Ghost Shrimp!

[randyttp]

I'm starting up a new 10gal tank and believe it or not I wanna focus on Ghost Shrimp!

..or atleast im pretty sure I wanna go that route.



I have stocked them before and everything went well until my girlfriend bought some new fish and they all got eaten (well she claims they killed each other... but I dont know about that).. But they are fun to have around and were very active, as I usually keep my tank at 80degrees fahr.

Anyhow I'm starting brand new again (new tank) and I wanna do everything correctly this time i.e. cycling...

How long should I wait before I put my Ghost Shrimp in? From my experience they seem very strong.

And which fish would be best to start out the process with and not be a threat to the ghost shrimp? (keeping in my mind I want a small population, of small fish)

Also I want Neon Tetras, but I know I should let the tank mature before adding them in.

Thanks in advice for anyones feedback. cheers.

Randy,

 

[randyttp]

hey was just checking out some facts about ghost shrimp.. they had a list of friendly fishmates for the ghost shrimpy.


"Good tank mates for Ghost Shrimp are the Small Tetras such as Neon Tetras, Glow Light Tetras, and Black Phantom Tetras, also Harlequin Rasboras, African Dwarf Frogs, Bettas, White Clouds, Fancy Guppies, Corydoras Catfish and other fish that are too small to eat the Ghost Shrimp."


Any of these be good starter fish after the tank is cycled?

 

[soritan]

Yep. I have 7 ghost shrimp in my 10g, with 3 adfs and 1 female betta. So far, so good. I actually added my 7 ghosties day 1 after my fishless cycle completed. Not only are they all alive and well, one is carrying eggs.

Ghost Shrimp are neat, aren't they? They're like little squirrels of doom. Mine think they own the joint, and generally eat before everyone in the tank -- due to their ability to Grab! and Run!

 

[randyttp]

Yeah they are pretty fiesty... Mine definently owned the tank too... until the big fish came.

Actually one of my fish had babies in the very beginning of my tank and the ghost shrimp pretty much feasted on all of them. It was neat because when they would find a baby they would spin it around and around like in 'little nemo'. Maybe thats alittle deranged but an interesting display of nature.



But thats cool to hear that you put them in right after the fishless cycle. I know they are tuff guys. One thing I am worried about though is they eat alot of the junk in the fish tank and if they are the first then it would probably not be alot of food for them.

 

[soritan]

If you feed flake, about 1 flake per day for ghost shrimp is fine. Same would go for pellets.

I happened to have some pellets that my bettas refused to eat (didn't meet their highness' pallets), and I just dropped a few in per day. Didn't even bother to measure them.

If you're lucky, you can see one grab one, stuff it in their mouth, and grab another one, and book it to the back of the tank. It's hilarious.