Ghost Shrimp Species Overview
Ghost Shrimp are anything but scary! They are lovely little additions for novice or expert fish keepers looking for a species that will help keep your tank clean and tidy. Like a little housekeeper that goes about its day picking up after your other inhabitants, they are definitely a crustacean to consider when thinking about your aquarium diversity.
These miniature shrimp are native to North America and are freshwater inhabitants. They have been a popular tank addition for aquarists for decades because of the fringe benefit they provide in addition to their peaceful nature.
Also known as ‘Glass Shrimp’ because of their clear, transparent lack of coloring, they are active, busy little creatures that will happily go about their business solo or with others of their kind.
Let’s take a look at the Ghost Shrimp in further detail.
Ghost Shrimp Behavior
Ghost Shrimp are superb neighbors to their fellow aquatic species.
These shrimp are always on the go and can usually be spotted free-swimming or feeding and cleaning the tank. They pick up any uneaten food or leftovers and also algae, ensuring your tank is clean and looking its best.
These shrimp tend to keep to themselves. However, they can thrive individually or in groups in a tank. This makes them an excellent option to include in your tank community due to their amicable nature.
They scoot backward when swimming by using their tails and otherwise climb and walk along surfaces with their legs when cleaning and exploring.
They have an inherently curious nature which means that they like to explore and will get into anything and everything in your tank. Air-powered toys can be a source of demise for many a ghost shrimp, so use them cautiously!
If you have a group, they can be prone to attacking each other, and group populations can be trickier to manage as they mature quickly and are rapid breeders, and have short lifespans.
Higher water temperatures may also cause aggressive behaviors as they can trigger breeding mode, so lower temperatures in their preferred range should be used for maximum compatibility.
Being crustaceans, they molt on a regular basis, on average, every three months. Crustaceans need a strong shell or exoskeleton to protect their organs, so this is a necessary process.
When purchasing your Ghost Shrimp, do ask the seller if they have been bred as feeder fish because these tend to have less ideal rearing conditions and may not last as long in your tank.
Ghost Shrimp Lifespan
You should expect healthy and well-raised Ghost Shrimp to live for about a year.
If you intend on having them as a regular member of your tank population, you will need to breed them, so having a mating pair as a minimum starter should keep you in supply.
It’s important to remember that their diminutive size and use as feeder fish make them tempting for the other inhabitants of your tank. So any fish with a mouth big enough to grab one will make hasty work of snacking on your Ghost Shrimp!
With the short lifespan they have, they have a high turnover rate, but this should not put you off as they are still fun to watch. These little cleaners are an easy addition to your fish society and are worth the effort to breed, which in itself can be a great learning experience for novices.
Ghost Shrimp Appearance
Ghost Shrimp have typical shrimp formation. Being classified as a miniature species, they are on the small side and manage to reach about 1.5 inches in length. Certain Ghost Shrimp can reach up to 3 inches, but this depends on where they originate from.
Their absence of color is the reason they are called ‘ghost’ or ‘glass,’ as their names imply. Like an apparition in your tank, they segue from one area to another and need close inspection to spot at first glance. This physical characteristic is what helps them avoid detection by predators.
Another interesting aspect of their lack of color and transparency is that it is possible to actually see their organs working if you look closely when they are fully grown. They are quite fascinating to the casual observer and make for an interesting talking point when talking about your tank community to friends and family.
Females are larger upon maturity and develop a subtle green shade on the underside of what is known as their saddle when they reach puberty. They can also be differentiated from males as adults because they have a hump on their backs.
Dots of color can be present on the exoskeleton and will vary depending on their origins.
They have two sets of antennae that monitor their environment and can even be used to communicate with others of their kind.
Ghost Shrimp Habitat And Tank Requirements
In the wild, Bamboo Shrimp reside in a variety of climates. Their normal habitat is a slow or moderate flowing stream or river, and they like fine sedimentary bottoms as well as areas they can hide, particularly when molting happens.
Tank conditions
For the ultimate Ghost Shrimp landscape, you will want to ensure that your tank has plenty of live plants that are hardy enough to withstand the odd nibble and a root system that isn’t easily disturbed. Ghost Shrimp are known to love a burrow and a good dig in the substrate, so this needs to be considered when choosing which plants to provide.
Some ideal options would include Java Moss, Cabomba, Hornwort, as well as Peacock Moss. Moss is almost essential because of the nitrite-absorbing properties they provide.
Ghost Shrimp are incredibly sensitive to nitrites in the tank, and regular measurement is required to ensure that levels remain suitable for them to thrive.
Nitrate absorbing pads are often employed to ensure healthy levels, which need to be below 20ppm. Keep a log of levels and test regularly.
The perfect substrate would be sand, as it is popular with other tank mates, but gravel is an acceptable substitute.
Brighter tank lighting is preferred, and they enjoy driftwood and rounded rocks for clambering over while going about their business.
