1.5 Gallon Hex : Ghosties?

[adadkins1]

I have an empty 1.5 gallon hex that used to house my betta. Now it is just sitting in my room empty, so I was trying to get stocking ideas. I know that such a small tank is extremely limited, but I was just thinking maybe 4 ghost shrimp maximum. Is this too many for such a small tank? I was going to put in some maybe some anacharis plants. I do not have a light fixture for the tank so it would be low light. Also, would I need to cycle the tank before I add the shrimp since they are sensative?
Thanks.

 

[fort384]

I think 5-6 shrimp would be fine. I would go with RCS over ghost shrimp, especially since it will be species only, but that's just my personal preference.

 

[adadkins1]

Yes, I like the look of RCS, but ghosts are the only ones sold at the LFS. Would you suggest I cycle it, or do you think it would be okay to heavily plant it and stay up on the water changes?

 

[MABJ]

IMO, no matter how cruel it sounds, they're just shrimp. If you want to take a month cycling a 1.5 gallon, I salute you! Lol

 

[fort384]

A shrimp only tank is hardly going to cycle at all. No need to do a fishless cycle first ime.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

A shrimp only tank is hardly going to cycle at all. No need to do a fishless cycle first ime.

+1

I have ghosties and find them very entertaining. More so than my RCS or AES IMO.

 

[adadkins1]

I wondered if there would even be one since they are so small. I too find them very entertaining; constantly probing the gravel in hopes of small food particles, then sparring for a larger one.

Only problem is I have already lost 2 older ones of the 4 I got for my 10g. Hopefully I will have better luck this next go around.

 

[MABJ]

You can expect to lose about half you buy from the store. No biggie. They're a quarter each. Lol

 

[adadkins1]

Yep, they are pretty touchy. Do you think anacharis will be able to live with little light? I was going to put in maybe 3-5 stems of it in.

 

[adadkins1]

Did a little more research, and I am wondering what to get for lighting. I think a 13 watt CFL would burn the shrimp up so I may end up going with plastic plants...

 

[xxwolfpackof1xx]

how would that burn the shrimp?

 

[MABJ]

I agree, I'm confused. Shrimp enjoy warm tanks. What's the max temp of your tank?

 

[xxwolfpackof1xx]

ive kept ghosties alive in my tank with a 13w cfl and 18w cfl cfls produce less heat than incans if thats what your concerned about my tanks also around 82-84° they would have done well granted they didn't become snacks

 

[siva]

OK, I know no one really cares much about ghost shrimp, but of all the shrimp I keep, they seem to like to swim around the most, so they wouldn't be my favorite to keep in a tank that small. Also, they get twice as large as many ornmental shrimp. If you can't get your hands on anything but ghosts, OK, but RCS are no more than $1 ea, including shipping, on sites like ebay and aquabid.

 

[adadkins1]

Sorry, I guess I should have worded it differently. Wolf, that is exactly what I was worried about. I was going to run about a 13 watt if I could get/make a fixture for the tank. I was just worried the water may get too warm for them.

 

[xxwolfpackof1xx]

Sorry, I guess I should have worded it differently. Wolf, that is exactly what I was worried about. I was going to run about a 13 watt if I could get/make a fixture for the tank. I was just worried the water may get too warm for them.

is it clf or incan?

 

[adadkins1]

I will be using a CFL. I am just going to get one of those work lights from Lowes and use the same bulbs as I have on my other tanks.

 

[fort384]

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[adadkins1]

Fingers crossed they will actually live for a while. I had been planning on breeding them, but I never had any carrying eggs.

 

[adadkins1]

Okay, finally got around to getting the pictures onto my computer.

Too bad my hornwort did not cooperate and is now floating and losing needles.