How to Raise Grass Shrimp: The Complete Guide for Beginners

Raising grass shrimp can be an incredibly rewarding experience for aquarists of all skill levels. These small, translucent critters add visual interest and help clean up algae in freshwater tanks. While they aren’t as brightly colored as cherry shrimp or Amano shrimp, grass shrimp have their own understated beauty. And they are hardy, inexpensive, and easy to care for, making them a great choice for beginner shrimp keepers.

In this complete guide for beginners, I’ll cover everything you need to know about successfully keeping and breeding grass shrimp. I’ll discuss grass shrimp basics like lifespan, size, ideal water parameters, what to feed them, and proper tank mates. I’ll also provide tips on acquiring grass shrimp, setting up the tank, achieving successful breeding, and raising the babies.

Grass Shrimp Species Overview

There are a few different species that are commonly referred to as grass shrimp. The two most popular in the aquarium trade are the common grass shrimp and the bamboo shrimp. Here’s a quick overview of each:

Common Grass Shrimp

The common grass shrimp (Palaemonetes spp.) is likely the variety you’ll encounter most often. They are native to freshwater streams, rivers, ponds and lakes across North America. These diminutive creatures reach about 1.5 inches in length. They have translucent bodies and 10 small legs. During the day they are somewhat greenish in color with some brownish stripes. At night their colors intensify and reddish bands become visible.

Common grass shrimp are inexpensive, peaceful and make great clean-up crews for eating algae. They particularly enjoy hair algae and are useful for controlling it.

Bamboo Shrimp

Bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis) are another popular grass shrimp species in the aquarium trade. Native to Southeast Asia, these filter feeders grow slightly larger than common grass shrimp, reaching about 2 inches. They are called “bamboo shrimp” because their fans (modified appendages) resemble bamboo leaves. The fans are used to filter tiny food particles from the water column.

Bamboo shrimp need strong current and pristine water conditions. They are a bit more sensitive than common grass shrimp but their unusual shape and filtering behavior make them interesting additions to established tanks.

Grass Shrimp Care Guide

Caring for grass shrimp is relatively straightforward, but there are some key things you’ll need to get right for them to thrive. Here are the most important factors for successfully keeping grass shrimp:

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 65-85°F. Aim for around 75°F. Warmer temperatures speed up their metabolism. Colder water makes them prone to disease.

• pH 65-80, Grass shrimp prefer a neutral pH around 7,0,

• Hardness: Moderately hard water provides essential minerals. Aim for 5-15 dGH.

• Ammonia and nitrites: Must be 0 ppm. Highly toxic to shrimp.

• Nitrates Ideally 10 ppm or lower Higher levels can stress shrimp.

Perform regular partial water changes to replenish minerals and keep nitrates down. Make sure to use dechlorinator so chlorine doesn’t harm the shrimp.

Tank Size

A 5 gallon tank is sufficient for a small grass shrimp colony of 5-10 individuals. Provide around 2 gallons of water per additional shrimp. Make sure the tank is fully cycled before adding shrimp to avoid ammonia/nitrite spikes.

Filtration

A gentle filter like a sponge filter is ideal, as grass shrimp don’t like strong currents. Make sure the intake is covered with a prefilter sponge to prevent baby shrimp from being sucked in. An air-powered sponge filter provides beneficial surface agitation.

Diet

In nature, grass shrimp are omnivores and opportunistic eaters. In the home aquarium they will accept a wide variety of foods:

• Algae wafers
• Sinking pellets/flakes
• Bits of blanched veggies (cucumber, zucchini, spinach)
• Frozen or live brine shrimp
• Crushed up shrimp pellets

Feed just a small amount once or twice per day. Grass shrimp will also graze on algae and biofilms naturally present in the tank.

Decorations

Grass shrimp appreciate planted tanks with plenty of hiding spots. Provide live plants like java moss, hornwort, anacharis, etc. Shrimp also like measuring about 2 inches so the babies have shelter. Cholla wood, driftwood, and rock caves also make good hiding places.

Tank Mates

Grass shrimp should be kept in a peaceful community tank without aggressive fish that could eat or harass them. Good tank mates include:

• Small tetras
• Peaceful rasboras
• Corydoras catfish
• Otocinclus catfish
• Snails like nerites

Avoid housing grass shrimp with predators like cichlids, goldfish, and angelfish that will readily eat them.

Acquiring Grass Shrimp

Now that you know how to care for grass shrimp, let’s discuss how and where to acquire them. Here are some tips:

• Check local fish stores for availability. Call ahead to check stock and ensure the shrimp look healthy.

• Buy from reputable online retailers like Aquatic Arts. They have a great reputation and wide selection.

• Purchase at least 10-15 shrimp. This allows for acclimation losses and gives you a self-sustaining colony.

• Have the tank fully cycled and running for at least 1 month before adding shrimp. This provides the infusoria and biofilms they need.

• Request expedited 1-3 day shipping so shrimp arrive fast and in good condition.

• Carefully inspect shrimp upon arrival. Look for active movement and clear bodies without spots/parasites.

• Never buy shrimp from poor tanks at big box pet stores. They often have disease issues.

Setting Up the Shrimp Tank

With shrimp in hand, it’s time to get your tank ready for their arrival. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up an ideal shrimp tank:

1. Establish the tank in the desired location. Shrimp prefer low traffic areas without direct sunlight. Place tank on stand and level.

2. Install filter such as a sponge filter. Make sure the intake is covered by a prefilter sponge.

3. Add substrate like sand or fine gravel. Shrimp can choke on large gravel.

4. Decor the tank with driftwood, rocks, cholla wood, etc. Provide plenty of hiding spots.

5. Plant the tank heavily with easy plants like mosses, anubias and stem plants. Floating plants help diminish light.

6. Install a heater and thermometer to maintain water temp around 75°F.

7. Cycle the tank fishless for 4-6 weeks. Test water parameters until ammonia and nitrites read 0 ppm.

8. Mix water for water changes ahead of time and temperature match to the tank. Use Seachem Prime as your dechlorinator.

9. Once cycled, tank is ready for shrimp! Be sure to acclimate them slowly to avoid shock.

Following this setup routine helps ensure your shrimp have a safe, comfortable environment right from the start.

Breeding Grass Shrimp

One of the nice things about keeping grass shrimp is that they readily breed in the home aquarium. Here’s an overview of how to achieve successful grass shrimp breeding:

• Start with at least 6 females and 3 males. Females grow nearly twice as large as males.

• Give them nutritious foods with good protein content like blanched veggies and occasional brine shrimp.

• Perform regular partial water changes to keep nitrates very low. This triggers breeding behavior.

• Raise temps to around 78-80°F. Warmer temperatures encourage mating activity.

• After mating, females carry eggs for ~3 weeks before young hatch as free swimming larvae.

• Remove pregnant females to a nursery tank with sponge filter, moss, etc. This protects the vulnerable babies.

• Feed infants finely crushed flakes, powdered spirulina, and infusoria until they can eat normal foods.

With optimal conditions, you’ll have hundreds of babies in no time! Cull extras or sell them to other aquarists.