🧭 Quick Summary: Ghost Shrimp vs Amano Shrimp
Ghost Shrimp vs Amano Shrimp — which one is right for your aquarium? 🌿
Both are popular freshwater shrimps, but they differ in their size, diet, lifespan, and care needs.
- Ghost Shrimp are smaller, more transparent, and breed easily — perfect for any beginners.
- Amano Shrimp, on the other hand, are 1 or little more larger, algae-eating powerhouses that keep tanks spotless.
In this detailed comparison, we’ll cover everything from what Ghost Shrimp and Amano Shrimp eat, their tank mates, breeding habits, lifespan, and whether Amano Shrimp can live with Ghost Shrimp in the same aquarium.
🔗 Dive deeper below to find out which shrimp suits your setup best!
Introduction: Why Compare Amano Shrimp vs Ghost Shrimp?
If you’re setting up a beautiful, peaceful freshwater tank at home, both Ghost Shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus) and Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata) are excellent options.
Both are transparent scavengers that help clean up leftover food and algae. However, they differ significantly in size, diet, breeding habits, and lifespan.
Let’s find out which species would be best suited for your aquarium.
🧠 Overview Table – Amano Shrimp vs Ghost Shrimp
| Parameters | Ghost Shrimp | Amano Shrimp |
| Scientific Name | Palaemonetes paludosus | Caridina multidentata |
| Size | Ghost Shrimp Size: 1.5–2 inches | Amano shrimp size: 2–2.5 inches |
| Lifespan | Ghost shrimp lifespan: 1–1.5 years | Amano shrimp lifespan: 2–3 years |
| Diet | Omnivore (detritus, algae, pellets) | Primarily algae eater |
| Breeding | Easy (in freshwater) | Difficult (requires brackish water) |
| Tank Mates | Peaceful community fish | Peaceful community fish |
| Egg Type | Large, visible green eggs | Tiny eggs (hundreds) |
| Cleaning Ability | Moderate | Excellent |
| Cost | Very affordable | Slightly expensive |
| Difficulty | Perfect For Beginners | Need Little more Experience |
⚖️ Amano Shrimp vs Ghost Shrimp Size
When we compare these two shrimps, Amano shrimp vs Ghost shrimp size, Amanos clearly win because it is bigger in size compare to ghost shrimp.
- Amano Shrimp size: 2 to 2.5 inches
- Ghost Shrimp size: 1.5 to 2 inches
The extra size makes Amanos better at algae control and more resistant to mild predation. Ghost Shrimp, however, are more active and easier to observe due to their transparent bodies.
🍽️ Diet: What Do Ghost Shrimp and Amano Shrimp Eat?
What Do Ghost Shrimp Eat?
Ghost Shrimp are omnivorous scavengers. Let we know what ghost shrimp eat:
- Algae
- Leftover fish food
- Decaying plants
- Biofilm
- Specialized shrimp pellets or wafers
My View on Feeding Ghost: Provide them sinking pellets and blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach to keep ghost shrimp well nourished.
What Do Amano Shrimp Eat?
Amano Shrimp are very good algae eaters—amano shrimp are famous for cleaning even stubborn green algae and diatoms.
They can eat:
- Algae films on glass and décor
- Biofilm
- Leftover food
- Algae wafers
My View on Feeding Amano: If algae levels are not high then Mix their diet with spirulina flakes or boiled veggies.
🐣 Breeding: Ghost Shrimp Breeding vs Amano Shrimp Breeding
Ghost Shrimp Breeding
Ghost Shrimp are easy to breed in freshwater.
Preganant Females carry ghost shrimp eggs under their abdomen for 2–3 weeks.
When they hatch, the larvae grow quickly and reach maturity within a month.
💡 Pro tip: While breeding time Keep ghost shrimp in a separate breeding tank to avoid fry predation.
Amano Shrimp Breeding
Amano shrimp breeding is challenging. Females produce hundreds of amano shrimp eggs, but the larvae require brackish water to survive and metamorphose.
If you’re a beginner, breeding Amanos naturally is almost very difficult and impossible without replicating their saltwater cycle.
⏳ Lifespan: Ghost Shrimp vs Amano Shrimp Lifespan
- Ghost Shrimp lifespan: Around 1–1.5 years
- Amano Shrimp lifespan: Around 2–3 years, sometimes longer if conditions are favourable to them.
