Ghost Shrimp

[Sharlene1385]

Um, ok I can't find much info on them. SO since I read that they also eat some algae, would it be good to feed them some algae wafers? Also, how close to fish are shrimp? Can they be out of water longer with out dying? I watched a pet store employee catch one in net and hold net and wiggled the little guy into the bag, since he didn't want it caught in the net I guess, but I still wondered if the shrimp could handle that, I felt sorry for the poor thing. Of course the PetsMarts here don't pay attention, I saw a barb leap out and they let it flop on floor a bit while bagging sold fish before grabbing it and putting back in, nearly stepped on it. And today they had a poor bird on its head stuck behing something in cage. We had to notify them of this. GRRR, cruel people. Anyway, looking for info on shrimp... lol, I must have a "Haunted Tank" I have Phantom Tetras and getting a ghost shrimp. lol

 

[konrad05]

Ghost shrimp are different that algae eating shrimp. They look different and ghost shrimp dont really eat much algae. In general, shrimp suck at clearing freshwater algae, ottos are the best by far. Also, ghost shrimp are around 20 cents and algae eating shrimp are 2 bucks.

 

[Koda]

Ghost shrimp are fun to watch and will help keep your tank free of leftovers.You can see how hard they work because they are transparent...so you see what they eat I keep a couple in my 5g tank and several more in my cold water tank.I fully expected those to be eaten by the bigger fish.A few were at first,but they seem to have struck some sort of truce.Now they boldly come out to chase whatever the fantail doesn't get right away

Koda

 

[Teelie]

Ghosts love algae pellets but not cleaning algae. I used to have some and they were the worst hogs in the tank when it came to feeding algae wafers. They never actually cleaned any algae that grew either. Still worth getting for other reasons though.

 

[Sky042]

I've never actually had them live long enough to see if they'd eat algae. But they'll eat a lot of other stuff in the tank including fish waste....at least till they became the fish waste after nemo discoveres them in the tank.

 

[Ruby Shark]

If you like shrimp and you want a type that eats algae then Amano shrimps are great. I only have one and he has done a great job! The only problem is that they prefer brackish water....or so I've read. The salesperson at my lfs said they lived in freshwater....can you believe that?!
I'm so glad that he is doing well...for now at least.

 

[Teelie]

With some fish and animals they actually live in both conditions during different stages in their lives so if you want him to do well, you could set up a mini tank with brackish water, keep him in there for however long is necessary (I don't know what amount) and then move him back to fresh.

 

[Ruby Shark]

With some fish and animals they actually live in both conditions during different stages in their lives so if you want him to do well, you could set up a mini tank with brackish water, keep him in there for however long is necessary (I don't know what amount) and then move him back to fresh.

Hi Teelie,


I know that some fish need to be moved to brackish or saltwater once they are older(Mono's and Columbian sharks etc.) but the question is when? He is already an inch and a half leading me to believe that he is on the older side. Also, I have been told that fish who need to have their water conditions changed do so as they get older and then they can't go back to freshwater.

 

[Sharlene1385]

Idaho only seems to sell ghost shrimp from what I've seen. Anyway, not looking for an algae eater at the time, I do have Platties and Phantom Tetras. So I was just kind of looking into the clean up crew. lol Food waste and fish waste cleanup would help a lot, and I only have the 10 gal. So I figured 1 would do, plus the fish pick off some food too. I was just curious as to rather or not they could or might like an extra treat of algae wafer, since I had some left from old pleco that I don't have anymore. I know, I heard about them being see through and that you could see food in them, how cool. They are cute, even for "janitor" fish.
So sounds like the ghost shrimp would be perfect for my tank.

Oh, and does anyone know about them being able to be out of water at all? I'm not going to like pull one out just to see, I'm just curious, like if I had one and it somehow got out. All though, I've never heard of shrimp living out of water, but I also here there's no such thing as a stupid question.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Sharlene,

I have one of these in my tank http/users.skynet.be/caridina-japonica/

He/She goes all around the tank cleaning the tank, does not have a big impactact on cleaning algae, but fun to watch. Its even eaten blood worm, so yes they are very much like hoovers.

I have had mine now for about three months and has shed its skin about 6 times now so i know he's growing (about an inch long now )

edit just found this site http/suiso.com/v2/modules.php?name=News&...e=article&sid=2

 

[Richard]

some information on ghost shrimps can be found on the following link which i found to be quite good

Ghost Shrimps

Richard

 

[Scorp1on]

As stated already these guys are great for eating fish waste, left over food, etc. We have shrimp pelletes here which from what I hear isn't really intended for them so we break them down real well first (hlps the fish eat them also). From what I've also seen the breed pretty well. We got 5 when we started our tank and not to long later noticed one looked odd. Found out she released her eggs and was carrying them under her tail till they were ready. Unforunately those babies and ones from one we bought aleady pregnant were lost when we treated for Ich.