Ghost Shrimp, also known as Glass Shrimp, are relatively easy freshwater aquarium shrimp to keep. You can almost always buy ghost shrimp at pet stores, both small ones in your area and big chain stores. At the pet shop, they are frequently kept in a small tank with other shrimp of their kind. The small tank often has a sponge filter or air stone pumping bubbles. Most of the time, the Ghost Shrimp tank just looks like a tank of murky water with a lot of bubbles when it is public.
Ghost Shrimp are relatively inexpensive and are often purchased as “feeders” for larger more aggressive fish. Some Cichlids can eat Ghost Shrimp all day long. But Ghost Shrimp are more than a tasty snack. They are great aquarium cleaners and can be a lot of fun to watch. For some reason, Ghost Shrimp aren’t given much attention by new hobbyists, but they can be fun to keep on their own.
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.
Algae growth is a common headache for aquarium owners. While some algae helps maintain water quality, too much can quickly take over and make tanks unsightly. Many aquarists turn to algae-eating fish and invertebrates to help control occasional blooms. One popular option are ghost shrimp – but do these small crustaceans really eat algae? Let’s take a deep dive into their algae-munching capabilities.
Ghost shrimp, also called glass shrimp, are a species of small freshwater shrimp native to North America These nearly transparent critters reach around 15 inches in length and live for about one year.
Ghost shrimp are easy to care for and quite hardy. They make great additions to community tanks containing small, peaceful fish. Their peaceful nature and tiny size also means they won’t harm most plants.
In the wild, ghost shrimp are omnivores. They forage for food along the tank bottom, eating anything edible they encounter. Their diverse diet includes algae, plant matter, insect larvae, and dead animals In the aquarium, they serve as excellent tank cleaners.
Do Ghost Shrimp Consume Algae?
The short answer is yes. Ghost shrimp do eat some types of algae, especially hair algae and soft green algae. Their tiny claw-like appendages allow them to scrape algae off surfaces and bring it to their mouth.
However, ghost shrimp do have some limitations on the algae they eat. Here are the key facts:
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They prefer hair, filamentous, and soft green algae. Tough black beard algae is low on their menu.
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Ghost shrimp only eat algae growing on tank bottoms and decor. They won’t touch algae on walls or floating on the surface.
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They are omnivores and also eat leftover fish food, aufwuchs, dead plant matter, and protein-rich foods.
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If underfed, some ghost shrimp may nibble on live plants. Supplement their diet to prevent this.
So while ghost shrimp do consume algae, they have a fairly focused range. Their algae grazing is mainly limited to softer varieties growing within their reach. They contribute to overall algae control but can’t fully eliminate it alone.
Effective Algae Management With Ghost Shrimp
While handy for spot algae cleanup, ghost shrimp need help tackling more severe algae overgrowth. Here are some tips:
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Fix Underlying Issues – Algae blooms result from imbalances in lighting, nutrients, or CO2. Address the root causes for long-term control.
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Add Other Algae Eaters – Combine ghost shrimp with snails, plecos and algae-eating fish for enhanced results.
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Manually Remove Algae – For tough algae like black beard, manual removal is best. Ghost shrimp can then mop up the remnants.
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Use Algaecides Sparingly – Chemical controls harm shrimp. Use only if essential and remove shrimp temporarily during treatment.
With some strategic tank maintenance and cleanup crew members, ghost shrimp can help keep algae in check between trimmings. Their appetite for algae makes them a great secondary algae management tool.
Caring for Ghost Shrimp
To keep your ghost shrimp actively munching on algae, provide the following care:
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5+ Gallons of Space – Ghost shrimp need room to roam and forage. Allow at least 5 gallons for a small group.
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Soft Substrate – Smooth gravel or sand allows shrimp to sift and feed comfortably. Avoid sharp substrates.
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Plenty of Hiding Spots – Shrimp feel secure with cave-like decor. Pipes, rocks and plants work great.
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Stable Water Conditions – Keep pH between 7-8, hardness at 5-10 dGH, and temperatures between 65-80°F.
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Low Nitrates – Nitrates above 20 ppm can inhibit molting. Do weekly water changes.
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Supplemental Feeding -Provide protein-rich foods like shrimp pellets, blanched veggies and algae wafers.
With great care and plenty to eat, your ghost shrimp will thrive while keeping your tank’s algae crop well trimmed!
Ghost Shrimp Algae Eating FAQs
Do ghost shrimp eat black beard algae?
Ghost shrimp typically avoid black beard algae. It’s too coarse and tough for their small mouths. Other algae eaters better tackle black beard algae.
What about hair algae?
Hair and thread algae are prime ghost shrimp favorites! Their slender bodies allow them to easily navigate and devour hair algae strands.
Can I rely just on ghost shrimp to remove algae?
While ghost shrimp help control algae, especially short hair types, they can’t eliminate major algae blooms alone. Their limited reach and dietary range means you need other algae management strategies too.
Will ghost shrimp eat green spot algae?
Ghost shrimp readily consume soft green spot algae since it grows on tank bottoms and decor. Tougher green spot algae adhered tightly to glass generally goes uneaten.
Are ghost shrimp safe with fish and plants?
Yes, ghost shrimp are totally peaceful. They can be kept safely with small community fish and live plants. Ghost shrimp won’t bother most tankmates.
The Verdict
Ghost shrimp do consume some types of algae, especially hair algae and soft green varieties growing within their reach. While they contribute to overall algae cleanup, their limitations mean you can’t solely depend on them to remove algae from tanks. Combining ghost shrimp with other algae eaters, manual removals and fixing underlying causes leads to the best results. With the right supplemental care, ghost shrimp are a wonderful addition that will help keep your tank’s algae under control.
Frequency of Entities:
Ghost shrimp: 35
Algae: 34
Eat: 24
Shrimp: 15
Tank: 12
Aquarium: 5
Growth: 5
Types: 4
Other: 4
Plants: 3
Manual: 3
Control: 3
Fixing: 2
Supplemental: 2
Underlying: 2
Removal: 2
Consume: 2
Contribute: 2
Particular: 2
Remove: 2
Management: 2
Combining: 1
Headache: 1
Blooms: 1
Invertebrates: 1
Critters: 1
Omnivores: 1
Peaceful: 1
Forage: 1
Inhabitants: 1
Strategic: 1
Maintenance: 1
Members: 1
Uncommon: 1
Adhered: 1
Depend: 1
Ghost Shrimp Food, Size & Color Range
Ghost Shrimp food is broad as they will eat almost anything. They are great pickers and will eat like machines. Ghost Shrimp food can include some forms of algae, dead plant latter and detritus. These shrimp love fish or shrimp pellets, fish flakes, algae wafers or bits otherwise uneaten food. It’s also a good idea to find calcium supplements, since the shell needs calcium to grow properly. It’s possible that Ghost Shrimp eat their dead tank mates because they will eat dead fish or shrimp. Of course, it’s important to quickly remove any dead animals from the water, or the ammonia level in the tank could rise. It’s fun to watch Ghost Shrimp swim up and pluck bits of food out of the water. And there is a pecking order with feeding as well. Bigger shrimp eat first.
Ghost Shrimp Habitat & Water Parameters
Ghost Shrimp seem to enjoy establish planted aquariums with a moderate current of continuously moving water. An appropriately sized HOB power filter should do the trick and keep the water circulating properly. The fine air stone in an air pump will also make a wall of tiny bubbles that will help the water move. When bubbles are present, it’s fun to watch the shrimp get sucked into the current and have to work hard to get out of it. Ghost Shrimp are great swimmers.