Today I found what I think was a small, freshwater Ghost Shrimp at work. Kept it in a bucket all day and too it home.
I treated some water with Prime and when I put it in a small tank with a couple of guppies it died after about ten minutes. Guppies are as strong as ever.
The lady at the LFS said they cannot be put into water with any kind of chemicals whatsoever. She said to de-chlor the water by letting it sit for 24 hours. I know that works at my house as I do not have Chloramines.
She also said they will live a long time, just don't add anything to the water.
Does anyone here have any experience with these critters?
Keeping Ghost Shrimp
Started by
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, Jan 22 2009 12:43 AM
19 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_gzeiger_*
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Posted 22 January 2009 - 05:13 AM
I'm pretty sure I have a different species here in South Carolina than you do, but mine (Palaemonetes paludosus) are fairly easy to keep. Prime certainly doesn't hurt them up to at least double the recommended dose. I am told they are sensitive to many medications, especially ones containing copper, so don't treat their tank with malachite green or similar.
I have had trouble acclimating them from brackish water, however. I found a large population once in a brackish tidal river and took home about 200. Even with drip acclimation I had about 50% mortality in the first 12 hours, and 90% over the next two days or so. The remainder became fish food as intended, so I'm not sure if they would have survived or not. The water didn't have a ton of salt in it either, and I've successfully acclimated snails and fish (some of the fish anyway) from the same spot to full fresh water. The same shrimp species collected in a soft blackwater swamp environment I can dump in my tank without acclimating and they live for months. So far my colony has been going with no special maintenance for about 4 months, sharing a tank with some crawdads, mosquito fish, and Elassoma zonatum.
Young Macrobrachium species may resemble Palaemonetes and may have different care requirements, so take that for what it's worth.
I have had trouble acclimating them from brackish water, however. I found a large population once in a brackish tidal river and took home about 200. Even with drip acclimation I had about 50% mortality in the first 12 hours, and 90% over the next two days or so. The remainder became fish food as intended, so I'm not sure if they would have survived or not. The water didn't have a ton of salt in it either, and I've successfully acclimated snails and fish (some of the fish anyway) from the same spot to full fresh water. The same shrimp species collected in a soft blackwater swamp environment I can dump in my tank without acclimating and they live for months. So far my colony has been going with no special maintenance for about 4 months, sharing a tank with some crawdads, mosquito fish, and Elassoma zonatum.
Young Macrobrachium species may resemble Palaemonetes and may have different care requirements, so take that for what it's worth.
#3
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 22 January 2009 - 12:04 PM
Let's see pictures!
Are you in the LA area? Your shrimp could be the presumed extinct Syncaris pasadenae. This might be an important find! I think there are also some Macrobrachium species there.
Are you in the LA area? Your shrimp could be the presumed extinct Syncaris pasadenae. This might be an important find! I think there are also some Macrobrachium species there.
Edited by Newt, 22 January 2009 - 12:05 PM.
#4
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Posted 22 January 2009 - 06:04 PM
Apart from the endangered Syncaris pacifica (and extinct S. pasadenae), only Palaemonetes paludosus (run-of-the-mill feeder ghost shrimp, native to Atlantic drainages of North America) and Exopalaemon modestus (a Siberian/East-Asian prawn) are known to occur in California. Macrobrachium have been recorded from Baja and Sonora, but they have not been collected, to anyone's knowledge, in California proper.
I suppose you don't still have the body (in which case I'd suggest freezing it or placing it in 70-100% ethanol), but can you describe it further? How large was it? Was it completely transparent, or did it have any markings? Did it have claw-bearing arms or just brushes?
I suppose you don't still have the body (in which case I'd suggest freezing it or placing it in 70-100% ethanol), but can you describe it further? How large was it? Was it completely transparent, or did it have any markings? Did it have claw-bearing arms or just brushes?
Edited by Ouassous, 22 January 2009 - 06:05 PM.
