Ghost shrimp
Palaemonetes paludosus
A cheap, see-through North American shrimp whose insides are visible; easy to keep, but short-lived and often hard on fry and shrimplets.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 7 gallons
- Group
- 3+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- 0.5–1.1 years
- Diet
- Shrimp pellets, flakes, leftovers, biofilm
- Origin
- Atlantic coast of the United States
- Hardier than100%
- Bigger than26%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Ghost shrimp tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGhost shrimp outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Cherry shrimpGhost shrimp may eat cherry shrimplets.Risky
- BettaBetta eats dwarf shrimp: Ghost shrimp (some individuals hunt them).Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb eats dwarf shrimp: Ghost shrimp.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidGhost shrimp outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach eats dwarf shrimp: Ghost shrimp (PROP: в SF не упомянуто).Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish eats dwarf shrimp: Ghost shrimp.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Ghost shrimp: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Ghost shrimp: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- DemasoniDemasoni eats dwarf shrimp: Ghost shrimp (PROP: мбуна поедают мелких беспозвоночных).Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Ghost shrimp: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna eats dwarf shrimp: Ghost shrimp (PROP: мбуна поедают мелких беспозвоночных).Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for ghost shrimp: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 4.7 cm (body)
- Adult mass
- 0.62 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.87 BU
- Min. water
- 20 L net
- Group
- 3+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Care notes
Ghost shrimp come from the US Atlantic coast, from Florida to New Jersey, and reach about 2 inches. They usually live about a year.
They are often sold as feeder shrimp, and batches can be mixed with other species. A group fits a 5-gallon tank, but they may pick off fry and young shrimp.
Questions
What size tank does a ghost shrimp need?
At least 7 gallons (20 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.9 inches without fins.
How many ghost shrimp should be kept together?
Keep at least 3, ideally 6 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do ghost shrimp need?
64–82 °F, pH 7–8 and 0–0 dGH. Ghost shrimp come from Atlantic coast of the United States.
How long do ghost shrimp live?
0.5–1.1 years with good care.
What fish can live with ghost shrimp?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Amano shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.