be found in feeder fish and blood worms, but not in ghost shrimp because they are invertebrates.
- A separate tank should be set up so the Ghost Shrimp can breed. Ghost Shrimp are easy to breed and can be raised to provide a steady supply of food for the display tank every week. Further reading regarding breeding can be found below.
Adding the Ghost Shrimp
- Ghost Shrimp can live in aquariums that are bigger than 5 gallons. It is best to keep them in an aquarium with only their own kind of fish. Larger fish can easily bother and eat ghost shrimp because they are small and can’t defend themselves. Before you put the shrimp in the aquarium, make sure it has been chemically tested and meets the above requirements.
- Put the Ghost Shrimp in a bowl after taking them out of the bag. Make a siphon from the aquarium with air-line tubing and a rubber band. Wrap the rubber band around a bent part of the tube to kink it. Change the bend so that one drop of water can drip out of the tube slowly every second. For the next 20 to 30 minutes, let this drip into the bowl and keep a close eye on it.
- Use a soft mesh net to move the Ghost Shrimp into the aquarium after 20 to 30 minutes. When moving the shrimp, cover the net with one hand so they can jump out and get away.
- Even though ghost shrimp are tough, bad water can hurt them. If a situation does arise check the water immediately. Perform a water change and try to identify the problem. You should move the Ghost Shrimp to a good temporary home if you have more than one aquarium. Even if the conditions aren’t ideal, is usually much better than leaving them in an aquarium full of poison.
- Here is a link to a full article on how to set up a shrimp tank. More detailed instructions on how to set up, cycle, and choose the right hardscape
- Ghost shrimp eat anything they can find, so they will eat a lot of different things. They eat everything, so brush algae and food that falls to the ground are natural foods for them.
- Ghost Shrimp can eat processed foods like flakes. They are typically unfussy eaters. If you look closely, you can see that the food in a ghost shrimp’s body is very clear. Ghost Shrimp will also eat boiled zucchini and soft vegetables. The shrimp need nutrients, and vegetables are a cheap way to give them those nutrients.
pregnant ghost shrimp (hatching eggs)
How long does a ghost shrimp stay pregnant?
Pregnancy (or gravidity) for ghost shrimp does not last long – only three weeks – but results in a few dozen offspring if successful. The little green dots will appear on the female ghost shrimp’s saddle near the base of her abdomen. During this week you will notice barely any changes in your ghost shrimp and her behavior
Are pregnant women allowed to eat shrimps?
Properly cooked shrimp is considered a safe choice for women because it is low in mercury, a which can be detrimental to baby’s health. Consuming moderate amounts of seafood provides a source of the omega-3 fatty acids that a baby needs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend that pregnant women eat at least 8 ounces, and up to 12 ounces, of a variety of low mercury seafood per week. The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advises that pregnant women are at higher risk of foodborne illness and its consequences and should avoid raw seafood. For a healthy guide to choosing the right fish, the Environmental Defense Fund provides both a handy guide on toxin load in various fish species and recommended serving limits per month for men, women, and children.
How long do ghost shrimp carry eggs?
Female ghost shrimp will carry their eggs for a total of three weeks before they hatch. This time includes the development of the eggs as well as the fertilization. Most female ghost shrimp will carry 20 to 30 eggs at a time. Will Ghost Shrimp Breed in a Community Tank?
How many babies do ghost shrimp have?
If you plan on breeding your ghost shrimp, then it’s important to know how many babies you’re going to be dealing with. Generally, ghost shrimp can have between 8-80 babies at a time. During the course of the year, this can definitely add up and if left unwatched they could end up having 100’s of babies.