Ghost shrimp
Palaemon paludosus
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center · CC BY 2.0
- Tank length
- 30 cm12 in
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 15–27 °C59–81 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 3 cm1 in
- Lifespan
- 1–5 yrs
Trade names can hide different species; confirm identification before mixing.Trade names can hide different species; confirm identification before mixing.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African clawed frog
African clawed frog may eat Ghost shrimpAfrican clawed frog may eat Ghost shrimp
- Abei puffer
Abei puffer may eat Ghost shrimpAbei puffer may eat Ghost shrimp
- African butterflyfish
African butterflyfish may eat Ghost shrimpAfrican butterflyfish may eat Ghost shrimp
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Ghost shrimpAfrican knifefish may eat Ghost shrimp
- African pike
African pike may eat Ghost shrimpAfrican pike may eat Ghost shrimp
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Ghost shrimpAlligator gar may eat Ghost shrimp
- Amazon toadfish
Amazon toadfish may eat Ghost shrimpAmazon toadfish may eat Ghost shrimp
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Ghost shrimpAntenna ray may eat Ghost shrimp
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Ghost shrimpArapaima may eat Ghost shrimp
- Arrowhead puffer
Arrowhead puffer may eat Ghost shrimpArrowhead puffer may eat Ghost shrimp
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Ghost shrimpAsian arowana may eat Ghost shrimp
- Asian upside-down catfish
Asian upside down catfish may eat Ghost shrimpAsian upside down catfish may eat Ghost shrimp
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 15–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Freshwater; exact natural range needs expert review | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 1–5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Months to adult size | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |