Shrimp · Palaemonetes paludosus

Ghost shrimp care guide

Also called: Glass shrimp, Grass shrimp, Eastern grass shrimp, American ghost shrimp, Feeder shrimp, Palaemonetes paludosus, Palaemon paludosus

Ghost shrimp are cheap, see-through shrimp from the southeastern US that scavenge algae and leftover food. They are hardy and busy, but they eat fish fry and baby shrimp, and any fish big enough to swallow them will hunt them.

Ghost shrimp need a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 L), a group of 3 or more, and water at 20–27°C (68–81°F) with a pH of 7–8. They grow to about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) and are peaceful.

Plan a tank with ghost shrimpSee all tank mates

Ghost shrimp quick facts

Scientific namePalaemonetes paludosus
FamilyPalaemonidae
OriginFresh and slightly brackish lakes and streams of the southeastern United States (most are wild-caught)
Adult size4.5 cm (1.8 in)
Minimum tank10 gallons (38 L)
Temperature20–27°C (68–81°F)
pH7–8
Hardness (GH)5–12 dGH
Group size3 or more (group)
TemperamentPeaceful
Swims atBottom
DietOmnivore
Care levelEasy
Lifespan1–2 years
Safe with plants?Yes
  • Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.

Tank setup

A 10-gallon (38 L) tank suits a small group, and more room helps if you also keep other shrimp. Give them plants, wood or rocks to climb on and hide behind, especially after a molt. Cover the filter intake with a sponge and keep a lid on, since a startled shrimp can flip out of the water.

How many ghost shrimp in a tank?

The smallest common tank that suits ghost shrimp is a 10 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.

TankGhost shrimp (alone)
3 gallonToo small
5 gallonToo small
10 gallon3–57
15 gallon3–85
20 gallon3–114
20 gallon long3–114
29 gallon3–165
40 gallon3–228
55 gallon3–314
75 gallon3–428
125 gallon3–713

What you need for ghost shrimp

Sized for a 10 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 3 ghost shrimp. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.

Tank and equipment

Food and extras for ghost shrimp

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Water parameters

Keep them at 20–27 °C (68–81 °F), pH 7.0–8.0 and 5–12 dGH. Some hardness helps them build a healthy new shell each time they molt. Add them only to a cycled tank and acclimate them slowly. Copper and many fish medicines kill them, so treat sick fish in a separate tank.

Best tank mates for ghost shrimp

These popular species share ghost shrimp' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 69 good matches.

Avoid keeping ghost shrimp with

  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Ghost shrimp 20–27°C (68–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.

Feeding

They scavenge all day on algae, biofilm, detritus and leftover fish food. If little is left over, add sinking pellets, algae wafers or blanched vegetables a few times a week. Well-fed shrimp leave healthy plants alone.

Behavior

Mostly peaceful and always on the move, but they are opportunists. They eat fish eggs, fry and baby shrimp, and they will pick at sick or dying tankmates. Bettas, cichlids, large loaches and other fish that can fit them in their mouth will eat them. Shops sometimes mix in whisker shrimp, which look similar but have long claws and attack fish and shrimp.

Breeding

Females carry a clutch of small eggs under the tail for about two to three weeks, depending on warmth. The young hatch as tiny swimming larvae, not miniature shrimp, and need very fine food such as infusoria or powdered fry food. Adults and fish eat the larvae, so move a berried female to a separate tank and return her once the eggs hatch. The larvae do not need salt water.

Tips from experienced keepers

  • Pick clear, active shrimp. Milky-white or cloudy shrimp in the shop are often sick or dying.
  • Check new arrivals for long, thick front claws. Those are whisker shrimp, which attack fish and other shrimp.
  • Keep a tight lid and seal gaps around tubing. Startled ghost shrimp can flip out of the tank.
  • Never use copper-based medicines or fertilizers in a tank with shrimp.
  • Skip them in tanks where you want fish fry or dwarf shrimp babies to survive.

Frequently asked questions

Will ghost shrimp eat my fish?

Not healthy adult fish. They eat eggs and fry, and they scavenge fish that are already sick or dead. Reports of shrimp attacking fish usually involve whisker shrimp sold by mistake.

Can ghost shrimp live with cherry shrimp?

The adults usually get along. Ghost shrimp do eat cherry shrimp babies, though, so the cherry colony will grow slowly or not at all. Keep them apart if you want to breed cherries.

How long do ghost shrimp live?

About one to two years. Many die in the first few days from shipping stress, so acclimate them slowly and add them only to a mature, cycled tank.

Sources

We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.