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 freshwater shrimp species that many aquarium hobbyists love to keep Their see-through bodies make them unique, and their peaceful nature means they can be kept with small, non-aggressive fish But one question that often comes up is – can ghost shrimp breed in freshwater tanks?
The short answer is yes, absolutely! Ghost shrimp can and do readily breed in freshwater aquariums. In fact, they are one of the easiest aquarium shrimp to breed since they have minimal requirements.
In this article, we’ll provide a complete breeding guide for ghost shrimp, covering everything you need to know including ideal tank conditions, mating habits, raising the young, and more. We’ll also bust some common myths about breeding ghost shrimp in freshwater versus brackish water.
So let’s dive right in!
Do Ghost Shrimp Need Brackish Water to Breed?
One of the most persistent myths about breeding ghost shrimp is that they require brackish water conditions to reproduce successfully. This likely stems from the fact that some ghost shrimp species are naturally found in brackish estuaries and mangroves.
However, the species commonly sold as ghost shrimp in the aquarium trade (Palaemonetes paludosus) is a purely freshwater shrimp. They do not require brackish water for breeding and will readily mate and produce young in freshwater community tanks.
So you can safely breed ghost shrimp in a regular freshwater aquarium without having to mix in marine salt. They may even breed more prolifically in freshwater since adverse water conditions can inhibit breeding.
Ghost Shrimp Breeding Tank Setup
While ghost shrimp aren’t too demanding, providing good tank conditions will encourage breeding activity. Here are some tips for setting up a ghost shrimp breeding tank:
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Tank Size: A 10-20 gallon tank is ideal for a dedicated ghost shrimp breeding setup. This allows you to maintain stable water parameters.
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Substrate: Sand or fine gravel substrate is best. Ghost shrimp will sift through the substrate looking for food.
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Plants: Include plenty of plants like Java moss, hornwort, guppy grass. Plants provide infusoria for shrimplets.
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Decor: Add rock caves, driftwood, cholla wood to provide hiding spots and surfaces for biofilm growth.
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Filter: A gentle sponge filter or air-powered filter is recommended to avoid trapping babies.
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Heater: Maintain a temperature between 70-80°F. Warmer temps in this range encourage breeding.
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Cycling: Fully cycle the tank before adding shrimp to establish beneficial bacteria and stabilize parameters.
The key is providing lots of hiding spots and infusoria-rich surfaces for the baby shrimp to graze on when they hatch.
Ideal Water Parameters for Breeding Ghost Shrimp
While ghost shrimp are adaptable to a range of water parameters, ideal conditions for breeding include:
- Temperature: 70-80°F
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- GH/KH: 5-10 dGH/dH
- TDS: 150-250 ppm
Perform regular partial water changes of 20-30% weekly to replenish minerals and prevent nitrate buildup. Avoid copper-based medications as copper is highly toxic to shrimp.
Providing clean, stable water parameters removes environmental stress and allows the shrimp to focus their energy on breeding rather than just survival.
How to Sex Ghost Shrimp for Breeding
Mature female ghost shrimp capable of breeding can be identified by a darker green, saddle-like marking on the upper portion of their body. They will also develop tiny greenish eggs under their belly when they are ready to breed.
Male ghost shrimp do not have a distinct marking, so they can be harder to identify. But in general, males will be slightly smaller and slimmer than females.
The best method is to purchase around 6-8 juvenile shrimp and grow them out together. This allows pairs to develop and makes sexing easier once they mature in a few months. Removing molts can also help identify females versus males.
Ghost Shrimp Mating and Breeding Behavior
Once you have an established group of males and females, breeding behavior will commence. Here is how the process unfolds:
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Females develop green saddle markings and eggs when ready to breed. They release pheromones to attract males.
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Courting males will chase and tap females with their elongated claws. This gentle tapping stimulates the female to molt.
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After molting, the soft female will mate with one or more males. The male deposits sperm packets on the female’s legs.
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Fertilized eggs are carried under the female’s belly. Within 2-3 weeks they hatch into tiny larvae.
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The female will frequently fan her swimmerets to oxygenate the eggs. She may become more reclusive as the eggs develop.
