Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

I am new to keeping shrimp, and aquariums for that matter.

I got 6 Ghost shrimp the other day, and was wondering what are some common mistakes I could avoid.

I acclimated them to the tank by first floating in the bag for 30 minutes, then pouring a bit of tak water into the bag every 5 minutes for about 30 - 45 minutes.

I know that there are at least 5 still alive today, I have seen tehm eat sinking pellets, and the brown algea I have in my tank. (It is a new tank still.)

Tanks mates are currently 3 guppies, 11 zebra danio, 1 longfin leapord danio, 2 small fantail goldfish, 3or 4 female bettas, 2 Ottos, and 2 silver mollys.

I intend to add, eventually, 4 Golden Dojo Loaches, 4 Cory cats, 3 more guppies, 3 black mollys., and 1 silver molly, I will also remove the gold fish before long.

The tank is lightly planted. Some java moss spread around, 1 Java fer, 2 Wal mart bulbs (starts with an A), 2 homemade coconut huts, and a bunch of plastic and silk plants.

Ammo, Nitrite, Nitrate 0 0 40
Temp 78
Ph somewhat on the Alkaline side.
I only use AP Super strength tap water conditioner.

I think I will probably expand to otehr shrimp types, once I see how these guys do. I have read that ghosties are quite touchy, however.

Thanks

Branden

I forgot to add I also have some Hornwort in that tank as well.

Branden

Hi,

All those fish will eat shrimp with the exception of the ottos and danios.

With a new tank don't add a lot of fish at once. It helps with the cycle of the tank if you add them gradually... say 2 a week.

What size tank do you have? It seems like a lot of fish.

With plants, you need floreset tubes (regular plant tubes are fine for an aquarium... compacts are even better.)

2 to 3 watts per gl for most plants but with java fern and java moss 1 watt is ok.

The way your adding them seems ok to me.

Oh and goldfish and tropical fish should not be keeped together as there heat requirements and other things are different.
Good thing your taking them out.

TKD

PS There is an edit button so you don't need to double post.

sprucansailor wrote:I got 6 Ghost shrimp the other day, and was wondering what are some common mistakes I could avoid.

Ghosts like to be in large groups. 10 - 12 is probably the smallest amount you should keep.

sprucansailor wrote: Tanks mates are currently 3 guppies, 11 zebra danio, 1 longfin leapord danio, 2 small fantail goldfish, 3or 4 female bettas, 2 Ottos, and 2 silver mollys.

I intend to add, eventually, 4 Golden Dojo Loaches, 4 Cory cats, 3 more guppies, 3 black mollys., and 1 silver molly, I will also remove the gold fish before long.

How big is the tank? I have a feelling that it is already over populated.

Most of those fish will eat your shrimp. The rest, except for the ottos, are likely to harass them. It will be impossible to breed your shrimp with these neighbors.

Ammo, Nitrite, Nitrate 0 0 40

40 ppm nitrate is deadly to shrimp. Nitrate should be kept under 10ppm with shrimp.

I think I will probably expand to otehr shrimp types, once I see how these guys do. I have read that ghosties are quite touchy, however.

Stick with one type of shrimp for now. I would also suggest reducing the number of species of fish as well. Healthy ghosts are hardy. They have a reputation for being difficult to keep because they are tortured before being sold.

The tank is not overpopulated, it is a 75 US gallon

It has been in operateion for 2 or 3 months, I have never seen Ammonia or Nitrites because I added fish a few every couple of weeks.

Everybody I have talked to has reccomended against QT for ghost shrimp, what are your takes on that since you are shrimp nuts?

I will take care of the Nitrates.

Thanks!

Branden

I am surprised by some of these statements. ottos and cory cats attacking shrimps?!?! I guess nobody is a fan of amano then??

I've had half a dozen shrimp with my betta, with 2 ottos and 4 mini cories and not 1 single shrimp has gone missing in the year or so they have been together.... even my dwarf puffers, discus and clown loaches dont eat shrimps

I am sure betta and others might eat babies, theyd prolly appear just like brine shrimp or other tiny foods for them. But eating decent size shrimp? lol

AM I just lucky then? lol

Glad to see that Brad and I think the same way lol.

TKD

kingkano wrote:I am surprised by some of these statements. ottos and cory cats attacking shrimps?!?!

Ottos are fine. Corys probably are too. All the rest will definitely eat young shrimp.

sprucansailor wrote: Everybody I have talked to has reccomended against QT for ghost shrimp, what are your takes on that since you are shrimp nuts?

QT?

I love ghosts. P. paludosus is the main shrimp I keep. I understand they popular but hard to get in Europe. They have a bad rep in the US because most people think of them as food for fish. As such, they are not well treated before being sold to a costumer. Think about it this way: If your only exposure to guppies was the feeder guppies sold for $0.10, would you recommend them to someone as a pet.

QT means Quarintine Tank. I QT all of my fish for a couple of weeks, but I am not sure about shrimp.

Branden

[heresy]
I don't use a quarentine tank for any animals. I trust my LFS and know that he does a good job of quarentining animals before offering them for sale.
[/heresy]

YMMV

My LFS are chain stores, so their quality is questionable.

I bought my ghosties some friends today, I found them for less than half the price at another store.

You guys said that most of the fish I plan on having would pick at the shrimp, does this apply to all shrimp or just the small ones?

I also put two ghosties in my fry tank, to help keep it clean. My fry tank is 5 gallons, I think 2 should do it right?

Thanks

Branden

Some bettas will eat full grown ghosts--I've seen it. They don't swallow it whole but will slowly tear it apart. Also, all healthy shrimp will need to moult and for awhile after their shells will be soft and the shrimp will be extremely vulnerable to attack (thus, it'll either need heavy underbrush and plants to hide successfully from predators or needs to be kept in a species-only tank).

If you get big shrimp with claws, they'll attack your fish. And many of the algae-eating clawless shrimp are smaller than ghosts.