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.
Ghost shrimp are a fascinating addition to any aquarium, yet their extremely affordable price often leaves aquarists wondering – why are ghost shrimp so cheap? Their low cost and unique appearance make them a budget-friendly option, but what’s behind their bargain pricing? We’ll explore the reasons these popular invertebrates come with an equally attractive price tag
An Abundant Supply Keeps Prices Low
One of the main reasons ghost shrimp are inexpensive is their ability to breed rapidly. A single female can produce over 100 eggs at a time, leading to a constant supply of juveniles entering the market. Mass-production and ample availability prevent any scarcity that would drive prices up. Local fish stores are easily able to maintain a steady stock of these rapidly multiplying crustaceans.
Ghost shrimp breed prolifically in both wild and farmed environments. Their high fecundity translates into economical pricing for buyers. While desirable traits like unique coloration or patterns can increase costs for rarer shrimp varieties ghost shrimp’s see-through appearance contributes to their commonality.
They’re Low Maintenance
Caring for ghost shrimp requires minimal effort compared to other aquatic livestock. Their undemanding nature means setup costs are lower for sellers and buyers alike.
Ghost shrimp thrive in a wide range of water parameters. This adaptability removes the need for aquarists to invest in advanced filtration or other expensive equipment to meet specific requirements. Owners benefit from their hardy constitution and simplicity of care.
These omnivorous scavengers happily accept most foods, whether flakes, pellets or supplements. Picky eaters drive up expenses, but ghost shrimp’s flexible appetite makes feeding hassle-free. Their diminutive size also keeps nutritional costs down.
Overall, ghost shrimp are about as easy as it gets when it comes to aquarium inhabitants. Their humble needs directly contribute to their wallet-friendly pricing.
They Play a Useful Role
Beyond their novelty, ghost shrimp provide legitimate utility in aquariums that improves ecosystem balance. As efficient cleaners, they consume detritus, leftover food, algae and microorganisms. This helps control waste levels and prevent issues like algae overgrowth.
Their consumption of biofilms allows ghost shrimp to prevent harmful bacteria growth. By serving as important janitors in aquarium tanks, they reduce the need for other filtration methods and chemical additives that can be pricey.
For fish-only tanks, ghost shrimp help recycle waste materials and left-behind food back into the ecosystem. Their scavenging supports a naturally balanced system. Ghost shrimp’s helpful behaviors add to their value proposition beyond just aesthetics.
They Often End Up As Feeders
The role of ghost shrimp as feeders contributes to mass production that keeps pricing affordable. They are commonly sold as live food for freshwater and saltwater fish like bettas, gouramis, puffers and cichlids. Farms can breed ghost shrimp specifically for this feeder purpose.
While some aquarists buy ghost shrimp as tank cleaners or simply to observe their interesting behaviors, many purchases are intended as a supplemental food source. Their small size makes them an attractive target for predatory species.
The dual-purpose market for both ornamental and feeder shrimp adds to ghost shrimp’s money-saving popularity. Farmers can profit from their value as aquarium residents or fish food.
Their Lifespan is Short
Compared to other dwarf shrimp with multi-year lifespans, ghost shrimp live for a relatively brief period of just one to two years. Their condensed life cycle means a single purchase can only supply an aquarium for a limited time.
The short lifespan of ghost shrimp fuels ongoing demand from aquarists needing to frequently replace them. This consistent need for replacement keeps market prices reduced through regular, high-volume sales.
Species like vampire shrimp or bamboo shrimp that live over five years carry higher price tags and lower turnover rates. Ghost shrimp’s fleeting existence maintains affordability for buyers replacing them often.
Ghost shrimp offer aquatic hobbyists an inexpensive entry point into the world of dwarf shrimp keeping thanks to key attributes like rapid breeding, low care requirements, utility as cleaners and feeders, and their short lifespans. While they lack the dazzling colors and complex care needs of other shrimp species, ghost shrimp provide an attractive balance of novelty and affordability.