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Once hatched, the female releases the shrimplets which become free-swimming immediately, eating infusoria.
Females can continue breeding every 1-2 months, producing 20-30 eggs each time. With optimal tank conditions, the ghost shrimp population can grow exponentially!
Caring for Ghost Shrimp Larvae and Shrimplets
The most delicate stage is caring for the microscopic larvae when they first hatch. Here are some tips:
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Infusoria: Larvae need infusoria and microorganisms to graze on. Live plants and biofilm provide this food source.
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Fine Mesh: Cover filter intakes with a fine sponge or mesh so larvae don’t get sucked in.
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No Water Changes: Avoid water changes for 2-3 weeks while larvae are free-swimming.
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Dim Lights: Use dim lighting to avoid shocking the sensitive baby shrimp.
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Plants: Hornwort, guppy grass and moss make great nurseries for the shrimplets to hide and feed in.
Within their first few weeks, the shrimplets will molt and transition to juvenile stage. At this point you can gradually resume normal feeding and tank maintenance.
Raising Juvenile Ghost Shrimp
As the ghost shrimp grow into juveniles, they become hardier but are still vulnerable to predation. Follow these tips:
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Powdered Food: Feed crushed flake food, shrimp powder, blanched vegetables.
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No Tankmates: House juveniles separately or with only peaceful tank mates like snails.
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Plants: Continue to provide moss and stem plants for cover and infusoria grazing.
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Water Changes: Resume normal weekly water changes of 20-30% now that larvae stage is done.
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Transition Adults: After 2-3 months, juveniles can be mixed back with the adults.
With a dense population in a well-run breeding tank, you’ll have more ghost shrimp than you know what to do with in no time!
Common Ghost Shrimp Breeding Problems
While breeding ghost shrimp is fairly straightforward, here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:
No breeding activity – Double check water parameters, temperature, and sex ratio. Drop temperature down to 70°F to trigger mating.
Eggs not hatching – Older females may have infertile eggs. Remove any unhatched eggs after 3 weeks to avoid fungus/bacteria.
Larvae dying – Ensure there is adequate infusoria and biofilm growth for food. Improving plant growth and reducing water changes can help.
Juveniles dying – Test for ammonia spikes, treat with Seachem Prime. Quarantine new shrimp. Increase water changes.
Cannibalism – Adult shrimp may eat weaker juveniles if overcrowded or lacking food. Cull shrimp, increase feeding, and provide hiding spots.
Summary Points
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Ghost shrimp readily breed in normal freshwater aquarium conditions, no brackish water needed
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Ideal breeding tank has established plants, stable water parameters, and hides for shrimplets
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Identify mature females by their green saddle marking and visible eggs
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Shrimp go through courtship, mating, egg hatching, and larval stages
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Infusoria and fine foods are vital for newly hatched larvae
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Juveniles need 2-3 months before joining general population
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Densely planted tank allows exponential population growth
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.
Ghost Shrimp Care, Breeding, WaterParameters, Tank Mates & Feeding.All you need to know! JR Aquarium
How to breed ghost shrimp?
However, keeping them apart is the safest move to make. Breeding ghost shrimp is very quick and easy. One recommended trick is to set up a separate breeding tank for the sake of simplicity later on in the process. Males and females look identical until they reach maturity. When they are adults, females will start to develop bright green eggs.
Do ghost shrimp need a breeding tank?
If you want to grow a considerable population, then a separate breeding tank is better. They undergo reproductive cycles once in about every 2-3 months (females produce eggs every few weeks, fertilization takes place in a few days, and incubation takes about 20 days). Are Ghost Shrimp A Good Fit For Your Aquarium?
Can ghost shrimp be seen in a freshwater tank?
As you might guess, it is hard to see ghost shrimp as they’re mostly clear and transparent in color. This transparency helps them evade predators. It also allows the inner workings of their body, such as food digestion, to be visible. This makes them a unique addition to any freshwater tank.
When do ghost shrimp breed?
The females are ready to breed at around 4 months of age. They’ll be just under an inch in size at this point. The breeding process is initiated when they molt. Are ghost shrimp easy to breed?