Where Do Ghost Shrimp Lay Eggs?

Ghost shrimp, also known as glass shrimp, are a popular freshwater shrimp for home aquariums. If you have ghost shrimp, you may wonder where they lay their eggs and what the eggs and babies look like.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Ghost shrimp carry their eggs attached underneath their tails until the eggs hatch into tiny larvae. The larvae are released into the water to mature on their own.

In this article, we’ll discuss in detail where and how ghost shrimp lay and hatch their eggs, what the larvae look like, and how to care for ghost shrimp eggs and babies in a home aquarium.

Ghost Shrimp Reproduction

Breeding and Life Cycle

Ghost shrimp have a fascinating reproductive cycle. When they reach sexual maturity at around 5-7 months old, the female shrimp releases pheromones into the water to attract males. The male will then use his smaller claws to grab onto the female during mating.

After successful fertilization, the female carries the eggs attached under her tail for 3-4 weeks before they hatch.

The larval stage, called zoea, goes through several molts over 2-3 weeks before developing into juveline shrimp that resemble tiny adults. At this stage they are independent and leave the mother. Ghost shrimp typically live 1-2 years in captivity.

Their short lifespans contribute to frequent breeding seasons, especially in ideal tank conditions.

Egg Attachement and Hatching Process

After mating, the female ghost shrimp attaches the fertilized bright green eggs under her tail using a special sticky substance. She may carry 100-1000 eggs at a time, depending on her size and age. The female constantly fans her tail to oxygenate the eggs until they hatch.

The eggs will darken over the 3-4 week incubation period before hundreds of tiny larvae emerge. At hatching, the larvae are translucent and barely visible to the naked eye, around 1-2mm in size. They will go through several larval stages, molting their exoskeletons as they grow.

Within 2-3 weeks, the surviving juveniles will reach 5-10mm in size and take on the ghostly transparent appearance of mature shrimp.

Raising the larvae to adulthood can be challenging due to their sensitivity to water parameters and vulnerability to predation. However, breeding and hatching ghost shrimp can be an amazing experience for aquarists!

Be sure to remove the female to a separate tank after the eggs hatch so the larvae are not eaten.

Identifying Ghost Shrimp Eggs

Appearance and Location on the Shrimp

Ghost shrimp eggs are carried on the underside of the female ghost shrimp in a brood pouch (1). They are very small, about 0.7-1mm in diameter, and a reddish-brown color (2). The eggs will be in different developmental stages in the brood pouch, from newly laid eggs to almost ready to hatch larvae (3).

The location of the eggs makes them easy to identify if you spot a berried (egg-bearing) female ghost shrimp. The brooding female will have a swollen green or brown mass under the tail section that contains potentially hundreds of fertilized eggs (4).

The female will fan and aerate the eggs regularly until they are ready to hatch.

Developmental Stages

Ghost shrimp eggs go through several developmental stages inside the female’s brood pouch:

• Early embryonic phase – Cells rapidly divide after fertilization. A reddish-brown color becomes visible within a day or two (5).
• Advanced embryonic phase – Eyes and body segments distinguishable. Heartbeat visible under magnification after 5-7 days (6).
• Pre-larval phase – Eyes fully pigmented. Larva occupies most of the egg’s space after 14 days (7).
• Hatching – Larva hatches after 3-4 weeks, exits brood pouch as a tiny post-larval shrimp (8).

The entire egg development until hatching takes around 21-28 days. The tiny post-larval shrimp continue developing through several molting stages until reaching adult size (9).

