BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish I Got Ghost Shrimp!

Found them at Petco. I guess they usually have them---I just couldn't SEE them! I have four of them and they're so cute walking and shrimp-paddling all over the place. It was a bit of an impulse buy, so I have them in a small Kritter Keeper right now with fresh water, some gravel and a small plastic plant I had laying around. I know they're algae eaters, but for tonight I gave them a bit of goldfish food. Any tips on a better setup for them? I don't plan on putting any fish with them---my bettas would probably try to eat them and the goldfish would most likely nibble them up, too (plus it's too cold for them). So any tips on setup, feeding, etc. would be much appreciated.

They're SO cute!

Here's some info:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1468

http://www.fishforever.co.uk/ghostshrimp.html

Hope these help! I have never had any of these guys, but they are really cute!!
Good luck with them

Well, I read all the sites, but must have done something wrong. One of my shrimp started to lay on its side yesterday. I was trying to figure out what was wrong, but a few minutes later, the shrimp died. The three others seemed fine. I figured maybe he'd just been sick. Then, about six hours later (after keeping my eye on them) the other three started to look sickly all at the same time I figured the best thing to do would be to change their water and maybe lower the temp a bit. I'd had them near a light so I could see them, but I think the temp got up to about 82. I put them in fresh water about two degrees cooler and moved them away from the lamp. The sickest of the three didn't make it, but the other two perked up almost immediately. I noticed that there was some uneaten food swirling around their old tank and think (in my excitement) I might have overfed them and messed up the PH or something in their water. This all happened last night. The other two seem to be fine now, but I'm not sure what I did wrong. I'm definitely laying off the food for a bit, but any advice? How much should I be feeding them? I've now moved them to a slightly larger vase and a slightly cooler area. I've read the they can tolerate temps between 65-80. Should I get a little bubbler or a filter? I thought they could survive just fine without any of that.

What did I do wrong?

I think they need a bubbler. Also, you don't need to heat their water. They're fine in unheated tanks. They'll eat whatever you put in there for them...good tank cleaners they are ! I had a good group of them that I kept in one of those small betta hex tanks with a good lid (very important to have a lid on thier tank!!) I had a small bit of gravel on the bottom and an airline in there for them..and a small plastic plant. I fed them the same thing I fed my bettas. They did very well in that little tank...one even had babies..lol.

I had them in that little tank to quarenteen them until I felt safe to put them in the fish tank. Of course, they did end up getting eaten..lol...I haven't gotten anymore since, but am now looking for some cherrie shrimp to put in my planted tanks.

I just picked up about 15 ghost shrimp to add to some of my tanks. I have forgotten how way cool these little princesses are...lol...

What incredible food hogs !! I can't believe that they never stop for a second with those tiny mandibles.

You dive at them with the net...chase them down across the table and then the floor when they pop out of the net on you......grab them as best you can and plunk them in the designated tank.............and as soon as they're little toes hit the gravel......they're picking things up and eating !!

Amazing...they never skip a beat !!

Thanks Emg. But, unfortunately, my shrimp didn't make it. I was so disappointed. I usually do really well with little animals, but the other two shrimp died soon after. I was so happy when I thought they'd made it and even began refering to myself as a Shrimp Healer. But, I guess I'll have to take that off my resume. Don't think I'll be getting any more shrimp for a while. At least until I figure out what I did wrong. They were so cute, too.

I don't know anyone who has been able to keep them alive for long. Emg did better than anyone else. They are just little cuties, though.

They're still creeping around my tanks. I lost a few, some have shed thier hulls..I have a couple that are WHOPPERS ! I didn'tknow that ghost shrimp got all that big, but two of them are around 2 1/2 inches. They're fascinating to watch !

Here's a pic.....(I ALWAYS have pics...lol)...they don't call them ghosts for nothing...! (click on the thumbnails for a larger view)