Ghost shrimp, also known as glass shrimp, are a popular freshwater crustacean that can make a great addition to community aquariums. But with their small size, transparency, and prolific breeding habits, it’s important to know how many can safely be added to your tank. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about stocking ghost shrimp, from how many per gallon is ideal to other factors that affect capacity.
The Short Answer
The general rule of thumb is up to 4 ghost shrimp per gallon of water in your aquarium. However, the optimal number can vary based on tank size, filtration capacity, tank mates, and other factors. Here’s a quick reference:
- 10 gallon tank: Up to 40 shrimp
- 20 gallon tank: Up to 80 shrimp
- 30 gallon tank: Up to 120 shrimp
- 40 gallon tank: Up to 160 shrimp
- 50 gallon tank: Up to 200 shrimp
In tanks between 55-65 gallons, aim for 220-260 shrimp maximum. In larger tanks above 65 gallons, you can house over 260 ghost shrimp as long as water parameters and behaviors stay healthy.
Why such high numbers?
Ghost shrimp have a very small bioload compared to fish, meaning they produce little waste relative to their size and volume Their transparent bodies and small claws also mean they take up less visual space.
While these numbers may seem high compared to many fish stocking levels, ghost shrimp are fundamentally different creatures with different needs. Their shrimpy behaviors, hunger for algae and biofilm, and ability to fit into small nooks and crannies allow for greater capacity per gallon.
Other Factors To Consider
However, the number of ghost shrimp per gallon cannot be simplified into a single rule. Several variables influence how many can thrive in a given aquarium, including:
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Tank size Larger tanks allow for greater numbers, while small tanks require lower shrimp populations Consider surface area over pure gallons to determine stocking.
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Filtration: Heavily filtered tanks can support more shrimp than lightly filtered ones. Plan 1-2 gallons per hour (gph) of filtration for every 1 shrimp.
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Tank decor: More decor, plants and hides means more usable habitat space for shrimp. Tanks with minimal decor require lower populations.
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Tank mates: Aggressive species may prey on shrimp, decreasing feasible populations. Factor in other livestock’s behaviors.
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Shrimp size Young juvenile shrimp have lower bioloads than large adults, Adjust population based on current shrimp sizes
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Shrimp behavior: Signs of stress or aggression signal that populations need lowering. Healthy behaviors allow for more shrimp.
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Water changes: More frequent water changes enable higher populations by removing waste often. Infrequent changes require lower shrimp numbers.
So while the 4 shrimp per gallon rule serves as a good starting point, observing shrimp behavior and water conditions ultimately determines the carrying capacity of a tank. Start conservatively and increase slowly over time.
Ideal Ghost Shrimp Habitat Conditions
In addition to population density, maintaining high water quality and proper environmental conditions are key to shrimp health. Here are the recommended guidelines for keeping ghost shrimp:
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Temperature: 65-85°F. Warmer temperatures speed up metabolism and breeding.
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pH: 6.5-8.0. More neutral pH promotes coloration and breeding.
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GH/KH: 6-12 dGH. Moderate hardness helps survival rates.
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Decor: Plenty of plants, rocks, driftwood and hides.
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Substrate: Fine-grained sand or gravel. No sharp substrates.
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Filtration: Gentle current, sponge over intake. 1-2 gph per shrimp.
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Lighting: Low to moderate intensity. Avoid direct sunlight.
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Tank mates: Peaceful community fish, snails, other shrimp.
Weekly 25% water changes are recommended to replenish minerals and remove waste for optimal shrimp keeping.
Feeding Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp are omnivorous scavengers and will eat anything they can find. Their diet in captivity should include:
- Sinking pellets and wafers
- Vegetable matter like blanched zucchini
- Algae wafers for grazing
- Meaty foods like shrimp pellets or bloodworms
- Flakes and leftovers from tank mates
Feed only as much as shrimp can consume within a few hours, usually 1-2 times per week. Overfeeding leads to water quality issues.
Ideal Tank Mates
Ghost shrimp thrive in peaceful community tanks with species that won’t prey on them. Good options include:
- Small tetra species like neon, cardinal, ember tetras
- Rasbora species like harlequin, chili rasboras
- Small danio species like celestial pearl danios
- Peaceful catfish like pygmy corydoras, otocinclus
- Snails like nerites, mystery snails and ramshorns
- Other dwarf shrimp like cherry, amano shrimp
Avoid housing ghost shrimp with aggressive fish like bettas, cichlids, goldfish and larger barbs that may eat them.
