Ghost shrimp care: tank, water, food, tankmates and breeding
Ghost shrimp, also sold as glass shrimp, are the see-through shrimp found in many pet stores, often in a feeder tank for a dollar or less. In the U.S. most are Palaemonetes species, usually Palaemonetes paludosus, a native freshwater grass shrimp. They are hardy once settled, busy scavengers, and fascinating to watch, since you can see food moving through their bodies. They are also very different from the dwarf cherry shrimp most of this site covers: bigger, more predatory and shorter-lived. This guide covers the tank, water, food, tankmates, molting, lifespan and breeding. We haven't run our own trials, so the ranges here are commonly cited figures from hobby references and owner reports.
Ghost shrimp at a glance
| Trait | Commonly cited |
|---|---|
| Common names | Ghost shrimp, glass shrimp, grass shrimp |
| Scientific name | Usually Palaemonetes species (often P. paludosus in the U.S.) |
| Adult size | Roughly 1–1.5 in (about 2.5–4 cm); females usually larger |
| Temperature | About 65–82 °F (18–28 °C) |
| pH | About 7.0–8.0 |
| Lifespan | Often about a year, sometimes longer |
| Temperament | Mostly peaceful scavengers, but opportunistic predators of very small animals |
| Breeding in freshwater | Possible; larvae are tiny and free-swimming and need very fine food |
Why so many ghost shrimp die in the first week
Many ghost shrimp are sold as live feeder food, so they are often kept crowded, shipped in bulk and handled more roughly than ornamental shrimp. Owners commonly report losing several in the first days, which is usually down to that stress rather than anything wrong with your tank. To improve the odds:
- Pick active shrimp. Choose clear, active shrimp that are moving and eating, and avoid tanks with many dead shrimp or cloudy, milky-white bodies.
- Acclimate slowly. A drip over about an hour or more is gentler than tipping the bag in. Our drip acclimation guide walks through it.
- Check for look-alikes. Feeder tanks sometimes contain other species, such as long-armed Macrobrachium ("whisker") shrimp, which are more aggressive. True ghost shrimp have short, thin front claws; shrimp with long, thick claw arms are worth keeping separate until you know what they are.
- Watch for a few days. Remove any dead shrimp promptly so they do not foul the water.
Tank size and setup
- Size. A small group can live in about 5 gallons, and 10 gallons or more is easier to keep stable, especially with fish. Our stocking guide explains how bioload adds up.
- Cycled first. Add shrimp only to a fully cycled tank. See how to cycle a shrimp tank.
- Plants and cover. Live plants, moss and wood give them places to graze and hide, which matters most right after a molt.
- Gentle filtration. A sponge filter or a filter with a sponge-covered intake keeps shrimp and larvae from being pulled in. See our shrimp-safe filter guide; an air-driven sponge filter is a simple, inexpensive option.
- A lid. Ghost shrimp can climb out, especially when newly added or when water quality slips.
- Substrate. Anything that is not sharp works; darker substrate makes their clear bodies easier to see. Our substrate guide compares options.
Water parameters
Ghost shrimp are tolerant of a fairly wide range. Commonly cited targets are about 65–82 °F (18–28 °C) and a pH of roughly 7.0–8.0, with zero ammonia and nitrite and low nitrate. Moderately hard, dechlorinated tap water usually suits them; see can shrimp live in tap water? Many keep them at room temperature, but a small adjustable heater helps hold a steady temperature in a cold room; see our nano heater guide.
As with all shrimp, sudden change is the bigger risk. Test regularly with a reliable kit (our water test kit guide covers options), keep water changes modest and temperature-matched, and avoid anything containing copper, which is toxic to shrimp. Check plant fertilizers and medications before dosing; see the shrimp-safe fertilizer guide.
What ghost shrimp eat
Ghost shrimp are omnivorous scavengers. They pick at biofilm, algae, plant debris and leftover fish food, and they will also eat small live animals when they can catch them.
- Feed a little, often. Sinking pellets, algae wafers, flakes that reach the bottom and the occasional blanched vegetable all work. Give what they finish in a couple of hours and remove leftovers. Our best shrimp food guide compares options.