Their see-through bodies offer a unique aesthetic, and inquisitive movements provide interesting behaviors to observe. Ghost shrimp enliven any aquascape at a fraction of the cost of showier shrimp varieties or fish. For aquarists seeking an affordable shake-up to their tanks’ status quo, ghost shrimp are a clear choice. Their enduring popularity and affordability will continue making them a mainstay option for hobbyists focused on bottom-line value.
Ghost Shrimp Size, Shape & Appearance
Ghost Shrimp size varies by age, but generally they grow to be about 1 1/2 inches in length. When they are fully grown, mature Ghost Shrimp are about the width of a pencil eraser. Ghost Shrimp tend to be thinner and more streamline as compared to Amano Shrimp. Ghost Shrimp have a little hump midway down the length of their tail. And like other shrimp, they resemble small crayfish. But there are some differences. One big difference is the size of the creature and the pliability of their shell. Glass Shrimp have much softer shells than crayfish.
A Ghost Shrimp has a pair of long antenna and a pair of short antenna. Their rostrum is on the top of their head right between their eyes. Behind the rostrum is a carapace area. Many of the shrimp’s internal parts can be seen in this area of its shell, especially when it’s feeding. The shrimp’s front legs are attached to the underside of the carapace. The legs are long, slender and clear. For the most part, the shrimp walks with its legs when it is feeding on the tank floor or other hard surfaces.
Behind the carapace, they have six abdominal segments that form a flexible covering. The area between the third and fourth abdominal segments comes together to make what looks like a pointy area that sticks out a little higher than the other segments. Little clear swimmerets are tucked under the abdominal segments. As the shrimp moves up and down in the water, these swimmerets can be seen flapping back and forth. And female shrimp keep their eggs safely tucked under the abdominal segments closest to the carapace.
The sixth abdominal segment connects to the tail. The tail is also made up of flexible, moving segments. But these segments are thin and flat. In the middle of the tail is the telson. Under the telson are the four segments of soft shell that make up the uropod. The uropod can slightly widen and narrow the tail to fit its needs. And on the edges of the uropod segments, the shrimp has very fine filament-like “fringe”. Similar looking “fringe” filaments also appear on the edges of the swimmerets.
If the shrimp needs to move quickly to get away from danger, it can be seen getting very slim and flapping its uropod under its belly very quickly. This causes the shrimp to propel itself backwards at very high speeds. A quick push back is often all it takes to get out of dangerous situations, like a fight over a piece of food. They often pump their uropod a few times in a row, though, to really put some distance between themselves and danger. When this happens, the shrimp can end up retreating to other side of the tank in an instant.
Many people say that the Ghost Shrimp color looks like a clear shrimp, but I think they’re more on the clear side. Their bodies are generally clear with a hint of hazy grey, or sprinkled with green dots. The color of a ghost shrimp can be see-through light gray to see-through dark gray. But no matter what color it is, you can see right through it and inside it. One of the most interesting things about a Ghost Shrimp is that you can see how its body works when it feeds. It’s really amazing to watch close up. They might also have small green dots on their torsos and orange rings on their front legs and feelers.
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 Info And Care | Ghost Shrimp Care Guide!
Are ghost shrimp easy to breed?
Ghost shrimp are easy to breed provided they’re kept in a healthy environment without predators. For an optimal chance of breeding, stock the tank with twice as many females as males. You can establish which shrimp are female by their larger size and green saddle, located under their bodies.
Are ghost shrimp a good aquarium Critter?
Ghost shrimp (also known as Glass shrimp), are easy to care for, cheap, and entertaining to watch. Making them a great addition to most freshwater aquariums. Often used a feeders, cleaners, or just for a bundle of fun, in this guide, I’ll discuss everything you need to know about housing these critters. The Overview: What Are Ghost Shrimp?
Are ghost shrimp worth it?
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.
Why are ghost shrimp so popular?
This species is small and primarily clear in color, which is why it got its name. These shrimp are popular among aquarists because the shrimp are easy to care for and act as tank cleaners. Ghost shrimp make the perfect addition to any tropical community consisting of other small non-aggressive fish.