The Ghost Shrimp, also known as the Glass Shrimp, is native to freshwater environments across the eastern United States, where it inhabits ponds, streams, and slow-moving waterways with abundant vegetation and organic debris. It is one of the most transparent aquatic animals commonly available in the hobby — its body is almost completely clear, providing a remarkable window into its internal anatomy, including the visible digestive tract that changes colour depending on recent meals.
Ghost Shrimp belong to the family Palaemonidae, making them more distantly related to Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp than their similar appearance might suggest. They are significantly larger and more robust than dwarf shrimp, with an active, curious temperament that sets them apart. They are energetic scavengers that spend their days picking over substrate, plant surfaces, and hardscape for food.
In the aquarium trade, Ghost Shrimp are most commonly sold as feeder animals for larger fish, but they deserve more respect as display animals in their own right. Their transparency is genuinely fascinating, and a small group in a well-planted tank makes for a unique and educational display. They are omnivores that eat a wide range of foods including algae, detritus, decaying plant matter, and protein-rich scraps. Despite their humble reputation as feeders, they are hardy, long-lived relative to many dwarf shrimp, and a group will effectively clean a planted aquarium.