#5
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Posted 22 January 2009 - 08:50 PM
No, I didn't save the body. I have seen them at the inlet screens before so I don't think it is rare or endangered.
I googled some images and it looked sort of like this.
No claws, just looked like "brushes".
This water entering the plant is not brackish. I can find out but it is either Eastern Sierra snow melt, Sacramento Delta water or a combination of the two.
I was surprised because I saw the critter laying on a pile of algae (out of the water, of course) and when I picked it up it moved. I didn't think it was so fragile as it survived quite well in a 5 gallon bucket of untreated aquaduct water for around 6 hours. If I'm lucky enough to find one I'll be more careful next time.
BTW, the lady that gave me the advice originally is quite knowledgeable but she specializes in marine fish. That's why I posted this question here. Thanks for the replies.
I googled some images and it looked sort of like this.
No claws, just looked like "brushes".
This water entering the plant is not brackish. I can find out but it is either Eastern Sierra snow melt, Sacramento Delta water or a combination of the two.
I was surprised because I saw the critter laying on a pile of algae (out of the water, of course) and when I picked it up it moved. I didn't think it was so fragile as it survived quite well in a 5 gallon bucket of untreated aquaduct water for around 6 hours. If I'm lucky enough to find one I'll be more careful next time.
BTW, the lady that gave me the advice originally is quite knowledgeable but she specializes in marine fish. That's why I posted this question here. Thanks for the replies.
#6
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Posted 22 January 2009 - 09:11 PM
Well, I see claws in the critter in your link, so I should clarify. Below is Syncaris pacifica -- notice the lack of any elongated arms terminating in pincers.
How does that compare to what you saw?
How does that compare to what you saw?
#7
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Posted 22 January 2009 - 09:18 PM
The one I had was pretty much clear with just a dark spot inside the body, behind the head.
I didn't see claws because the feet just kind of "swept" when it swam. Its antennae were quite long, over two inches I think.
I didn't see claws because the feet just kind of "swept" when it swam. Its antennae were quite long, over two inches I think.
#8
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Posted 24 January 2009 - 02:16 PM
The dark spot would be part of the digestive tract (cardiac stomach and hepatopancreas) -- it will vary in size and coloration depending on what the shrimp's been feeding on.
I'm suspecting that it's an introduced ghost shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), which would be of research interest anyways. According to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species page, P. paludosus is known from California only in the lower Colorado River.
If you could collect some and photograph them while they're alive when you have the chance, I would appreciate it.
In terms of keeping them in aquaria, I will note that shrimp are sensitive to heavy metals (especially copper) and that it's probably a good idea to let the water sit for some time after chemical dechlorination, as was suggested.
I'm suspecting that it's an introduced ghost shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), which would be of research interest anyways. According to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species page, P. paludosus is known from California only in the lower Colorado River.
If you could collect some and photograph them while they're alive when you have the chance, I would appreciate it.
In terms of keeping them in aquaria, I will note that shrimp are sensitive to heavy metals (especially copper) and that it's probably a good idea to let the water sit for some time after chemical dechlorination, as was suggested.
Edited by Ouassous, 24 January 2009 - 02:16 PM.
#9
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Posted 25 January 2009 - 12:50 AM
If I get a chance I'll certainly try to collect more and photograph them too.
I will be sure and introduce them to water that is untreated but also contains no chlorine, of course.
I will be sure and introduce them to water that is untreated but also contains no chlorine, of course.
#10
Guest_brian1973_*
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Posted 25 January 2009 - 11:30 AM
I have ghost shrimp in 2 of my native tanks (unknown species), both tanks are treated with Prime at each water change and also dosed with excel and flourish every couple days, and I never have any issues. From what I have read they are sensitive to ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
#11
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Posted 25 January 2009 - 01:21 PM
That's interesting because when I set up the small tank (thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, properly dosed with PRIME) and added the Shrimp it didn't live for more than ten minutes or so.
