How to Grow Ghost Shrimp for Fish Food

Ghost shrimp, which are also known as glass shrimp, are a very small shrimp that are often favored as food by larger fish and turtles. Raising your own ghost shrimp is a much less expensive way of providing this food to your pets who enjoy it. With proper water conditions, ghost shrimp will breed. Keep an extra tank set up for the babies to keep them safe.

Things You'll Need

  • Two aquariums
  • Substrate
  • Decorations
  • Aquarium heater
  • Flake food
  • Brine shrimp
  • Liquid food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up the largest tank available if you plan on keeping more than a few ghost shrimp. At least 20 gallons is recommended. Place a layer of substrate such as fine sand or gravel 1 1/2 inches deep in the bottom of the tank. Place plenty of decorations and plants in the tank to provide ample hiding places. Use only chlorine-free water to fill the tank.

    • 2

      Use an aquarium heater if necessary to maintain a water temperature between 62 and 82 degrees. Use an aquarium test kit to maintain a pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Allow the tank to cycle for several days before adding shrimp. If possible, add a few small fish first to build up bacteria.

    • 3

      Add as many shrimp as your tank can hold comfortably, since the key to breeding is a larger population. It is recommended you keep no more than one shrimp per gallon of water. Feed daily with flake food, and add live or frozen blood worms or brine shrimp for variety.

    • 4

      Observe the shrimp daily. The females will be larger than the males, and will have small green dots under their tails when they are carrying eggs. When eggs are seen, gently remove the female to a separate tank. Once the eggs are hatched and the babies stop clinging to the tail, the female should be returned to the main tank.

    • 5

      Feed baby ghost shrimp liquid fry food and newly hatched brine shrimp several times daily. Keep the tank temperature warm, closer to 82 than 62 and check the pH daily to make sure it's in range.