Palaemon paludosus
Cheap and disposable in big pet stores but a legitimate keeper species (formerly Palaemonetes paludosus, now Palaemon paludosus). Larger ghost shrimp can occasionally nip small fish or other shrimp.
Ghost / Glass Shrimp (Palaemon paludosus) reaches 1.5–2.5 cm and needs a minimum tank of 40 L with a colony of 6+. Native to Southeastern United States. Aim for 20–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.0, 5–15 dGH, and 200–400 ppm TDS. Lifespan: 1–2 years. Breeding: easy in fresh water (some sources say brackish for larvae). Diet: omnivore / scavenger, Pretty much anything, pellets, flake, blanched veg, frozen foods. Plant-safe: Yes. Tank-mates: Most community fish, semi-aggressive, may pester slower fish.
Care at a glance
Cheap and disposable in big pet stores but a legitimate keeper species (formerly Palaemonetes paludosus, now Palaemon paludosus). Larger ghost shrimp can occasionally nip small fish or other shrimp.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 2 min read
Part of our complete freshwater shrimp guide.
The parameters that decide whether ghost / glass shrimp fits in your tank.
6+
Omnivore / scavenger
Pretty much anything, pellets, flake, blanched veg, frozen foods.
Easy in fresh water (some sources say brackish for larvae)
1–2 yrs
Vegetated rivers and lakes of the southern USA
Southeastern United States
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Most community fish (they're 3–5 cm). Other ghost shrimp.
Large cichlids, predatory fish. Avoid mixing with small Neocaridina — ghost shrimp are slightly territorial and bigger.
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Hand-pick from the store tank — choose lively, full-bodied individuals. Avoid any that look milky or have a 'cottony' growth. They're underrated display shrimp once acclimated and fed properly. Will eat small fish in extreme cases (uneaten food preferred).
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Robust. Usually arrive in mass-bred feeder bags in chain stores — many are stressed, weak, and die in week 1. Quality cherry-picked specimens are very hardy.
1) Buying 'feeder' ghost shrimp expecting them to live — most are wholesale-stressed and weak. 2) Assuming they're shrimp-tank-only — they handle community tanks fine. 3) Underestimating their size potential — adult females reach 5 cm.
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
40 L+. Tolerates wider parameters than dwarf shrimp. Otherwise standard shrimp setup.
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Where it lived before it came home.
Freshwater swamps, rivers, and lakes across the southeastern and eastern United States. Often in brackish estuaries too.
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
Females larger, fuller-bodied, may show green or yellow saddle/eggs. Males slimmer.
Every 4–6 weeks.
Mixed literature: some sources report direct freshwater development; others report larval phase requiring brackish. P. paludosus appears to be one of the few palaemonid species that completes its lifecycle entirely in fresh water.
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
No grading — transparent body with some opaque internal organs visible. Females may carry green eggs visibly. Pregnant females are extremely photogenic.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Minimum tank: 40 L with a colony of 6+. Ghost / Glass Shrimp (Palaemon paludosus) reach 1.5–2.5 cm as adults.
Target 20–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.0, 5–15 dGH, and 200–400 ppm TDS. Mature, cycled, low-nitrate water is non-negotiable.
Tank-mate notes: Most community fish, semi-aggressive, may pester slower fish. Plant safety: Yes.
Breeding: Easy in fresh water (some sources say brackish for larvae). In a stable colony of 6+ adults you will see berried females naturally once parameters and food are right.
Diet: omnivore / scavenger, Pretty much anything, pellets, flake, blanched veg, frozen foods. Algae-eating rating: 2/5.
Typical lifespan: 1–2 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this shrimp with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
