Ghost shrimp question

[Ghostshrimp55]

Ghost shrimp are great in any tank. I rarely see mine at all but I'm pretty sure the 6 I bought are all still alive. They come out in shifts during the day so I might see only one or two at a time. If you really want to know how many you have you can turn on the lights at night. That's when they come out, mostly. I did this two weeks ago and found them all out at the same time.

And they will shed alot. Mine seem to turn white every 2 weeks or so. Then they disappear and I start finding exoskeletons all over. Later, I'll see brand new, bigger shrimp walking around. Cool stuff.

 

[Lady G]

Now that I thought about it, there have been a couple times I have seen the shells floating around. I just thought they were dead ghost shrimp that the fish had eaten. It must of been the moults I guess. I had know idea they could live for so long, should I buy them shrimp pellets? they seem to do fine with the flake food, freeze dried bloodworms and sundried shrimp I feed my fish though so I have never bought anything special for them.

 

[Veneer]

Impending death?? opaque shells are indications that your shrimp will be molting soon. theyve grown too large for thier shells and need to shed.

not terribly long lived? they can live anywhere from 2-5 years, thats a considerable amount of time for just a feeder.

Not always. If prolonged opaque coloration is on par with, say, this, terminal status is likely. I have observed such Palaemonetes move about, scrub carapaces, and feed normally to the practical moment of death.

Can you provide a source for your lifespan figure?

 

[Veneer]

Iodine additive can help prevent excessive mortality during molting.

That, to say the least, is debatable. At any rate, "molting complication" fatalities are, all too often, anything but - in actuality, one sometimes finds poor environment to have "forced" exuviation (problematic water quality being the primary cause of death).

 

[Veneer]

Now that I thought about it, there have been a couple times I have seen the shells floating around. I just thought they were dead ghost shrimp that the fish had eaten. It must of been the moults I guess. I had know idea they could live for so long, should I buy them shrimp pellets? they seem to do fine with the flake food, freeze dried bloodworms and sundried shrimp I feed my fish though so I have never bought anything special for them.

Not strictly necessary, though it will likely be accepted by your shrimp. Please, if possible, post an image of your "white" specimens.

 

[Lady G]

sure if I can get a shot of them I will, but one of them must of molted because my son just told me to come over there b/c one of the shrimp was eating another and when I went to look it was just the outside so it must of been the molt from one of the others. But if I am able to get a shot of them where you can see it I will be more then happy to post it, I have a problem getting good pictures when it comes to my tank since my camera has an automatic flash and I can't take a pic without the flash.

 

[Lady G]

pics I could get

Ok this is about the best pics I could get(I did have one shrimp eating a molt and when I was taking these pics I saw a fish eating on another) so the two I saw last night must of molted and now this one is starting (I think anyway). I hope you can tell what it is you are looking for.

Thanks,
Gin

 

[Lady G]

opps I missed one

Sorry I didn't get one of the pics attached so here it is too.

 

[Roan Art]

I originally purchased 6 a few months ago. One must have died shortly thereafter and I still have 5 kicking around in the tank.

They'll eat just about anything. If you want to see them without the lights off, through in some blanched zuccchini or just about any other veggie. Weigh it so that it sinks. They all come out to the front of the tank and have a banquet. The other fish usually join them

For Thanksgiving I threw in a blanched yam and everyone had a great dinner. The veggies are especially good for plecos.

Roan