Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp, also known as glass shrimp, is a species of freshwater shrimp from the southeastern United States. They are bottom swimmers and walk among plant life keeping the tank clean by consuming leftover food, algae, and detritus. With their transparent bodies, you can observe the food they've eaten being digested. They are constantly moving, scanning the bottom, and climbing plants and hardscape to eat, making them engaging to watch. They frequently shed their shells, during which time they hide. The breeding of ghost shrimp is relatively easy in a breeding tank with java moss. Popular with aquarists as member of the cleanup crew.
- Scientific name: Palaemonetes Paludosus
- Size: Small, mature 1.25 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Water parameters:
- pH range: 6.5 to 8.0
- Temperature range: 65F to 82F
- Water hardness: 6 to 10 dGH (107-179 ppm), 2 to 8 dKH (36-143 ppm)
- Stability, consistency more important than chasing any "perfect" numbers
- Diet: Omnivorous scavengers, algae, plant detritus, flake food, frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, feed twice a day, nocturnal by nature
- Breeding: Moderately easy to breed, requiring specific parameters
- Temperament: Peaceful, work well in community, ei., with small peaceful fish and shrimp
- Molting: Shedding of exoskeleton to accommodate growth, molting every 3 to 4 weeks or so, after molting shrimp is soft and vulnerable and retreat to hiding spots while new exoskeleton hardens, leave the molt in the tank as a rich source of calcium for feeding
- Water flow: Coming from moving waters, they like gentle yet thorough water flow, well oxygenated but not turbulent
- Filtration: They like clean water with proper balance of nutrients, oxygen, CO2, moderate light, like most aquatic plants, weekly 25% water changes, monitor water conditions regularly