Hey there! If you’re reading this you’re probably staring at your ghost shrimp wondering if those tiny eggs are actually fertilized. Don’t worry – I’ve been there too! After keeping ghost shrimp for years I’m gonna share everything I know about identifying fertilized eggs in these fascinating transparent creatures.
Quick Answer
Ghost shrimp eggs are fertilized when they:
- Move from the saddle (behind head) to under the tail
- Change color from green to white/pale yellow
- Show tiny black dots (eyes/stomach)
- Are carried by a female avoiding the tank bottom
Detailed Guide to Identifying Fertilized Ghost Shrimp Eggs
1. Location of the Eggs
The easiest way to tell if your ghost shrimp eggs are fertilized is by checking their location:
- Unfertilized eggs: Found in the saddle (area behind head)
- Fertilized eggs: Located under the tail, attached to swimming legs
2. Color Changes
Watch for these color transitions
- Initial color: Green
- After fertilization: Gradually turns white or pale yellow
- Pre-hatching: May show black specks (baby shrimp eyes)
3. The Pregnancy Timeline
Here’s what happens week by week
Week 1:
- Eggs appear green in the saddle
- Female looks slightly larger
- Easy to spot due to transparent body
Week 2:
- Eggs begin moving downward
- Color starts fading
- Fertilization typically occurs
Week 3:
- Eggs turn white/pale yellow
- Black dots appear (eyes/stomach)
- Ready for hatching!
How to Care for Fertilized Eggs
Setting Up a Breeding Tank
For the best results, you’ll need:
- Sponge filter (prevents babies from getting sucked up)
- Water temperature: 70-80°F
- pH level: around 7.0
- Fine substrate (like sand)
- Live plants (java moss works great!)
Important Tips
- Don’t move pregnant females unless necessary – stress can cause egg dropping
- Remove mom after eggs hatch (she might eat the babies!)
- Feed babies with crushed fish food or algae powder
- Keep water parameters stable
Common Questions I Get Asked
Q: Help! The eggs disappeared overnight!
A: This usually means either:
- The eggs hatched (yay!)
- They were eaten (common in community tanks)
- The mother dropped them due to stress
Q: Can eggs survive if the mother dies?
A: Yes! You can save them using an egg tumbler to provide oxygen and movement.
Q: My shrimp’s eggs are black – is this normal?
A: Black dots on eggs are good – they’re developing eyes! However, completely black eggs usually won’t hatch.
My Pro Tips
After years of breeding ghost shrimp, here’s what I’ve learned:
- Don’t panic if you can’t see babies right after hatching – they’re TINY!
- Cover tank walls with paper first few days (babies are attracted to light)
- Feed multiple small meals rather than one big one
- Keep the tank well-planted for baby survival
Final Thoughts
Breeding ghost shrimp isn’t rocket science, but it does need some attention to detail. Once you know what to look for, identifying fertilized eggs becomes pretty easy! Just remember – if those eggs are under mama shrimp’s tail, you’re probably gonna be a shrimp grandparent soon!
Keep watching those eggs, and don’t hesitate to drop a comment below if you’ve got questions. We’re all learning together in this awesome hobby!
Remember: Every shrimp keeper was once a beginner. Take it slow, observe carefully, and enjoy the process!
How do you tell the difference between male and female ghost shrimp?
In addition to the equipment, youll need a few ghost shrimp to start your colony. If you get 6-10, you can be pretty sure there are both males and females in the batch. It can be difficult to tell the difference between them at first, especially if the females arent carrying eggs yet, but youll soon get a feel for it.
Female ghost shrimp are larger than males. They will have a colored fleck behind the head, called a saddle, which are eggs developing in the ovaries. Alternatively, they might carry fertilized eggs in their swimmerets.
What do you need for breeding ghost shrimp?
Ready to start breeding shrimp? You dont need much to get started. In fact, you can get reasonable survival rates in a heavily planted set-up without any intervention on your part. However, raising the larvae separately is ideal and will result in a significantly higher survival rate, as theres no risk of them being eaten by their parents.
So, for the purposes of breeding, we recommend two tanks. One can be a normal community aquarium or a ghost shrimp-only set-up, and you can do whatever you want with it. The other one, the rearing tank, can be as simple as a food-safe plastic tub. It doesnt have to be fancy (although it can be if you want!). In fact, since the larvae have such a low bioload, you probably wont even need a filter if you add lots of plants.
All you need for the rearing tank is:
- 5 or 10-gallon aquarium or plastic tub
- Plenty of aquatic plants, such as Java moss
- Air stone or sponge filter (set to the lowest possible flow level)
Thats it! You dont even need a heater in most cases, as ghost shrimp larvae do just fine at room temperature.
Its best to give the rearing tank plenty of time to mature. The water parameters will be more stable this way, and plenty of biofilm will grow for the larvae to eat. Dont worry if it gets algae, thats just more food!