Shrimp compatibilty, tank size, temperature

[Shrimp01]

What small shrimps are compatible with the ghost shrimp? Which on them are good looking?

What size of tank is necessary for housing 20 ghost shrimp and may be later 10 of the other kind of shrimp, for variety? Can the tank be XH - extra high, 24" deep (60 cm), or it should be long and shallow?

Preferable temperature for this tank? Suitable for a ghost shrimp, java moss, java fern, and maybe other shrimps you advised.

How much food per day for each ghost shrimp? It's shrimp only tank, no leftovers after fish feeding. I'm overfeeding now, giving them the large Formula Two pellets (and the other food too, rotating menu), 1 pellet for a shrimp. Seems, that they are not eating all pellet in one day, and it has to be removed next day. Anything for making maintenance more simple?

20 ghost shrimps are now housed in 18g translucent rubbermaid container with plants, for a couple of months (this tank is running for 1.5 yrs total). They were bought as a feeders, but these are left unused (sorry, gentle folks), and I'm trying to set good looking planted tank for them.

I have empty tanks, any of them can be used:
- 20g XH (looks like 2 10g tanks, placed on the top of each other)
- 5g hex
- 12g Nano-cube

Thanks.

[jen0910]

I have had ghost shrimp in the past and I liked them a lot, but, lately I havent been able to keep them for more than a few weeks. I think that since they are sold as feeders they don't get the best care and are not healthy for the most part. But, you said you have had yours for a few months so maybe you go some healthy ones.

I have had mine breed in a 5g hex but I think the 12g would probably be better. I know a lot of people say don't waste your time with ghost shrimp because they are just feeders but they are neat little guys.

Amano shrimp could go in with them, they eat algae and they can get to be pretty big. However, they are mostly transparent like the ghost shrimp, they do have a different body shape and spots/stripes, but they wouldn't add any more color to your tank. They also do not breed in fresh water.
Cherry shrimp, CRS, Bee shrimp... would add color but I have heard that Ghosts will eat the offspring of those shrimp.

You could always go with a colorful mystery snail...
I kept my shrimp in a tank that was probably between 72-78*
I don't know what to tell you about feeding though because I had mine in with fish.
Good luck with the Ghosts though, they are fun to watch.

[lauraleellbp]

x2 I would keep the ghosts in the 12gal or the 20high with some shrimp-friendly fish.

I too wouldn't mix them with shrimp other than Amanos b/c I would probably want my other shrimp to breed, and I'd be afraid the ghost shrimp would eat the other shrimplets.

[Shrimp01]

Thank you! Most helpful for me.
I had hopes for a red spotted shrimp, but may be better not to risk.
Anyone can help with amount of food per shrimp in shrimp only tank?

[lauraleellbp]

Per shrimp?

No idea?

I just try not to feed so much that my snail population explodes; that's what I usually use as my guide.

The shrimp spend all day grazing on the algae and other surfaces of the tank- they especially love driftwood, so I'd recommend some- so I really don't think there's too much risk of underfeeding them?