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InvertebrateFreshwaterEasy

Ghost Shrimp

Palaemon paludosus

The Ghost Shrimp is a highly active, completely transparent freshwater scavenger. It is an affordable and excellent addition to peaceful community tanks.

Taxonomy

Class:Malacostraca

Order:Decapoda

Family:Palaemonidae

Subfamily:Palaemoninae

Genus:Palaemon

Species:Palaemon paludosus

Formerly known as:Palaemonetes paludosus

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Water Temperature

18 - 28 °C

pH Value

7 - 8

Water type

Freshwater

Invertebrate type

Marine shrimp

Adult size

5 cm

Minimum group

>= 5

8 - 15 dGH

4 - 10 dKH

TDS

150 - 300 ppm

Ecological role

Scavenger

Copper sensitivity

High

Species description

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Palaemonetes paludosus is native to the southeastern United States, primarily found in Florida, Georgia, and the Atlantic coastal plain. It inhabits slow-moving rivers, ponds, lakes, and marshes with dense aquatic vegetation and submerged woody debris.

Taxonomy: Belonging to the family Palaemonidae, this is a small freshwater shrimp with adults reaching 3.5-4.5 cm. It features a highly elongated body, a long, toothed rostrum, and slender, delicate pincers. Its body is highly transparent, acting as natural camouflage.

Social Behavior: Peaceful, active, and gregarious. They are not overly shy and will actively swim and crawl throughout the aquarium during the day. They should be kept in groups of at least 6-8 individuals to encourage natural foraging and cleaning behaviors.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The body is completely transparent (glass-like), showing internal organs and food. Some specimens may show tiny orange spots on the antennae and tail. Females are larger and wider, carrying bright green eggs under their abdomen.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Tank Setup: A tank of at least 20-30 liters is recommended. Provide live plants, driftwoods, and caves. Hiding places are essential during the molting process when the shrimp's new shell is soft and vulnerable to fish or conspecific nipping.

Diet and Feeding: Opportunistic omnivorous scavengers. They eat leftover fish food, organic detritus, decaying plant leaves, and biofilm. Supplement their diet with sinking shrimp pellets, algae wafers, and fish flakes. They are highly efficient tank cleaners.

Water Quality: Highly adaptable and hardy: temperature 18-28°C, pH 6.5-8.0, GH 6-20, and KH 3-10. Sensitive to spikes in ammonia and nitrites. Regular water changes are recommended. Avoid copper-based medications and chemical treatments.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Safe to house with small, peaceful community fish (e.g. tetras, guppies, rasboras). Do not house with predatory, territorial, or large fish (such as cichlids, angelfish, or large catfish) that will view the transparent shrimp as prey.

Aquarium Breeding: Breeding is possible but requires a separate rearing tank. Unlike Neocaridina, Ghost Shrimp hatch as free-swimming planktonic larvae (zoea). They require microscopic foods (infusoria, rotifers) to survive before metamorphosing into miniature shrimp.

Risks and Diseases: Predation by larger fish is the main hazard. Muscular necrosis (where the body turns an opaque milky-white color instead of transparent) is a common bacterial infection, usually triggered by poor water quality or stress, and is often fatal.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Palaemonetes paludosus is native to the southeastern United States, primarily found in Florida, Georgia, and the Atlantic coastal plain. It inhabits slow-moving rivers, ponds, lakes, and marshes with dense aquatic vegetation and submerged woody debris.

Origin

Tropical oceans and reefsNorth America

Invertebrate profile

Diet: Omnivore
Ecological role: Scavenger
Shock sensitivity: Low
Calcium and minerals: Medium
Molting: Regular
Reproduction: Oviparous
Compatibility & tankmates: With caution

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Daggerblade Grass Shrimp

Palaemon pugio

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Daggerblade Grass Shrimp

Ditch Shrimp

Feeble shrimp

Lanchester's Glass Shrimp

Lake Inle shrimp

Chocolate / Red rusty shrimp

Sargassum Shrimp

Emperor shrimp

Holthuis's Anemone Shrimp

Magnificent Anemone Shrimp

Sarasvati Anemone Shrimp

Starfish Shrimp

Urchin Shrimp

Bumblebee Shrimp

Harlequin shrimp

Peacock anemone shrimp

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