The other tiny fish, Rosies I think they're called not guppies, are still thriving.
Can't figure this one out.
The other tiny fish, Rosies I think they're called not guppies, are still thriving.
Can't figure this one out.
#12
Guest_Ouassous_*
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Posted 25 January 2009 - 01:49 PM
Some discussion about Prime and freshwater shrimp here. General consensus is that it's fine, and some large-scale breeders use it without ill effect.
Some more questions: What filtration did the tank have, and how large was it? How much time had passed between setup/water treatment and addition of shrimp? Did the shrimp exhibit any strange behavior prior to its death (sluggishness, frenetic swimming)?
Some more questions: What filtration did the tank have, and how large was it? How much time had passed between setup/water treatment and addition of shrimp? Did the shrimp exhibit any strange behavior prior to its death (sluggishness, frenetic swimming)?
#13
Guest_Sombunya_*
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Posted 26 January 2009 - 12:11 AM
Tank is a 2.5 gallon unit, very clean and rinsed well. It was seeded with a small amount of used gravel and two fake plants from another tank and a whisper 10-20 filter, also used and well seeded from the same, presumably healthy tank. (I replaced the filter on the tank it came from)
So, the gravel and filter were loaded with "good stuff" and the tank exhibited no spike at all in Nitrites or Ammonia. I checked.
I didn't see any freakish behavior. The Shrimp just kind of slowed down and finally stopped moving. It started to atrophy quickly as the body changed from clear to opaque over a 10-20 minute span.
So, the gravel and filter were loaded with "good stuff" and the tank exhibited no spike at all in Nitrites or Ammonia. I checked.
I didn't see any freakish behavior. The Shrimp just kind of slowed down and finally stopped moving. It started to atrophy quickly as the body changed from clear to opaque over a 10-20 minute span.
#14
Guest_brian1973_*
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Posted 26 January 2009 - 08:00 PM
are you sure it was dead and not beginning to molt?
#15
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Posted 26 January 2009 - 08:11 PM
I kind of doubt it because I've seen my Crays molt and they move quickly even when they're soft. This critter didn't move for around 20 minutes.
Next time I'll be more careful about moving it to a tank.
Next time I'll be more careful about moving it to a tank.
#16
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Posted 26 January 2009 - 09:28 PM
I dont know about crays, but I do know fiddler crabs become immobile while molting, the old skin changes color (darkens IME) and they look dead until this is completed. I do have a ghost shrimp that is slowing down and darkening, I assume he is getting ready to molt.
#17
Guest_Sombunya_*
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Posted 27 January 2009 - 08:02 PM
Actually the Crays I saw had already molted. They were quite soft but very mobile as well.
I have some more that may be getting ready to as their exoskeleton is starting to change color a bit. I will keep an eye on them as they are in the Bluegill tanks (as were the ones that molted).
I have some more that may be getting ready to as their exoskeleton is starting to change color a bit. I will keep an eye on them as they are in the Bluegill tanks (as were the ones that molted).
#18
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Posted 31 January 2009 - 01:43 AM
The plot thickens: some shrimp-keepers confidently assert that Prime (perhaps reacting with other water conditioners or some compounds in local tap water) was responsible for sudden shrimp losses. Again, I can't give a personal verdict, not having used Prime myself.
#19
Guest_Sombunya_*
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Posted 02 February 2009 - 10:05 PM
Well, as I mentioned earlier the lady that runs a Marine Fish store nearby says that is what did the Shrimp in. She says I need to use untreated water (letting the Cl2 volatilize away, of course).The plot thickens: some shrimp-keepers confidently assert that Prime (perhaps reacting with other water conditioners or some compounds in local tap water) was responsible for sudden shrimp losses. Again, I can't give a personal verdict, not having used Prime myself.
#20
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 03 February 2009 - 11:36 AM
Is it Prime specifically or dechlorinators in general which are implicated? I know Amquel and Amquel+ have formulas a bit different from Prime's.
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