Airstones that are kept on a low setting are also a good bet to keep water flow moving but slow.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- a pH of 6-8
- Water hardness: Hard
- Temperature between 65-85 ºF (20-29ºC)
Tank size
A 5 gallon is your starting point for Ghost Shrimp. Beyond that, it is possible to have 4-5 additional shrimp per gallon, but again this needs to be considered alongside the bioload of your companion species if you are mixing.
Happy and healthy invertebrates need a species-appropriate density, especially in a tank environment which you must ensure is sensible.
If you overload their numbers, then aggression between shrimp is on the cards. Remember that higher tank temperatures will result in breeding behavior and increased aggression as a result, so lower temperatures within range will be of benefit.
Choosing Tank Mates For Ghost Shrimp
Ghost Shrimp are popular and for a good reason.
They are fantastic to integrate into any tank community, and their tank cleaning prowess is what makes them such a great addition.
You can choose to keep Ghost Shrimp as a solo population or in a mixed environment. If you go down the mixed route, you will need to keep companion spaces on the small side to avoid them becoming dinner. There is a reason that they are a feeder species for fish!
Remember to consider species that require similar water conditions to ensure that the chemistry is compatible. Reputable retailers should be able to advise if you are uncertain about bringing a new breed to the tank.
Some excellent fish tank mate pairings for Ghost Shrimp are:
- Tetras
- Danios
- Cherry Barbs or other Small Barbs
- Hatchet Fish
- Zebra or Kuhli Loaches
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Snails
- Cherry, Bamboo or Vampire Shrimp, or other miniature shrimp species
Hostile or territorial species must be avoided, a prime example being Bettas. These will not only stress your shrimp and increase the likelihood of a shorter lifespan, but nobody wants to contend with bullying behavior in the tank!
Ghost Shrimp Health Issues
All miniature shrimp are susceptible to similar foes when it comes to health and well-being.
Internal And External Bacterial Infections
Ghost Shrimp can be affected by various internal and external bacterial infections. You may see your shrimp turn opaque with is a warning sign. It is also possible to see swollen or enlarged internal organs that can look more pink or red with the resulting inflammation present.
The addition of tannins or almond leaves is a great way to support an antibacterial environment from developing in the first place. However, most Ghost Shrimp will not survive an infection, and most will perish.
When it comes to external bacterial infections, the exoskeleton is your best indicator that something is wrong. It may develop visible ulcers or pitting in the shell. Calcium supplements are another proactive additive to have in your tank to help avoid this issue.
The only real treatment for an external bacterial infection is a saltwater bath that is timed and performed on a regular basis.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections can present themselves as a white cottony substance sticking to the exoskeleton. Salt baths may help, but often a molt will allow them to shed not only their shell but the infection that comes with it.
Parasitic Infections
Vorticella is a parasitic infection that, if caught early and treated with salt baths, doesn’t have to be fatal. It will appear as a white crust near the shrimp’s mouth, so it is fairly easy to spot. However, if you miss this symptom, it will easily spread to the rest of the shell and result in death.
Other Dangers
Copper is universally toxic to invertebrates and will decimate your community, so it needs to be avoided.
A great thing to consider is the use of a water conditioner to remove heavy metal. If you use tap water for your tank, a good tip is to run it for a long enough time to reduce the chances of sediment in the pipes being transferred. Flushing that out thoroughly first will reduce the likelihood.
Breeding Ghost Shrimp
For the novice breeder, Ghost Shrimp can make a satisfying learning experience.
Females mature by about three months of age, and as mentioned before, this is indicated but the appearance of a greenish saddle on their underside.
When the females release eggs, you can identify approximately 20-30 on their belly (also called ‘berried’). Round eggs appear and can have a greenish cast.
You may wish to separate a pair within the tank or move the female along with a male to a separate breeding tank. Caution should be observed if you decide to transfer as this is more stressful, and females are prone to dropping the eggs.
Males can be moved back to the general population if you see eggs looking healthy after about a week, as they are likely fertilized by this point. If they are not, they will look cottony like a fungal infection and will fall off.
Fry will emerge after 24 days of incubation, and the female will shake the eggs off her legs when they are ready to hatch. Keep a close eye on when this happens, as the female will more often than not consume her young if kept in proximity, which doesn’t happen in the wild.
Sponge filters are a must as the fry are tiny. Likewise, once on their own, you will need to provide ultra-fine food sources that meet their requirements as well as their tiny mouths.
Good options to supply are spirulina or other commercial foods made for egg layers.
They will remain incredibly difficult to spot until at least three weeks due to their ‘invisibility’ and small size. Together that makes for a tough one to spot!
Conclusion
Ghost Shrimp are such a useful addition to a smaller-sized population of fish they remain a prime contender for any aquarist to consider.
Not only do they keep your tank clean, but they are also active and admirable little creatures that will enhance your tank condition and can help a beginner learn best practices for a breeding program.
They make a worthy consideration for larger fish keepers also because of their feeder capacity. Many hobbyists keep them as a separate population for a fresh food supply to vary the diets of their larger tank inhabitants.
Well worth giving the Ghost a go!
