How much is too much?

[as40]

Hello all!

Was in the LFS this weekend and purchased a horde of ghost shrimp. I have been thinking of trying some shrimp out for algea control/bottom scavenging, but didn't want to pay the high prices and end up with dead amanos or something like that. The ghost shrimp were so cheap (5 for a buck) that I told the guy to catch what he could and I'd try them out. I know they have a relatively short life span, and supposedly a high mortality rate, so I started off with 27 purchased. About 23-24 of them made it from the bag to my tank still alive, and a few less this morning. The survivors seem to be doing well, but I keep pretty soft water, which I know won't help their survival chances. I'm not too concerned since they were so cheap and I have so many of them, but what I am wondering is if I have way too many of them in the tank or not, even figuring a 50% mortality rate (my tank is a 40 long, 30 gallons filled)? Any help on these little guys would be most appreciated.

[anonapersona]

The thing will be whether your fish leave them alone. I had done the very same thing, only one is still here a year later. The rest walked off, or got eaten, or just died. I found a few on the carpet.

They dont' do a whole lot for algae, however they do clean up excess food. That $6 might have been better spent on 2 Amanos.

I've done it both ways, now I don't bother with the ghost shrimp, even though I can get them for 5 cents. 5 or 6 Amanos shrimp will be really helpful in the tank, start saving up for them.

[LMOUTHBASS]

seem to just vanish occasionally i see one come outta no where