(Please note that the fish shown in the photo is only a representative of what an adult specimen would look like. The color may vary based on the age and sex of the fish you receive.)
Scientific Name: Palaemon paludosus
Common Name: Ghost Shrimp, Glass Shrimp, Eastern Grass Shrimp,
Adult Size: 1 - 2 inches
Life Expectancy: 1 - 2 years
Habitat: North and South America
Minimum Tank Size: 5 - 10 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 68 - 77°F
- pH Range: 6.5 - 7.5
- Water Hardness: 3 - 10
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Ghost Shrimp are scavenger feeders and will accept a wide variety of foods. They are omnivorous and will naturally feed on brush algae and fallen food. They can be fed processed foods such as flakes & pellets. They are typically unfussy eaters. Ghost shrimp have a unique clear body, the food can be seen making its way through the digestive system. Ghost Shrimp will also eat boiled zucchini and soft vegetables. Vegetables provide the shrimp with necessary nutrients and are a low cost solution.
Breeding & Spawning: Ghost Shrimp are easy to breed. It is important to fill the tank with patches of thick plant cover. This will give the Ghost Shrimp piece of mind and safety needed for breeding. Raise the temperature in the aquarium to around 80°F to help simulate warmer months (and therefore wetter months) of the year. Within one to two weeks females will be noticeable with rows of hundreds of eggs beneath their tails. Ensure the tank is using an air filter at this point. Ghost Shrimp fry are small and fragile. Fry are born live from the mother. The eggs will be carried for around 1 to two weeks. Immediately after being born the fry must fend for themselves. It is wise to move them to a fry-only tank since Ghost Shrimp are scavengers and will often eat their own young.
Gender: Females are much larger than males, usually about 1.5x the length.