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Glass Shrimp
Introduction To Glass Shrimp
Glass shrimp, also known as Ghost shrimp or Grass shrimp, are one of the more fascinating types of aquatic species to keep. Transparency is their most admired quality and they can most often be found residing at the bottom of a fish tank feeding upon the detritus. The natural habitat of ghost shrimp is in the brackish water of wetlands. Nonetheless, they are an artistic addition to any home aquarium. They are visually intriguing spectacles either alone or in a more populated tank. Taking care of them is rewarding and simple.
- English name: Ghost Shrimp, Glass Shrimp, Grass Shrimp, American Glass Shrimp
- Scientific name: Palaemonetes sp.
- Origin: America
- Size: 1″ to 2″ (2.5 – 5 cm)
- Water temperature: 64 -84F
- Water Parameters: PH Range 6.0-6.8, TDS 80-400
- Breeding Rate: Easy
- Behavior: Non-aggressive
- Difficulty: Easy
Glass Shrimp History
The Glass Shrimp has been in the aquarium hobby in the U.S. for as long as this hobby has been around. This distinctive species is usually found being sold as a feeder shrimp, to be fed to bigger fish. Ghost shrimp, due to their transparent bodies, are an appealing addition to your tropical aquarium. This species is a bottom swimmer and can walk along the plants gathering small food particles that hasn’t been eaten by the fish. They also facilitate keeping the tank clean by consuming algae, and through their transparent bodies, you can really see the food they have eaten being digested.
Care for your Glass Shrimp
Most Ghost Shrimp that are found in the U.S. are sold as feeder shrimp and will not have an elongated life span in the home aquarium due to the conditions that they were transported to the store in. If the shrimp do stay alive, or if a captive raised stock is accessible, caring for the Glass Shrimp is quite simple. A conventional aquarium will support quite a hefty population of this aquarium shrimp.
Feeding for Glass Shrimp
Glass Shrimp are very passionate eaters, and will accept any food planned for the aquarium fish or invertebrates including sinking pellets and flake foods. The Glass Shrimp can often been seen swimming upside down under the surface of the water to feed on flake foods.
Breeding Habits of Glass Shrimp
Breeding Glass Shrimp can be a bit complicated in the home aquarium. The gender is hard to determine and they are a low order shrimp. Their eggs are produced as free floating larva, not minute versions of their parents like with other shrimp species, so they are a bit more tricky to raise. Once hatched, the small larvae will need powdered algae (Spirulina is a great algae for this) and must be in a separate aquarium to evade predators. The larvae will change to minute versions of the adults after around a week. Once the larvae have accomplished metamorphosis, they will need no further extensive care.
Glass Shrimp’s Behavior
The Glass Shrimp is usually non-aggressive, but there have been numerous reports of a few that can get a bit antagonistic. They can at times eat fish fry or even baby shrimp of any species. They are always a vigorous shrimp when there are no predators in the aquarium. Ghost shrimp are a great addition to any aquarium with diminutive enough fish for the shrimp to be protected from being eaten and are great little helpers in keeping your water quality high and your aquarium clean.
Glass Shrimp For Sale
Glass Shrimp can be found in your local fish store or commercial fish store, but keep in mind that they are sold as feeder shrimp for bigger fish. They can be used as cleaner shrimp as well, but they aren’t as efficient or colorful as other shrimp in the hobby. There are a few online vendors selling these glass shrimp in bulk below.
Glass Shrimp
Introduction To Glass Shrimp
Glass shrimp, also known as Ghost shrimp or Grass shrimp, are one of the more fascinating types of aquatic species to keep. Transparency is their most admired quality and they can most often be found residing at the bottom of a fish tank feeding upon the detritus. The natural habitat of ghost shrimp is in the brackish water of wetlands. Nonetheless, they are an artistic addition to any home aquarium. They are visually intriguing spectacles either alone or in a more populated tank. Taking care of them is rewarding and simple.
- English name: Ghost Shrimp, Glass Shrimp, Grass Shrimp, American Glass Shrimp
- Scientific name: Palaemonetes sp.
- Origin: America
- Size: 1″ to 2″ (2.5 – 5 cm)
- Water temperature: 64 -84F
- Water Parameters: PH Range 6.0-6.8, TDS 80-400
- Breeding Rate: Easy
- Behavior: Non-aggressive
- Difficulty: Easy
Glass Shrimp History
The Glass Shrimp has been in the aquarium hobby in the U.S. for as long as this hobby has been around. This distinctive species is usually found being sold as a feeder shrimp, to be fed to bigger fish. Ghost shrimp, due to their transparent bodies, are an appealing addition to your tropical aquarium. This species is a bottom swimmer and can walk along the plants gathering small food particles that hasn’t been eaten by the fish. They also facilitate keeping the tank clean by consuming algae, and through their transparent bodies, you can really see the food they have eaten being digested.
Care for your Glass Shrimp
Most Ghost Shrimp that are found in the U.S. are sold as feeder shrimp and will not have an elongated life span in the home aquarium due to the conditions that they were transported to the store in. If the shrimp do stay alive, or if a captive raised stock is accessible, caring for the Glass Shrimp is quite simple. A conventional aquarium will support quite a hefty population of this aquarium shrimp.
Feeding for Glass Shrimp
Glass Shrimp are very passionate eaters, and will accept any food planned for the aquarium fish or invertebrates including sinking pellets and flake foods. The Glass Shrimp can often been seen swimming upside down under the surface of the water to feed on flake foods.
Breeding Habits of Glass Shrimp
Breeding Glass Shrimp can be a bit complicated in the home aquarium. The gender is hard to determine and they are a low order shrimp. Their eggs are produced as free floating larva, not minute versions of their parents like with other shrimp species, so they are a bit more tricky to raise. Once hatched, the small larvae will need powdered algae (Spirulina is a great algae for this) and must be in a separate aquarium to evade predators. The larvae will change to minute versions of the adults after around a week. Once the larvae have accomplished metamorphosis, they will need no further extensive care.
Glass Shrimp’s Behavior
The Glass Shrimp is usually non-aggressive, but there have been numerous reports of a few that can get a bit antagonistic. They can at times eat fish fry or even baby shrimp of any species. They are always a vigorous shrimp when there are no predators in the aquarium. Ghost shrimp are a great addition to any aquarium with diminutive enough fish for the shrimp to be protected from being eaten and are great little helpers in keeping your water quality high and your aquarium clean.
Glass Shrimp For Sale
Glass Shrimp can be found in your local fish store or commercial fish store, but keep in mind that they are sold as feeder shrimp for bigger fish. They can be used as cleaner shrimp as well, but they aren’t as efficient or colorful as other shrimp in the hobby. There are a few online vendors selling these glass shrimp in bulk below.
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