- In a fish tank, they often live on leftovers, but make sure some food reaches the bottom.
- Avoid overfeeding. Uneaten food breaks down into ammonia, which shrimp tolerate poorly.
Tankmates
Ghost shrimp are small enough to be eaten by many fish, and they are opportunistic hunters of anything smaller than themselves. Both sides of that matter.
- Usually fine: small, peaceful fish such as many rasboras, small tetras, otocinclus and small corydoras; snails; Amano shrimp.
- Use caution: fish small enough to be harassed, such as very small nano fish, and fish fry. Owners report ghost shrimp catching fry and occasionally picking at sleeping or weak fish.
- Usually avoid: cichlids, large gouramis, goldfish, bettas in small tanks and other fish that will hunt shrimp, plus aggressive Macrobrachium shrimp.
With cherry shrimp: adults usually leave each other alone, but ghost shrimp will eat baby cherry shrimp. If you want a growing cherry colony, keep them in separate tanks; our cherry shrimp breeding guide covers what a colony needs. Ghost shrimp and cherries do not interbreed.
Molting
Like all shrimp, ghost shrimp shed their shell to grow, and young shrimp molt often. A clear, empty shell is normal; leave it for a day or two so the shrimp can eat it back. A shrimp that hides right after molting is just waiting for its new shell to harden. Repeated failed molts usually point to sudden water changes or unstable minerals; see shrimp dying after molting.
How long do ghost shrimp live?
A lifespan of about a year is commonly cited, sometimes longer in a stable tank. Because you rarely know how old a store-bought shrimp is, some will reach the end of their life sooner than you might expect. Losses in the first week or two are more often linked to stress and shipping than to age.
Males vs. females
Females are usually larger, with a deeper, rounder underside, and often show a greenish saddle of developing eggs behind the head. Berried females carry small green to clear eggs under the tail. Males are smaller and slimmer.
Breeding ghost shrimp
Unlike Amano shrimp, ghost shrimp can breed in freshwater, and berried females are common in home tanks. The catch is the babies: the eggs typically hatch after a few weeks into tiny, free-swimming larvae, not miniature shrimp, and adults and filters will remove most of them.
- Move the berried female to a separate small, cycled tank with a sponge filter once the eggs are well developed (you may see tiny eyes in them).
- Return the female after the eggs hatch, since adults eat larvae.
- Feed very fine food. Larvae need microscopic food at first, such as infusoria, green water or a fine powdered fry food, in small amounts several times a day.
- Keep water clean and stable with gentle aeration and small, careful water changes.
- Grow them on. After a few weeks they settle and look like tiny shrimp, and can move on to crushed shrimp food.
Survival rates are often low even with care, so treat raising larvae as an experiment rather than a sure thing.
Frequently asked questions
How many ghost shrimp should I keep?
Many keepers start with a small group of about three to six in a 5–10 gallon tank and adjust from there. More shrimp means more waste, so add them gradually and keep testing the water.
Will ghost shrimp eat my fish?
Healthy adult fish are rarely at risk, but ghost shrimp will catch fry and may pick at very small, sleeping or weak fish. Keep them away from fry tanks.
Can ghost shrimp live with cherry shrimp?
Adults usually coexist, but ghost shrimp eat baby cherry shrimp, so a cherry colony will struggle to grow. Use separate tanks if you want to breed cherries.
Why are my ghost shrimp dying?
Early losses are most often linked to stress from the feeder trade and shipping, fast acclimation or water swings. Ongoing losses point to water quality, copper or other chemicals, or simply age, since they often live about a year.
Why is my ghost shrimp turning white or cloudy?
A cloudy, milky body is often a sign of stress or illness and is not a good sign. Test the water, check for anything that could contain copper, and remove the shrimp if it dies.
Do ghost shrimp need a heater?
Not always. They tolerate cooler water than many tropical fish, but a stable temperature in roughly the 65–82 °F range is better than big daily swings, so a heater helps in a cold room.