Ghost shrimp

[Sunny]

We were advised to get ghost shrimp for bottom feeders. How hardy are these little creatures? How long do they live?
It is known that if a fish dies it is important to remove it immediately out of the tank in order to prevent harmful bacteria, but does this apply for ghost shrimp as well? They are so difficult to notice and it'd be hard to keep track of them.

 

[OrionGirl]

Ghost shrimp typically live about 12 months--so buy them small. They need to have some safe zones where they can hide following a molt--a pile of rocks will usually work. I can't say they are hardy--seems I have a few fatalities within 24 hours when I buy them, but I typically get 36-48 of them at a time as feeders, so a loss of 2-3 isn't a big deal.

For dead ghosts--they will likely be eaten quickly, but they are not easily missed--death opaques them, so they are bright white with pink accents when dead.

 

[tomm10]

Just to add to what OG offered, I have had much better luck keeping ghosts and other shrimp alive longer since I've started to add a few drops of iodine to the tank at water changes (the kind of iodine used as aditives for salt water tanks not the medicinal kind).

When ghosts molt they leave beind a complete empty shell which often looks just like a dead shrimp. Don't remove it right away as the shrimp will generally eat it.

Tom

 

[Sunny]

I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me.