Amanos are big in size, live longer due to their hardier nature and ability to resist minor parameter fluctuations.
🐠 Aquarium Setup: Ghost Shrimp Aquarium vs Amano Shrimp Aquarium
Ghost Shrimp Aquarium Requirements
- Tank size: Minimum 5 gallons tank
- Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
- pH Value: 7.0–8.0
- Substrate: Fine gravel or sand
- Plants: Java moss, Anubias, Hornwort
- Lighting: Moderate
They thrive in small community tanks and are an excellent choice for beginners.
Amano Shrimp Aquarium Requirements
- Tank size: Minimum 10 gallons
- Temperature: 70–80°F (21–27°C)
- pH Level: 6.5–7.5
- Substrate: Fine gravel or planted setup
- Plants: Java fern, Anubias, Amazon sword
- Lighting: Medium to bright
Amanos are slightly more sensitive to poor water conditions but they handle larger tanks better.
🤝 Tank Mates: Ghost Shrimp Tank Mates & Amano Shrimp Tank Mates
Both Ghost Shrimp and Amano Shrimp are peaceful shrimp species that thrive best when kept with non-aggressive tank mates such as Neon Tetras, Corydoras Catfish, Guppies, Snails, and other dwarf shrimp varieties. However, it’s important to avoid large or aggressive fish like Cichlids or Bettas, as they may prey on or stress the ghost or amano shrimp.
🧩 Can Amano Shrimp Live With Ghost Shrimp?
Yes, both Amano shrimp and Ghost shrimp can live in the same tank!
Both species are peaceful scavengers that help keep your aquarium clean.
In our experience, when you keep both shrimp in same tank, You need to be ensure:
- Plenty of hiding spots for them
- Enough algae or supplemental food should available
- No aggressive fish in tank
- Regular water changes to manage salt level
This mixed setup creates a more balanced and natural cleaning crew for your tank.
🪸 Ghost Shrimp vs Amano Shrimp – Which Is Better for You?
| Budget-friendly option | Ghost Shrimp |
| Easy breeding | Ghost Shrimp |
| Best algae control | Amano Shrimp |
| Bigger in Size | Amano Shrimp |
| Longer lifespan | Amano Shrimp |
| Smaller tank size | Ghost Shrimp |
| Community setup | Both |
If you’re a beginner looking for simple care and active behavior, choose Ghost Shrimp for your tank.
If you want long-term algae cleaning and a more professional-looking aquarium, go for Amano Shrimp.
Continue Your Aquarium Journey:
If you found this comparison between Ghost Shrimp and Amano Shrimp helpful, you’ll love these related reads on FishioHub:
🔹 What Do Shrimp Eat in the Ocean – Complete Diet Explained
🔹 What Do Crabs Eat in the Ocean – Prey & Predators Explained
🔹 Setting Up a Marine Fish Tank for Beginners (Complete Guide)
Each guide is packed with insights to help you understand marine life better and build a healthy aquatic ecosystem. 🌿🐠
❓ FAQ On Ghost Shrimp Vs Amano Shrimp
Q1. What do Ghost Shrimp eat in aquariums?
They eat algae, leftover fish food, detritus, and biofilm.
Q2. What do Amano Shrimp eat in aquariums?
Mainly algae, biofilm, and sinking pellets or algae wafers.
Q3. Can Amano Shrimp and Ghost Shrimp breed together?
No, they are different species and cannot interbreed.
Q4. Can Amano Shrimp live with Ghost Shrimp?
Yes, both coexist peacefully in community tanks.
Q5. How long do Ghost Shrimp and Amano Shrimp live?
Ghost Shrimp: 1–1.5 years; Amano Shrimp: up to 3 years.
🪸 Recommended Resource: Learn More About Shrimp Species…
Want to understand more about the biology, diet, and habitat of popular aquarium shrimp?
Read the Wikipedia article on Caridea (Shrimp) — a detailed overview of shrimp classification, behavior, and ecology from a trusted, research-based source.
🧭 Final Verdict
Both Ghost Shrimp and Amano Shrimp are valuable aquarium cleaners, but they serve different purposes:
- Ghost Shrimp are perfect for beginners—cheap, easy to breed, and fun to watch.
- Amano Shrimp are ideal for experienced aquarists who want top-tier algae control and longevity.
👉 For the best results, keep a small group of each for a balanced cleanup crew in your aquarium.
