There is a lot of algae in aquariums, and it spreads quickly and covers every surface. It also blocks out light, other plants, and even fish. Algae, if left unchecked, can also consume tank nutrients needed by other plants and fish. Algae, albeit unsightly, can be handled in a number of ways. The best way to keep your tank safe is to keep it clean. But algae can still grow in even the cleanest tanks.
Ghost shrimp are useful for this purpose. Ghost shrimp eat a lot of different things, so they can help get rid of a lot of different kinds of algae. This includes trash, dead animals and plants, and most types of string and bush algae.
Brown algae, also known as diatoms, are a common nuisance in aquariums. While not harmful, they can coat surfaces and make tanks appear dirty and unsightly. Luckily, many critters will happily munch on this algae and help keep it under control. One such algae eater is the ghost shrimp. But do ghost shrimp really eat brown algae? Let’s take a detailed look.
What Are Ghost Shrimp?
Ghost shrimp whose scientific name is Palaemonetes paludosus are a species of small, freshwater shrimp native to North America. Adults reach about 1.5 inches in length. They have a translucent body with a slightly yellowish or greenish tinge. Their nearly see-through appearance gives them a “ghostly” look, hence the name.
Ghost shrimp are peaceful, social creatures that can be kept with small, non-aggressive fish. They are very easy to care for and make interesting additions to community tanks. With proper care, ghost shrimp can live 1-2 years.
Ghost shrimp are omnivorous scavengers in the wild and will eat just about anything they can find. This includes algae, plant matter, small insects, leftover fish food, and even dead fish. They are always foraging around the tank looking for their next meal.
Do Ghost Shrimp Consume Brown Algae?
Yes, ghost shrimp readily consume brown algae, also known as diatoms.
Brown algae often appears in aquariums as a brown powdery deposit on surfaces like gravel, decor and glass. It thrives in low light conditions with excess silicates and phosphates in the water.
As scavengers always searching for food at the bottom of the tank, ghost shrimp will happily eat any brown algae they encounter. They use their small claws and mouthparts to scrape the algae off surfaces and ingest it.
Though brown algae may not be their absolute favorite food, ghost shrimp do find it to be a perfectly acceptable meal. They will eat it whenever they come across it in an aquarium.
So keeping some ghost shrimp is an excellent way to help control unsightly brown algae growth. The shrimp will continually graze on the algae and prevent it from accumulating too much.
Other Algae Ghost Shrimp Consume
While brown algae is certainly on the menu, ghost shrimp will eat other types of algae as well. Here are some other algae varieties ghost shrimp are known to consume:
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Green algae – This hair-like algae grows quickly and can cover plants and decor. Ghost shrimp will eat green algae growing near the substrate.
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Hair algae – Another fast-spreading hair-like algae. Ghost shrimp love munching on hair algae.
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Green spot algae – This algae forms distinct circular green spots on leaves. Ghost shrimp will eat any green spot algae located low enough for them to reach.
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Green dust algae – Microscopic green algae that coats surfaces with a dusty appearance. Ghost shrimp will graze on green dust algae on low-lying surfaces.
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Diatom algae – Diatoms are yet another form of brown algae shrimp enjoy.
Ghost shrimp will pick at algae near the bottom of the tank where they spend most of their time. Algae on upper tank walls or floating on the surface is typically out of reach for them.
Other Ways Ghost Shrimp Help Control Algae
While directly consuming algae is the most obvious way ghost shrimp combat algae growth, they provide other benefits as well:
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Eat sinking algae matter – Bits of algae often die off and sink to the substrate. Ghost shrimp eat this debris helping prevent decomposition and ammonia spikes.
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Prevent overfeeding – Ghost shrimp will scavenge any leftover fish food, preventing excess nutrients that can promote algae growth.
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Aerate substrate – Ghost shrimp burrow and shuffle through the substrate, bringing oxygen to beneficial bacteria that break down organics.
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Indicate imbalance – A sudden population explosion of ghost shrimp may indicate excess nutrients and potential for algae blooms.
So ghost shrimp are helpful algae grazers both by directly eating various algae as well as playing a role in maintaining a balanced aquarium environment less prone to excessive algae.