Breeding Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp frequently breed prolifically in home aquariums. To promote breeding:
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Use a breeding tank with plentiful hiding spots.
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Provide warmer temperatures around 80°F.
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Supplement with calcium-rich foods like spinach or supplements.
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Maintain excellent water quality with frequent partial water changes.
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Use a balanced mix of males and females. Females have a green saddle and more rounded belly.
The female will carry bright yellow-orange eggs under her tail for 2-3 weeks before they hatch into tiny larvae. Most will get eaten by tank mates and require refuges to reach adulthood.
Culling Excess Shrimp
With ideal conditions, ghost shrimp populations can quickly get out of hand. Some ways to control overabundant shrimp include:
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Reducing feeding to limit reproduction.
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Adding natural predators like dwarf puffers or small loaches that will eat excess shrimp.
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Introducing tank mates that will eat larvae before they mature.
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Manually trapping and removing excess adults.
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Setting up a second tank as a shrimp-only system to move extras into.
Ghost shrimp can make a fun, active addition to community tanks when provided proper habitat and care. Use these tips to determine the ideal carrying capacity for shrimp in your aquarium. Observe shrimp behaviors and frequently test water parameters. Adjust population densities as needed to maintain shrimp health and equilibrium. With a balanced approach, glass shrimp can thrive and add biosecure cleaning to freshwater tanks.
Amount of Aquatic Plants
Just like shrimp, plants take up space in your community tank. If your tank is heavily planted and an average size, add only 25 ghost shrimp at maximum. A tank overpopulated with plants can lead to an overcrowded tank, stressed shrimp, illness, and eventual death.
If you want to start a community tank with fish, snails, and other water animals, you need to think about how much space they will need. For each fish in your tank, reduce the amount of freshwater shrimp by at least five.
This shrimp species aren’t as messy as other tankmates. They keep your aquarium cleaner by eating decaying and dead debris.
However, the more aquatic creatures you have in your tank, the more waste will be produced. Your filtration system will need to be able to keep up with your ghost shrimp tank.
You’ll need to give your freshwater shrimp more places to hide if you want to keep them with fish that are mean. If you have peaceful fish, you can keep fewer decorations.
How Many Ghost Shrimp Can I Add per Gallon? (+ Other FAQs)
You may want to know how many ghost shrimp you can put in a gallon if you want to start a colony or just add a few to your tank. Usually, five ghost shrimp can be kept per gallon of water.
There are several other factors to consider, however. Read on to find out the things you’ll need to consider when keeping these aquatic creatures.
Ghost Shrimp Info And Care | Ghost Shrimp Care Guide!
How many ghost shrimp in a 5 gallon tank?
At the very least, you should have a 5 gallon tank (larger is better of course). Because the shrimp are so small, they don’t need a ton of room to roam. For shrimp you want to keep as pets you should aim for a ratio of three to four ghost shrimp per gallon.
How much room do ghost shrimp need?
Ghost shrimp are very small, they don’t need much room. If you only keep a single ghost shrimp, you can use something as small as 2 gallons. If you own a few shrimp, you can use something as small as a 5-gallon tank. In the case of all tanks, it is easier to maintain good water quality with a larger tank.
How much water do ghost shrimp need?
Ghost Shrimp prefer their water at around 65F to 75F. They can even tolerate a wide range of water parameters, preferring their pH to stay somewhere in the range of 6.5 to 8.4. How Many Ghost Shrimp Per Gallon? Ghost Shrimp can be kept together with about roughly 3 Ghost Shrimp per gallon. However, if you have more room to offer them, the better.
Can ghost shrimp live in a tank?
Any aquarist hoping to house a ghost shrimp should ensure the shrimp’s tank is consistently warm and has a capacity of at least 5 gallons. Ghost shrimp enjoy decorations such as driftwood, rocks, and sand. Only use rounded rocks in the tank, as sharp rocks can injure the shrimp’s exoskeleton. Avoid nitrates accumulating in the tank.