Ghost, Glass Shrimp
Paleomonetes sp.

The Ghost Shrimp, also known as Glass Shrimp, is completely transparent, hence the contents of its digestive tract is clearly visible. In the centre of its tail, there is a yellow/orange spot. It has a highly segmented body with ten pairs of legs, the front two pairs ending with small claws that aid in feeding.

As an excellent scavenger, it will feed on any leftover fish food or small pieces of plant and animal material that reaches the bottom. Growing up to about 2.5 cm at maturity and a relatively short lifespan of 1 to 1.5 years, Ghost Shrimp is a peaceful creature that requires a lot of hiding places if kept in a community tank. Although it is quiet popular with shrimp hobbyists, it is also stocked by some people as nourishment for other aquatic animals.

As long as the water is clean with low to neutral pH, Ghost Shrimp can tolerate a wide range of water temperature, even as low as 15ºC. It has been observed that at warmer temperature, this Shrimp becomes very active and sometimes turns aggressive enough to attack other small animals. If the shrimp is kept in large quantity together, it can breed effortlessly.

Pregnant female shrimp is easy to identify, carrying small dark developing eggs like balls under her swimmerets (legs) until they are ready to hatch. To keep the eggs well provided with oxygen, she mixes them about with her swimmerets when she moves around. Newborn shrimp looks much like insect larva and becomes a food source in a well stocked tank. It is usually too small to catch with a net; hence, it is necessary to move pregnant female to a separate tank for the hatching purpose.