Caring for Ghost Shrimp
To keep your ghost shrimp happily munching away at algae, you’ll need to provide good general care for them. Here are some ghost shrimp care guidelines:
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10+ gallon tank – Ghost shrimp need a larger tank with stable water parameters. Small tanks risk unhealthy fluctuations.
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Planted tank – Live plants help improve water quality and provide food for the ghost shrimp.
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72-82°F temperature – Maintain water temperature within this ideal range. Rapid temperature swings can stress shrimp.
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6.5-8 pH – Keep the water pH between these levels. Use crushed coral or chemicals if needed to adjust pH.
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Hardness 8-12 dKH – Ghost shrimp do best in hard water. Add a calcium supplement if your water is very soft.
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Hideouts – Ghost shrimp appreciate having hiding spots like rock caves, driftwood, and thick plants.
With their basic needs met, ghost shrimp will thrive in your tank while aiding algae control. Be sure to supplement their diet with foods like algae wafers, blanched veggies, and shrimp pellets as well. A varied diet will keep them healthy.
The Verdict
Ghost shrimp also eat other types of algae including green algae, hair algae, and diatoms. While they won’t fully eliminate algae on their own, keeping a clean-up crew of ghost shrimp will certainly help keep algae growth under control naturally.
So if you’re battling brown algae in your tank, consider adding a few ghost shrimp. They’ll work hard helping clean up that unsightly algae while also serving as interesting creatures to observe. Just be sure to provide good care for these helpful little shrimp.
What Kind Of Algae Do Ghost Shrimp Eat?
For ghost shrimp to do well, they need to eat the right kinds of food. They are a colorful and interesting addition to any home aquarium. As well as keeping other animals in the tank from becoming snacks, learning about the species’ eating habits can help improve their health and vitality. Read on to learn more about what kind of algae ghost shrimp eat!.
Ghost shrimp love to eat hair algae, which is a type of filamentous algae. Long, greenish-brown strands of it grow out of the ground and look a bit like grass or human hair. The ghost shrimp like to graze on these floating filaments, which are a great source of food for them. They make carpets at the bottom of the tank. It also helps keep your tank clean because ghost shrimp eat the hair algae when they are looking for food.
The ghost shrimp are scavengers and like all kinds of algae, but brown algae is their favorite. Having some kind of brown algae around is important for the survival of Ghost Shrimp because it contains small amounts of copper that help keep their reproductive systems healthy. You can usually find these shrimp clinging to the sides of tanks with brown algae because it gives them food and more places to hide. Brown algae tends to grow at the same rate that Ghost Shrimp eat it, which makes it a great addition to any tank where these interesting animals live.
The algae that grows in your tank will be fine for ghost shrimp to eat, but they might also like a freshwater algae wafer that is easy for them to get to. You can find algae wafers streaming with a lot of different types of fish. They work especially well for fish that live near the bottom, like ghost shrimp. They have plant-based ingredients that make them a healthy snack that can make you hungry and help your shrimp digest better. Having a few of these around to supplement their diet is always a good idea. Plus, they’re often very colorful, and it’s fun to watch the shrimp eat them! Just be careful not to feed them too much, because if they’re not eaten, they can make even more waste.
Blue-green algae is one of the most common types of algae that ghost shrimp eat. High levels of protein are found in this type of algae, which is a great food source for these tiny creatures. It also helps to supplement their diet with essential vitamins and minerals.
String Algae is one such type that Ghost Shrimp especially love to feast on. String algae is easy to spot in a tank because it looks like long green strings growing from rocks and decorations. Some people may think string algae is ugly, but Ghost Shrimp need it to eat, which makes them a great natural way to get rid of this type of algae that is taking over your aquarium. They will eat the string algae and help get rid of dead plants and other solid waste, which makes them very helpful for keeping your tank clean.
The ghost shrimp are very tough animals that can live on almost anything, from dead matter to algae and plankton. Ghost shrimp like white algae like white beard and staghorn algae the most. White algae are known to be tough, so if you find a lot of them on rocks or driftwood in your aquarium, don’t be surprised if you see a ghost shrimp or two nearby.
When it comes to food, ghost shrimp are very flexible. They will eat almost any kind of algae or plant matter they can see. One type of algae they love is blackbeard algae, which forms a fuzzy, dark green film on hard surfaces. It can be hard to get rid of blackbeard algae in aquariums, but having a few ghost shrimp around can help slow its growth. They’re sure to chow down on it, giving aquarists a bit of relief from this stubborn nuisance.
