What do i need to know about ghost shrimp...are they easy to take care of and would they go well with cardinal tetras and other fish like that?
ghost shrimp
- Thread starter garvondavis14
- Start date
They do well in community setups. They are hard to see if you turn your lights off to gravel vacuum and therefore can end up in the waste water. They eat whatever food you feed your fish plus pick algae. They do like harder water as it helps them molt.
www.petshrimp.com
Ghost shrimp are talked about a lot in here. They don't live THAT long, and sometimes you will get an aggresive one that may try to attack fish or other shrimp. They are mostly used for fish food. They sell them for like 10 for a $1. But some pet stores now try to sell them for a buck each, don't pay that much. All invertebrates like had water for their shells and would benefit from cuttle bone in the water or coral in the filter but you have cardinals so that would not be a good idea. Its not necessary. Some people add iodide... again not necessary as ghost shrimp readily molt. Gost shrimp do well in colder water and don't like water to be TOO warm. Normal aquarium water is ok (75-78F). They wont eat your algae but will eat flake food that falls to the ground. When you see pink shrimp, take them out. They are dead and will foul the water.
Ghost shrimp are talked about a lot in here. They don't live THAT long, and sometimes you will get an aggresive one that may try to attack fish or other shrimp. They are mostly used for fish food. They sell them for like 10 for a $1. But some pet stores now try to sell them for a buck each, don't pay that much. All invertebrates like had water for their shells and would benefit from cuttle bone in the water or coral in the filter but you have cardinals so that would not be a good idea. Its not necessary. Some people add iodide... again not necessary as ghost shrimp readily molt. Gost shrimp do well in colder water and don't like water to be TOO warm. Normal aquarium water is ok (75-78F). They wont eat your algae but will eat flake food that falls to the ground. When you see pink shrimp, take them out. They are dead and will foul the water.
hey i didnt mean to stole the thread but i was wondering about my ghost shrimp since she has some green round stuff in her underbelly... i just found out they're eggs!! 
thanks for the link!!!
thanks for the link!!!
H
HereFishy
Guest
I have several of them in my 5 gal and they are so funny to watch. They have been eating the leftover betta food and supplimented with algae wafers (also for the snails). Just if they were easier to see, I'd have tons of them in every tank.
Nothing will come of the eggs. They have a fre swimming larval stage. If you can raise those, tell us how you did it.
I've had ghost shrimp in my 55 for over a year, and they are definitely reproducing, at least on a small scale.
Every few weeks I will notice a new small shrimp (1/4 inch or so) coming out to chase flake food.
I have large gravel, rocks, plants, and lots of hiding places, so I guess they just stay hid until they get to this size.
I started out with ten or so, and now I have about twice that many.
My water is very hard and very high ph, so maybe this has something to do with it.
Also, all of my other fish are small and peacefull.
Every few weeks I will notice a new small shrimp (1/4 inch or so) coming out to chase flake food.
I have large gravel, rocks, plants, and lots of hiding places, so I guess they just stay hid until they get to this size.
I started out with ten or so, and now I have about twice that many.
My water is very hard and very high ph, so maybe this has something to do with it.
Also, all of my other fish are small and peacefull.
There are several species sold inexpensively in LFS. The true FW advanced breeders in that group (babies settle ouy quickly as small adult forms) will easily reproduce in tanks, but survival of the young depends on the age/stability of the tank (more infusoria and refuges) and of course on freedom from predators - it doesn't take much to eat a very young shrimp.
Just wanted to point out that the aggressive ghost shrimp mentioned are a different kind of shrimp that get sold inadvertantly as ghost shrimp. True ghost shrimp are passive and as I mentioned, great in community tanks. And again, they do pick algae off of the tank, just not in great quantities like say an Otocinculus.