Ghost Shrimp?

[Grymatta]

After reading some posts on here about Ghost Shrimp, I think I would like to get one for my tank so that leftover food on the bottom of the tank is taken care of.

However, a few of the petstores I've been to do not carry them. Are these Ghost Shrimp rare to find? Does anyone living in the NYC area know which petstores sell them?

I saw a Bamboo Shrimp being sold at a Petco but do not know if it has the same properties as a ghost shrimp. Plus, the Bamboo shrimps kinda scare me and are not as cute as the Ghosts.

 

[Davy]

I think ghost shrimp are pretty common. Many places sell them as feeders for large cichlids. I bought 10 shrimp at one time and the lady said "that's all the shrimp you want?" I guess they are used to people buying a bunch at one time.

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

I know NYC doesn't have Wal-Marts like the rest of the country does, but they always have them in both if the Wal-Marts I go to.

 

[Balloon Fish]

every store that sells fish i go to except petsmart and petco sells them really common

 

[Lotus]

Our local Petsmart usually has them. I wouldn't say they are rare, but they can be hard to find sometimes. If you're patient and keep checking the stores, you'll probably get some eventually. It often helps to ask the clerk or manager every time you go in if they have any.

 

[spiffergirl]

my local petsmart/petco doesnt have them. neither do the lfs. i always find them at walmart (even though i hate buying from them).

 

[Grymatta]

thanks for the suggestions guys. Yeah Ive been checking Petco and they dont stock em here either. There are no Walmarts in NYC yet. I'll check some of the smaller local petstores maybe.

How do i pick out a healthy ghost shrimp? what should i be looking for?

 

[spiffergirl]

i always try to pick out ones with a clear shell and body. some in the tanks are molting and are kinda opaque. i try to stay away from those because they seem kinda stressed from molting and i try to avoid stressing them more by moving them into a new tank.

i also try to pick out the ones that are active and swimming around. they just make me feel better

quick note: when i bought some from walmart, the lady there told me to hold them above the security checkpoints at the doors (you know the ones that beep when someone steals something) because the magnetic field generated by them is strong and tends to kill them. however, when i held them above the checkpoints, they still died. i dont think it helps at all, because if i just walk out with them, they somehow stay alive more than when i try to avoid the checkpoints. just thought i would share this with you and anyone else interested in this magnetic field phenomena.

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

I think a good strategy with chost shrimp is to buy them in large numbers and QT them if possible. Some will likely die, so by buying more than you need, you're more likely to end up with enough. Also, they cost like 23 cents a piece, so why not get more.

 

[Stevie]

Also, they cost like 23 cents a piece, so why not get more.

They cost 1 Euro each over here!!!!!!! But than again Ireland is rip off central!!! *thumbsdow

 

[Grymatta]

wow thats a new one..never heard of the magnetic fields killing stuff before...maybe I can sneak out the backdoor with em or something.

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

Or maybe they just tell you that because they know half of their fish are basically DOA anyway, effectively shifting the blame away from their very poor level of water quality and disease quarantining practices (or lack thereof), and onto the mysteriously scanners.

 

[dawhits]

HI
on ebay you can buy them for about 49 cents each or 12 for like 6 bucks
-Erik

 

[twoluvcats]

eh, if you are going to eBay...get something more worth it, like cherry shrimp

 

[Stevie]

They cost 1 Euro each over here!!!!!!! But than again Ireland is rip off central!!! *thumbsdow

EHHHHHHHHHHH............HELLO,where is the out cry,where is the boycoting Irish petshop in protest!!!!! Where is "Im sorry you live in a rip off country,Steve.Let me send you over some money,to make up for it"?????

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

There is only outcry here over euthanization

, not price fixation.

 

[dethjam316]

man i buy ghost shrimp 10/$1....................

 

[Balloon Fish]

quick note: when i bought some from walmart, the lady there told me to hold them above the security checkpoints at the doors (you know the ones that beep when someone steals something) because the magnetic field generated by them is strong and tends to kill them. however, when i held them above the checkpoints, they still died. i dont think it helps at all, because if i just walk out with them, they somehow stay alive more than when i try to avoid the checkpoints. just thought i would share this with you and anyone else interested in this magnetic field phenomena.

The lady at walmart told me the same thing and i was thinking to myself..."i buy fish from here longer then you've worked here and never had i held my fish up in the air like an idiot when i walk out that door so why start now?" and never has the thingy beeped.

Oh and btw i get ghosts 12 for a dollar *SUPERSMIL

 

[Grymatta]

hmmm..I wonder why I cant seem to find any here in NYC then.
I went to one aquarium today and saw something that looked like a ghost shrimp, only it was labeled Japonica shrimp..and cost about $5 each! Has anyone heard of ghost shrimp being called that?

I also went to another store and the guy told me that they look brown..not clear transparent.

The search continues...

 

[Grymatta]

hmm..after doing some research..i think the Japonica seethru shrimps I saw are also known as Amano shrimps. I think these are primarily algae eaters. Do they eat leftover food as well?