As a whole, ghost shrimp are interesting to have in a home aquarium and can be a lot of fun for aquarium fans. It’s important to feed them the right things so they stay healthy and happy in their watery home. Knowing what kind of algae ghost shrimp eat can help you keep your tank inhabitants content and healthy.
Will Ghost Shrimp Eat Enough Algae To Keep Your Tank Clean?
Some fish keepers don’t understand why people keep shrimp in their tanks, especially since bigger, meaner fish can easily eat ghost shrimp. A ghost shrimp population can help maintain a spotless aquarium. It is, nevertheless, preferable not to rely solely on them. Aquarists should still change the water and vacuum the substrate often, even though they clean very well.
For this reason, you can rely on them to carry out the following tasks:
Even though they aren’t the most efficient algae eaters, ghost shrimp can help keep your tank clear. Unfortunately, algae can’t be avoided. It can be found on the substrate, plants, and ornaments in the aquarium.
The main reason algae is bad for you is that it eats the nutrients your plants need to grow. It’s also not very pretty to look at. When algae grows, it will distract from the aesthetic value of your aquarium. You can use store-bought items or do it by hand, but ghost shrimp will do it faster and better.
They will live off the algae in the tank indefinitely if there is enough of it. There will be no algae in the aquarium if you have a lot of ghost shrimp. You will need to add food to the tank.
Even more hazardous than algae are leftovers. When they reach the bottom, they’ll begin to rot, increasing the ammonia levels. If you vacuum the substrate and pick up any visible remnants, you can avoid this problem.
Your ghost shrimp can also help you out with this. As was previously said, these creatures feed on decomposing materials. To find rotting scraps, they won’t think twice about investigating the substrate. As a result, ghost shrimp can be fed whatever you normally feed fish, whether it’s fresh or spoiled.
Fish that are still alive won’t be attacked or provoked by them. But the dead will be eaten. As with other food waste, dead fish can break down and add to the harmful ammonia in the water. When you find a dead fish, you must remove it.
Do not hang around for the shrimp to finish devouring their bodies. Otherwise, the ghost shrimp might eat a fish that you don’t know has died before you even notice. There are aquarists that will wait a few hours before taking out a dead fish from the tank. They want the shrimp to have an opportunity to feast on the dead animal.
You run the danger of the ghost shrimp ignoring the fish, and then forgetting to remove it later. It’s possible the shrimp will consume some of the dead fish before abandoning the carcass to decay. However, ghost shrimp can usually be relied upon to consume rotting fish. They also enjoy eating snails and other dead and decaying creatures.
The plants are safe from the ghost shrimp. Their food includes the waste that plants make and any algae that might be there, but if the plants are healthy, they won’t eat them. On the other hand, ghost shrimp, like fish, will happily eat dead plants, which keeps them from changing the chemistry of the water.
AQUARIUM ALGAE GUIDE Ep #2 Brown Algae – Diatoms
How often do ghost shrimp eat algae wafers?
An average tank with a group of four ghost shrimp will need feeding 1 algae wafer every other day. You can substitute out the algae wafers for other foods of your choosing, giving them access to other nutrients. As scavengers, they don’t need a strict feeding routine. They’ll wander around the tank until they come across the food.
Can ghost shrimp kill algae?
Ghost shrimp is an excellent addition to your community tank, which has small, peaceful fish. They can control your tank’s algae growth and clean up dead fish, dead plants, and any other thing that sinks to the bottom. However, you can’t wipe out algae infestation completely with ghost shrimp or any other algae eater.
Are ghost shrimp good for aquaculture?
Ghost shrimp are incredibly active, good for the health of your tank (because of the algae they eat ), and are easy to breed. Thus, the role that the shrimp play in the world of aquaculture is a big one! Ghost shrimp (palaemonetes paludosus) are sometimes also called Glass Shrimp.
What do ghost shrimp eat?
If they were struggling to find food, the ghost shrimp might start nibbling at live plants. This wouldn’t cause much damage unless there was a large group of shrimps at work. The main bulk of their diet would be algae. This grows on hard surfaces and is collected as the shrimp move on by.