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, also known as glass shrimp, are a fascinating addition to any home aquarium. Their transparent bodies make them seem almost supernatural as they glide through the tank. If you’re considering getting some ghost shrimp, one of the first questions you probably have is – are ghost shrimp hardy?
The short answer is yes, ghost shrimp are quite hardy and make ideal starter shrimp for beginner aquarists. While they do have some basic care requirements, ghost shrimp are able to tolerate a wider range of water parameters and conditions compared to other popular shrimp species.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the hardiness of ghost shrimp, including:
- Their ability to adapt to various tank setups
- Ideal water parameters for ghost shrimp
- How ghost shrimp compare to other shrimp species
- Common diseases and how to prevent them
- Breeding ghost shrimp and raising larvae
Let’s dive in!
An Overview of Ghost Shrimp Hardiness
Ghost shrimp have a well-earned reputation for being durable and unfussy. Their high adaptability comes from the fact that they are native to the southeastern United States, where they thrive in freshwater streams, ponds, and estuaries.
The fluctuating conditions of these natural habitats have evolved ghost shrimp to tolerate a wide range of water parameters and environments. This makes them a great choice for beginner aquarists who are still learning how to maintain proper tank conditions.
Some key signs of ghost shrimp hardiness include:
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Flexibility with water parameters: Ghost shrimp can survive in temperatures between 65-85°F, pH levels from 6.5-8.0, and hardness from 5-20 dGH. This gives you more room for error compared to shrimp with stricter requirements.
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Compatibility with basic tank setups Ghost shrimp don’t need any special substrate filtration, or decor. A simple 10-gallon tank with gravel, plants and a hang-on-back filter is sufficient.
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Peaceful disposition Ghost shrimp generally get along with small, peaceful community fish like tetras, rasboras, guppies, and danios They won’t terrorize tankmates
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Resilience to some medications Ghost shrimp tend to better tolerate commonly used fish medications compared to other shrimp species allowing treatment of tank diseases.
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Overall hardiness: Their small size, rapid reproduction, and short lifespan offset any losses from natural attrition. They are forgiving for beginner mistakes.
So in most cases, ghost shrimp are hardy enough to bounce back from imperfect water conditions or novice aquarist care. However, there are still some best practices you should follow to keep them healthy.
Ideal Water Parameters for Ghost Shrimp
While ghost shrimp are flexible, they will thrive best within these recommended water parameters:
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Temperature: 70-80°F. Cooler temperatures below 70°F can cause lethargy and appetite loss. Warmer temperatures above 80°F will speed up their metabolism.
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pH: 7.0-8.0. Acidic water below 7.0 can sometimes erode their exoskeletons. Alkaline water above 8.0 is tolerated but not ideal long-term.
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Hardness: 5-15 dGH. Very soft water below 5 dGH may lack essential minerals for shell growth. Very hard water above 15 dGH can be stressful.
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Ammonia, nitrites: 0 ppm. Ghost shrimp are sensitive to ammonia and nitrites, which should be undetectable in a cycled tank.
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Nitrates: Under 20 ppm. Nitrates above 20 ppm can accumulate and become toxic. Regular water changes control nitrates.
Aim to keep your water parameters stable within these ranges for maximum shrimp health and longevity. Having an API Master Test Kit will help you routinely monitor your tank.
Performing partial water changes of 15-20% weekly will replenish minerals and prevent nitrate accumulation. Using live plants, driftwood, almond leaves, and aquarium salt can provide beneficial buffers as well.
How Do Ghost Shrimp Compare to Other Shrimp?
Now that we’ve covered the basics of ghost shrimp care, how do they stack up against other popular shrimp choices like cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp? Here’s a quick comparison:
Ghost Shrimp
- Hardiness: High
- Care Level: Beginner
- Temperature Range: 65-85°F
- pH Range: 6.5-8.0
- Size: 1-2 inches
- Life Span: 1 year
- Price: $0.25 – $0.50 each
Red Cherry Shrimp
- Hardiness: Moderate
- Care Level: Intermediate
- Temperature Range: 68-78°F
- pH Range: 6.5-7.5
- Size: 1-1.5 inches
- Life Span: 1-2 years
- Price: $2 – $4 each
Amano Shrimp
- Hardiness: Moderate
- Care Level: Intermediate
- Temperature Range: 68-78°F
- pH Range: 6.5-7.5
- Size: 2-3 inches
- Life Span: 2-3 years
- Price: $4 – $5 each
As you can see, ghost shrimp are on the hardy end of the spectrum compared to these other common shrimp. Their lower price point also makes them very beginner-friendly.
Cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp are less tolerant of water parameter fluctuations. But they live longer, grow larger, and have more interesting colors.
Ultimately ghost shrimp make the best starter shrimp because of their hardiness. As you gain more experience, you can later upgrade to keeping more sensitive shrimp species.
Common Ghost Shrimp Diseases
Despite their resilience, ghost shrimp can still become ill if tank conditions decline severely. Here are two common ghost shrimp diseases to watch for:
1. Vorticella
This parasitic infection looks like a fuzzy white coating on their bodies. It spreads rapidly between shrimp and can kill them quickly.
Fortunately it is easy to cure with aquarium salt treatments of 1-2 teaspoons per gallon and frequent water changes. Remove any dead shrimp immediately to contain the outbreak.
2. Bacterial Infections
Bacteria like Vibrio can infect ghost shrimp, showing up as pink/red spots on their tissue. These are difficult to treat and often fatal once established.
Prevent bacteria from taking hold by quarantining new shrimp and maintaining excellent water quality. Use antibiotics carefully as they may kill your nitrifying bacteria.
Overall you can avoid most shrimp diseases through prevention – stable parameters, varied diet, ideal population density, and clean conditions. Quarantine and treat any sick shrimp promptly.
Breeding Ghost Shrimp
One advantage of ghost shrimp is that they readily breed in home aquariums without much intervention needed. Females develop green egg sacs on their undersides and release free-floating larvae.
However, raising ghost shrimp larvae does take some specialized care:
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Set up a separate 10-20 gallon breeding tank with sponge filtration.
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Use live plants like java moss as infusoria food sources.
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Maintain excellent water quality and feed a diet of plankton, microworms, shrimp pellets.
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Remove the adult female once eggs hatch to prevent larvae cannibalization.
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Larvae morph into juveniles after about 2-3 weeks and can be moved to the main tank.
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Expect high larvae mortality rates even in optimal conditions.
Breeding ghost shrimp is an advanced endeavor, but rewarding for experienced aquarists. Having a mature, dense colony will allow you to continually harvest juveniles as feeders or tank additions.
Ghost shrimp deserve their reputation as one of the hardiest, beginner-friendly shrimp species for home aquariums. Their versatility enables them to thrive under a wider range of conditions compared to other shrimp.
By following some basic guidelines for water parameters, tank setup, nutrition, and disease prevention, even novice aquarists can find success in keeping ghost shrimp. Their transparent appearance and peaceable temperament make them fascinating scavengers.
Breeding ghost shrimp does take more expertise. But having a sustainable colony can be a fun long-term project for the intermediate to advanced aquarist. Whatever your skill level, ghost shrimp are a great choice for adding life to your freshwater tank.
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.
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.
Ghost Shrimp Info And Care | Ghost Shrimp Care Guide!
Are ghost shrimp Hardy?
The great thing about ghost shrimp is that they’re very hardy and easy to care for. In most instances, aquarists won’t have any issues keeping the shrimp healthy. As with all aquatic life, the key is to keep tank conditions healthy. Ghost shrimp have a very short lifespan of only one year. During that year, they’ll grow rapidly.
Are ghost shrimp safe?
This is why the tank they are kept in should not be the cleanest. Although they are very small creatures, be careful not to overcrowd smaller tanks with fish and shrimp. Ghost shrimp will also contribute to the tank’s bioload, which will decrease the water quality and cause an unhealthy environment.
Do ghost shrimp look good in a tank?
Ghost Shrimp look good when kept in a tank with black aquarium gravel or substrate. It’s also good to keep them in a tank with a black background. When the shrimp is up against the black gravel or background it makes them easier to see. Glass Shrimp Eating A Dead Amano Shrimp Glass Shrimp Feeding Closeup In A Freshwater Tank
Do ghost shrimp breed?
Water changes can also help contribute to breeding behavior. Higher temperatures increase metabolism and will help breeding activity in the Ghost Shrimp. It is important to fill your tank with patches of thick plant cover. This will give the Ghost Shrimp piece of mind and safety needed for breeding.