Caring for Ghost Shrimp Eggs and Larvae

Ensuring Successful Hatching

Ghost shrimp eggs are very delicate and require special care to ensure they hatch successfully. Here are some tips for giving ghost shrimp eggs the best chance of survival:

• Keep the eggs in a separate hatching tank, away from adult shrimp that may eat the eggs. A 5-10 gallon tank is sufficient.
• Use an air-powered sponge filter to gently circulate the water without creating too much current.
• Maintain excellent water quality with frequent partial water changes. Target a pH between 7.5-8.5 and ammonia and nitrite levels at 0 ppm.
• Install a heater and keep the water temperature around 75-80°F. Warmer temperatures speed up the incubation period.
• Provide plenty of hiding spots for the tiny larvae when they hatch, such as java moss, cholla wood, or plastic plants.
• Use an egg tumbler or breeding box to isolate the eggs if issues with fungus or predators arise.

With optimal conditions, ghost shrimp eggs hatch within 2-3 weeks. Frequent monitoring is key to remove any fungus-covered eggs promptly. Newly hatched larvae are tiny and extremely vulnerable – less than 1/8 inch long.

But following the best practices above gives them the greatest chance to survive to adulthood.

Raising the Larvae

Raising newly hatched ghost shrimp larvae presents an exciting opportunity to sustain a captive population. But it requires attentive care as the larvae go through several delicate developmental stages before becoming juveniles.

• Feed infusoria, newly hatched brine shrimp, and powdered fry food multiple times per day. Larvae graze constantly on microscopic organisms.
• Conduct frequent partial water changes to keep ammonia low. Larvae are very sensitive to water quality.
• Avoid strong lighting, which can inhibit growth. Use dim lights or floating plants to provide shade.
• Maintain optimal temperature around 75-80°F. Warmer temperatures support quicker development.
• Remove molted exoskeletons promptly to prevent fouling the water.
• Watch closely for signs of stress like lack of movement or reddened coloring.

Under good conditions, larvae metamorphose through around 6 larval stages over 2-3 weeks before becoming juvenile shrimp. Mortality rates during this fragile period can be high, but each shrimp that makes it to adulthood is a success story!

According to aquarium breeding experts, the key factors for raising ghost shrimp larvae are stable water parameters, highly nutritious diet, clean conditions, and attentive observation. While not the easiest endeavor, dedicated aquarists can be rewarded with a thriving ghost shrimp colony.

Tips for Breeding Ghost Shrimp

Creating the Right Tank Conditions

When preparing to breed ghost shrimp, one of the most important factors is creating the proper tank conditions. Ghost shrimp thrive in established tanks with the following parameters:

• Temperature between 72°F – 82°F
• pH between 7.0 – 8.0
• GH between 8-12
• KH between 3-8

Maintaining stable water parameters can encourage ghost shrimp to breed. Fluctuating conditions may stress the shrimp and inhibit reproduction. An appropriately-sized sponge filter provides suitable water flow without sucking up shrimp eggs and babies.

Ghost shrimp also appreciate heavily planted tanks with plenty of hiding spots. Floating plants help dim bright light, while moss, cholla wood, and coconut hides offer shelter for breeding and egg-bearing females. A thick substrate layer enables females to bury eggs safely.

Feeding Considerations

A nutritious and varied diet primes ghost shrimp for successful breeding:

• Protein-rich foods like shrimp pellets, bloodworms, daphnia
• Vegetables including blanched zucchini, spinach, cucumber
• Supplemental calcium from shells, cuttlebone

Well-fed adults have higher egg production. However, overfeeding pollutes the water, so moderation is key. Remove uneaten food promptly to maintain clean water.

Once you spot eggs, feed pregnant shrimp more frequently but lightly. Excess food particles may encourage fungal or bacterial egg infections. Adjust amounts based on consumption.

Optimizing tank conditions and diet boosts chances of prolific ghost shrimp breeding. For more breeding tips, see detailed guides on AquariumBreeder.com.

Conclusion

In summary, female ghost shrimp carry fertilized eggs attached under their tails until they hatch into tiny plankton-like larvae. The larvae are released into the tank water to develop on their own without parental care.

To support successful ghost shrimp breeding, breeders should focus on stabilizing water parameters, feeding nutritious foods, and providing plenty of hiding spots in the breeding tank.