Ghost Shrimp

Palaemonetes paludosus

So clear you can watch its last meal move through its body. A cheap, tireless scavenger that tidies up leftovers.

A peaceful freshwater shrimp that grows to 4 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 18–28 °C, pH 6.5–8.0 and an aquarium of at least 20 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

18–28 °C (64–82 °F)

pH

6.5–8.0

Adult size

4 cm (1.6 in)

Aquarium

20 L or bigger (5 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Freshwater marshes of the southeastern USA

Good to know

• Algae eater. Keeps algae under control.
• Bottom crawler. Walks along the substrate.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Fancy Guppy.

Eaten by: Angelfish, Asian Arowana, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Black Ghost Knifefish, Clown Loach, Comet Goldfish, Electric Blue Acara, Firemouth Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey and 8 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Discus, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish and 23 more.

It gets along with every other species that doesn't eat it.

Colours and breeding

• Classic common

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.3 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.