Freshwater Shrimp
Ghost Shrimp.
Clear, inexpensive little shrimp that scavenge leftovers and biofilm — a fun, low-cost cleanup crew (and live treat for bigger fish). Peaceful and beginner-easy; keep a group in a tank of five gallons or more with hiding spots.
We keep this species at our Erie store. Come and see it in the tanks, or call (814) 456-9445 and ask what we have in right now.
Sea Cave keeps this species. You will find these in the tanks at 660 East 14th Street in Erie. We never ship live animals.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
We never ship fish, coral, or invertebrates — every animal here is one you meet in person. Each one is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it goes out into the display tanks. This is a species we keep, and what is swimming on any given day changes with the deliveries, so please call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Care level
- Beginner
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Community
- Community safe
- Adult size
- 1.5"
- Min tank size
- 5 gallons
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Scientific name
- Palaemonetes spp.
Good tank mates
These small, transparent scavengers pair well with peaceful nano fish like small tetras, rasboras, pygmy corydoras, and snails. Because they are tiny and soft after molting, keep them away from anything large or predatory, including cichlids, large barbs, and angelfish, which will treat them as a snack. In a peaceful tank they are a cleanup helper rather than a target.
Good to know
Ghost shrimp are see-through, so you can often watch their gut and even a beating heart through the body, and a female carrying eggs displays a visible green or yellow clutch under her tail.
What is in the tanks and each animal's temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for advice on pairing.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Neon Tetra
Small, peaceful schooling fish whose mouths are physically too small to threaten adult ghost shrimp (1–1.5 in). Both species share overlapping water parameters (pH 6.0–7.5, 72–78°F) and peaceful community temperaments. Adult shrimp are safe; fry survival improves with dense planting.
Bronze Cory
Peaceful bottom-scavengers that consistently ignore shrimp across all Corydoras varieties. Multiple shrimp-keeping sources confirm they do not predate on adult ghost shrimp and pose no territorial threat. One of the most widely recommended shrimp-safe community fish.
- K
Kuhli Loach
Slender, non-aggressive substrate burrower that poses no meaningful predation risk to adult ghost shrimp. The Shrimp Farm and planted-tank aquarist forums confirm compatibility; interestingly, ghost shrimp have been noted to be more assertive toward kuhli loaches than vice versa. Dense planting protects shrimplets if breeding.
- A
Amano Shrimp
Larger (up to 2 in) and notably calmer than ghost shrimp. Research and hobbyist reports confirm Amano shrimp retreat rather than confront, making aggression toward ghost shrimp unlikely. Their larger size also means ghost shrimp pose no predation threat to them. Both species thrive in standard freshwater community parameters.
- N
Nerite Snail
Fully docile algae-grazing snail with zero predatory or territorial behavior toward shrimp. FishLore forum threads and shrimp-keeping sources confirm ghost shrimp and nerite snails coexist without conflict and complement each other as tank cleaners (shrimp handle detritus, nerites handle algae).
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.