Ghost Shrimp Feeding

[Atlantis]

When I was at my LFS two days ago I got 4 ghost shrimp. Do I need to feed them a certain food or will they just eat the waste on the bottom of the tank?

 

[Allivymar]

They'll eat leftover fish food; no need to feed them anything special. Just make sure your fish don't eat em when they molt!

 

[William]

I have a bunch of baby/half grown Ghosts in my tank.

They eat ANYTHING that ends up on the bottom of the tank.

Flake food, Pellet Food, ANYTHING.

Thats why I love them, Their great at keeping the bottom spick and span

 

[HOLLIEO]

Okay, so what if you have no other fish in the tank?
I just got 5 ghost shrimp to put in this tank I have. I had my white clouds in it, but it was mirrored in the back and they were drving themselves crazy. So, I was told that any fish I put in there will pretty much be the same way.
So, i have opted for a crab, some ghost shrimp and apple snails. So, what should I feed? Since there is no left over fish food.

 

[William]

My crabs like shrimp pellets.


However, since your tank appears to be mostly bottom feeders, any bottom feeding/sinking food should be just fine.

 

[Atlantis]

OK, I was pretty sure they would just eat the leftovers but wasn't sure if I had to feed them anything special.

 

[William]

Nope, they'll just act as cleanup crew for whatever your other fish leave behind pretty much no matter what you feed your fish.

As far as flakes and pellets and such go. I don't know about things like Tubifex or Blood worms, tho.

 

[TankGirl]

Mine will launch themselves off of plant leaves and catch dropping flakes and especially bloodworms. They act just like the fish, except they have to swim a lot harder to stay in with the fish to catch the food! This is after they completely eliminated my hair algae.

 

[HOLLIEO]

Okay, quick question on the molting mentioned.
How can I tell if the shrimp is dead or if it was his molting???
It sounds stupid, but I have never had these.... so i don't know what I am looking for.

 

[TankGirl]

If it is his molted exoskeleton then it will be vacuumed up our netted out. If it is a dead one it will be vacuumed up or netted out

Usually the molted skin is extremely flimsy and appears hollow. Generally the dead shrimp actually look pink, like a cooked shrimp you would eat, at least for the shrimp I have kept. In my case, they either die relatively soon after being introduced, or they soldier on for a remarkably long time.

 

[HOLLIEO]

Thanks for the description... I have figured out this ghost shrimp of mine has molted and not died... ha, ha

 

[TankGirl]

Good deal! I really enjoy watching them.