FishTankGhost shrimp care: tank size, temperature and tankmates
A cheap, clear shrimp that cleans up leftover food. Ghost shrimp are hardy and fun to watch.
Quick facts
| Type | Shrimp |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 1.5 inches |
| Smallest tank | 5 gallons |
| Temperature | 65–82°F |
| Keep | 3 or more |
| Watch for | Bigger fish eat them. They may grab baby shrimp. |
How to keep them
Keep 3 or more. Big fish eat them, and they may grab baby shrimp or tiny fry.
Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.
Tankmates
Good tankmates
Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Black skirt tetra · Serpae tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · White cloud mountain minnow · Cherry barb · Tiger barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Corydoras (bronze or peppered) · Pygmy corydoras · Kuhli loach · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail · Glowlight tetra · Black neon tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Lambchop rasbora · Gold barb · Rosy barb · Dwarf neon rainbowfish · Sparkling gourami · Hillstream loach · Siamese algae eater · Ramshorn snail · African dwarf frog
Possible, with care
- Betta (male): Some bettas hunt shrimp. Lots of plants help them hide.
- Cherry shrimp: Ghost shrimp may grab baby shrimp and tiny fish. Adults are usually fine with plenty of moss.
- Chili rasbora: Ghost shrimp may grab baby shrimp and tiny fish. Adults are usually fine with plenty of moss.
- German blue ram: Dwarf cichlids hunt small shrimp. Ghost shrimp often end up as food.
- Bolivian ram: Dwarf cichlids hunt small shrimp. Ghost shrimp often end up as food.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid: Dwarf cichlids hunt small shrimp. Ghost shrimp often end up as food.
- Kribensis: Dwarf cichlids hunt small shrimp. Ghost shrimp often end up as food.
Avoid
- Angelfish: Angelfish eat shrimp.
- Fancy goldfish: Goldfish eat anything that fits in their mouth. Fancy goldfish eat shrimp.
- Common goldfish: Goldfish eat anything that fits in their mouth. Common goldfish eat shrimp.
- Clown loach: Clown loaches eat shrimp. Clown loaches eat shrimp.
Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.
Tankmate questions: Can bettas live with ghost shrimp? · Can ghost shrimp live with cherry shrimp?
More fish: All fish profiles · Fish care sheets · Fish finder