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Ghost shrimp are some of the most popular crustaceans you will find people keeping in their home aquariums. It is popular with aquarists that are beginners and experienced alike. They are relatively small and reproduce without producing too much bio-waste. Ghost shrimp also have a ridiculously low ecological footprint and negligible biomass. They are effortless to care for and are a popular addition to community fish tanks. If you plan on getting some, keep in mind that they do not live long because they have a short lifespan (around one year) and tend to get used as feeder fish in larger tanks.
The thumb rule to keep in mind for feeder fish is simple – 5 ghost shrimp per gallon of water. However, this is when you have a tank dedicated only to shrimp. You could also add up to 100 shrimp in a 10-gallon tank, but it is recommended that you should not push this number past 50. Now, this number is subject to change when you bring other fish into the picture. Not just other fish, but tank decor like plants, rocks, caves, etc., also influence this number. Let’s go ahead and answer this question in a bit more detail in the following sections.
Also Read: Ghost Shrimp: Complete Guide to Care
How many Ghost Shrimp can you add to different types of 10 gallon tanks?
A Community Aquarium
This question has different answers depending on what specific fish the shrimp will have for company in the tank. A 5-gallon tank is a bare minimum required to host ghost shrimp. Add in fish, and it is a good idea to make that a minimum of 10 gallons. In a community tank, it would be a good idea to keep the ratio at about 2 to 3 ghost shrimp per gallon of water in your tank. Keep in mind that you do not want to overcrowd your tank. If this happens, it will stress out both the ghost shrimp and the other fish in the community. Also, it may lead to the shrimp being eaten far more often than is healthy for the other fish in the tank.
A Breeding Tank
A breeding tank is yet another scenario where ghost shrimp are kept. Quite simply, breeding tanks have a more square profile. This is so that the breeder has easy access to the fish. Since breeding tanks allow population density to decrease due to their profile, we think keeping three or four ghost shrimp per gallon of water is not a bad ratio. Reduce this number to 2 or maybe three ghost shrimp per gallon if there are other fish in the tank.
How Many Ghost Shrimp in a 10 Gallon Tank – Planted vs. Non-Planted Shrimp Tank
Most live aquariums do have a lot of plants in them. Plants like java moss, hornwort, Cabomba, etc., are prevalent and suitable for ghost shrimp. Ghost shrimp tend to use bits and pieces of the plants that they nibble off as a food source. Just make sure that the plants in the tank are hardy enough to withstand this. Naturally, you can house more shrimp in a tank without plants. Depending on how many plants populate the tank, you can add ghost shrimp to it. If the tank is heavily populated, add about two shrimp per gallon of water. This number can go up to 3 or maybe even four shrimp per gallon if fewer plants are in the tank.
Also Read: Ghost Shrimp And Cherry Shrimp – Differences And Care Guide
Wrapping Up
Ghost shrimp are a fabulous addition to any tank. They have very minimal requirements when it comes to taking care of them. They also are an excellent live food source for other fish. If you have a large aquarium with high-maintenance fish, adding ghost shrimp to this tank is good. We hope this article helped you with the information you need. Happy fish keeping!
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