Hey there! I’m Thomas, and I’ve been keeping ghost shrimp for years now These fascinating little creatures can be tricky to maintain, but don’t worry – I’m gonna share everything I’ve learned about keeping them happy and healthy in your aquarium
Why Your Ghost Shrimp Keep Dying (And How to Fix It!)
Look, I know how frustrating it is when your ghost shrimp don’t make it past the first few days Been there, done that! Here’s what you need to nail down first
The Perfect Tank Setup
- Tank Size: Start with at least 5 gallons – I typically recommend 3-4 shrimp per gallon
- Substrate: Use fine sand! Your little guys love digging through it
- Plants & Decor:
- Live plants like Java moss and hornwort
- Driftwood and smooth rocks (avoid sharp edges!)
- Plenty of hiding spots (trust me, they need their alone time)
Water Parameters That Won’t Kill Your Shrimp
Here’s what’s worked best for me:
- Temperature: 70-80°F (they’re happiest on the warmer side)
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- Water hardness: 3.72-6.75 KH
- Ammonia & nitrites: Absolute zero!
- Nitrates: Keep under 20 ppm
Pro tip Get yourself a good water testing kit – it’s worth every penny!
Feeding Your Ghost Shrimp (Without Overfeeding!)
These little guys aren’t picky eaters, but here’s what they love:
- Bottom-feeding fish flakes/pellets
- Algae (they’re natural cleaners!)
- Decomposing plant matter
- Blanched veggies (awesome for calcium!)
I feed mine just a tiny bit once or twice daily. Too much food = nasty water = dead shrimp. Sometimes I let them feast on the natural biofilm in the tank – they seem to love it!
Tank Mates: Friends Not Food!
Your ghost shrimp need peaceful buddies. Here’s who plays nice:
- Small tetras (neons are perfect!)
- Rasboras
- Corydoras catfish
- Nerite snails
- Other shrimp species
Avoid these troublemakers:
- Bettas (they might look pretty but they’re bullies)
- Cichlids
- Goldfish
- Any big fish that might see your shrimp as a snack
Common Problems & Quick Fixes
Molting Issues
This is huge! When shrimp molt, they’re super vulnerable. Help them out by:
- Keeping calcium levels around 20-40 ppm
- Using mineral supplements
- Maintaining stable temperatures
- Providing lots of hiding spots
Disease Prevention
- Quarantine new shrimp for 30 days (learned this the hard way!)
- Remove dead shrimp immediately
- Watch for white fuzzy patches or red spots
- Never use copper-based medications
Breeding Ghost Shrimp (If You’re Feeling Lucky)
Want baby shrimp? Here’s what to look for:
- Females have visible green ovaries
- They’ll carry 20-30 eggs under their body
- Separate pregnant females if possible
- Provide lots of plants for baby shrimp to hide
Final Tips for Success
- Don’t overcrowd the tank
- Keep water parameters stable
- Test water regularly
- Add live plants when possible
- Be patient – these little guys need time to adjust
Remember, ghost shrimp typically live about a year, but with proper care, they can thrive longer. I’ve had some make it past 18 months!
Got questions about keeping your ghost shrimp alive? Drop them in the comments below – I’d love to help! And don’t forget to share your own ghost shrimp success stories!
Ghost Shrimp Habitat & Water Parameters
Ghost Shrimp seem to enjoy establish planted aquariums with a moderate current of continuously moving water. An appropriately sized HOB power filter should do the trick and keep the water circulating properly. Additionally, an air pump with a fine air stone will create a wall of tiny bubbles to help keep water moving as well. With the bubbles, it’s fun to watch the shrimp get drawn up into the current and have to move their hind legs ferociously to swim out of it. Ghost Shrimp are great swimmers.
Ghost Shrimp Like Live Aquarium Plants
Keeping Ghost Shrimp in a tank with hardy live plants can also be a good idea. Aquariums with lots of live plants are never “too clean” as the plants constantly shed plant matter into the water column. Ghost Shrimp seem to enjoy picking through the messiness and feasting on the parts they can eat. Keeping aquarium plants is also a good idea because they provide little places to explore and hide especially near the bottom of the tank. Other hiding places can be created with decorations or rocks built into caves and caverns. Either way, it’s important that Ghost Shrimp have places to sneak away to from time to time.
As far as water parameters go, Ghost Shrimp seem to be comfortable in the tropical community tank range. Water temperature can be 72 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with some suggesting that a slightly wider temperature range is also acceptable. Aquarium pH should be fine anywhere between 7.0 and 8.0 provided there are no sudden shifts, and the water should also be on the hard side. Standard aquarium lighting will do. And as with all freshwater aquarium shrimp, be very careful when treating the tank with medicines. Keep Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates in check. And most importantly, avoid copper as copper can be fatal to aquarium shrimp.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR GHOST SHRIMP OVER NIGHT | #ghostshrimp #sandiego #fishing #baitfishing #bayfishing
FAQ
Are ghost shrimp hard to keep alive?
Ghost shrimp are generally sold as feeders and usually sold quite mature so they’re not super hardy and don’t live a really long time. I’ve had 50% mortality in 6 months or a week before, no rhyme or reason. I’ve had some go for 18+ months.
Why do my ghost shrimp keep dying?
Should I remove dead ghost shrimp?
While its good practice to remove dead tank mates from aquarium water as soon as possible, it is a good idea to leave shrimp shells in for a while to give other Ghost Shrimp a chance to take needed minerals. As long as a Ghost Shrimp is actively feeding, let the circumstances play out.
How long is the lifespan of ghost shrimp?
Ghost Shrimp Lifespan & Molting. Ghost Shrimp lifespan can be anywhere from a couple of days to 1 year. In some cases under good conditions and with a little luck, a Ghost Shrimp lifespan can be a little longer than a year. But usually not that much more that that.
How do you care for ghost shrimp?
Caring for ghost shrimp is straightforward because of their lack of stringent feeding needs, relatively small tank size requirement, and peaceful nature. Supplement your ghost shrimp’s food and water with calcium to keep their shell strong.
Can ghost shrimps live in a fish tank?
Contrary to what many think, ghost shrimps are extremely vulnerable in their natural habitat, especially in the rivers and lakes containing many larger fish species. So, when setting up a tank for them, mimicking a similar backdrop and set-up is crucial to adapt to the surroundings easily.
Are ghost shrimp easy to care for?
Ghost shrimp are easy to care for and, in the right tank environment, will reproduce readily, keeping the population up. Since they are easy to care for, they are great for beginners to shrimp keeping. They do need some hardness to their tank water, which is normal for shrimp.