pregnant ghost shrimp stages

Pregnant Ghost Shrimp: Signs, Care, Stages And More!

If you’ve always wondered how to care for pregnant ghost shrimp, and the ghost shrimps eggs, then you’ve found the right article!

In this article, you’ll learn about the signs to look for in a pregnant ghost shrimp and how to properly breed them to increase your aquarium’s ghost shrimp population. You’ll learn the ways that you can tell when your ghost shrimp is bearing eggs and what the different stages of pregnancy (or gravidity) look like.

You’ll also learn how to set up a breeding tank, care for your pregnant shrimp and newly hatched ghost shrimp fry. You’ll also learn the common mating behaviors your ghost shrimp may be exhibiting as well as behaviors of a pregnant ghost shrimp.

So get ready to take on the challenges of being a ghost shrimp breeder and watch your aquarium thrive!

Table of Contents

How Can You Tell When Your Ghost Shrimp Is Pregnant?

There are six surefire ways to tell if your ghost shrimp is bearing eggs, and they all rely on your close observation of the gravid shrimp.

Green Specks

Before the eggs are fertilized or even grow large enough to develop, they appear as minute green specks near the abdomen of the female ghost shrimp on a part of her body known as the saddle. However, due to their small size, at this stage they may still be difficult to see.

Leg Fanning

Pregnant ghost shrimp will often fan the legs that have attached eggs to them, presumably to provide oxygen for the developing fry.

Specks Near Her Tail

Once the eggs begin to grow larger, they will migrate toward the tail and rear legs and away from the abdomen. If they are still green, they have not been fertilized; but if they are white, then a male has done his part.

Weight Gain

If the males that cohabitate the female’s tank begin competing for the female’s attention, chances are she’s bearing eggs, and they want to be the first in line to fertilize them.

The addition of 20-30 eggs will make your female ghost shrimp appear larger than previously observed.

Male Attention

Lastly, you may also notice that your females are suddenly getting a lot more attention from the males, which they didn’t have before.

Pregnant Ghost Shrimp Stages

Pregnancy (or gravidity) for ghost shrimp does not last long – only three weeks – but results in a few dozen offspring if successful.

The little green dots will appear on the female ghost shrimp’s saddle near the base of her abdomen. During this week you will notice barely any changes in your ghost shrimp and her behavior

The eggs will lighten in color and move down the legs toward the tail. Fertilization by the males usually occurs during week 2. During this stage you’ll also notice your ghost shrimps eggs are beginning to get bigger as well.

Fertilized eggs will turn white, and the eyes and stomach of the fry will be visible as black specks. By the end of week 3, the fry hatch from the eggs.

How Do You Know When Your Ghost Shrimp Is About to Give Birth?

There are a couple of tell-tale signs given by the appearance of the eggs, as well as the behavior of the female ghost shrimp, which indicate the fries are about to hatch.

Visible Eyes and Stomach

When the fries are ready to hatch, you should be able to distinctly see black specks within the white eggs, which are the developing eyes and stomachs of the ghost shrimp fry.

Female Behavior

The pregnant female ghost shrimp will often swim away from the bottom of the tank and use her forelegs to wipe off the eggs encouraging the hatching fry to exit their embryonic homes.

How Many Babies Do Ghost Shrimp Have?

If you plan on breeding your ghost shrimp, then it’s important to know how many babies you’re going to be dealing with.

Generally, ghost shrimp can have between 8-80 babies at a time. During the course of the year, this can definitely add up and if left unwatched they could end up having 100’s of babies. Fortunately, these can be a nice snack for other fish in your tank.

How To Setup A Breeding Tank For Ghost Shrimp

It’s important to keep a separate breeding tank for ghost shrimp as the newly hatched young can be difficult to keep alive, especially with hungry adult shrimp and fish looking to feast on them. Here are some steps to setting up a breeding tank to give the young ghost shrimp their best chance of survival.

Step 1: Set up tank and filter

Purchase a ten-gallon tank and equip it with a sponge filter for cleaning. You want to avoid using a regular fish tank filter to clean the water because the suction can be too strong for baby shrimp to fight and it may end up killing them.

Step 2: Install an air pump

Ghost shrimp need oxygenated water in order to live , And while a filter may be enough if there’s enough surface agitation, adding an air pump will ensure that your ghost shrimp will be happy.

Step 3: Bottom cover

Use sand or gravel to cover the bottom of the tank. Different colors will affect the shrimp’s appearance, so choose a lighter bottom cover to keep the shrimp transparent or a darker bottom cover to encourage the development of spots.

Step 4: Fill with water

Fill the tank with water and let it sit with the filter and air pump running for a full day before adding shrimp to make sure any unwanted chemicals have been cleaned out.

Make sure the water temperature is optimal for ghost shrimp, keeping it between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (or 22 and 28 degrees Celsius). And make sure you’re keeping the pH level in the tank between 7.0- 8.0 as well.

Step 5: Add plants

It is highly recommended to add plants to your breeding tank because the young shrimp will feed on the plant debris. Java moss is especially popular to use because it traps debris, making it easier for young ghost shrimp to access.

As well as this, plants are going to give your ghost shrimp plenty of places to hide! Even if there aren’t any predators in the tank it will still help them to feel safe and secure, reducing their stress levels!

How Do You Care for a Pregnant Ghost Shrimp?

Pregnant ghost shrimp are easy to care for as long as you feed them and pay close attention to the stages of their pregnancy.

Feed your pregnant ghost shrimp a diet high in baby shrimp and algae and with more than enough food available to feed multiple adults. Also, make sure there are plants in the breeding tank, as the ghost shrimp will eat any plant debris too.

Keep The Tank Warm Enough

You should also make sure you’re keeping the tank at the warmer end of the temperature scale when your ghost shrimp is pregnant to help simulate her natural environment. So keep the temperature close to 80 degrees farenheit.

Separate the pregnant ghost shrimp from the rest of the adults once the eggs are fertilized (have turned white) to reduce the chance of fry being devoured upon hatching.

Once all of the babies have hatched, also remove the no longer pregnant female shrimp from the vicinity of the fry as she will most likely try to eat them.

Keep The Tank Clean

And of course, you should make sure that you’re keeping the tank clean for your ghost shrimp as well. Once again installing a sponge filter is your best option. However, removing any uneaten food that is beginning to decay and performing small water changes is also essential for the health of your ghost shrimp.

How Do You Care for Ghost Shrimp Fry?

The biggest challenge for keeping ghost shrimp fry alive is getting them to eat and helping them avoid becoming meals themselves. Here are some tips to ensure your ghost shrimp fry will survive to adulthood.

Nursing Tank

Keep the ghost shrimp fry in a nursing tank equipped with a sponge filter separate from adult ghost shrimp to avoid becoming prey to the bigger crustaceans. Make sure there’s a layer of sand or gravel on the bottom and keep the temperature above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Aquarium Lighting

Baby ghost shrimp tend to be photophilic and can injure themselves by swimming into the glass walls of their nursery tank. Only use an overhead aquarium light and block out any ambient light by covering the sides of the tank with construction paper or fabric.

Without a constant flow of oxygen, ghost shrimp fry will perish. Be sure to install an air pump in the nursing tank. Adding plants will also increase the oxygen supply as well as provide shelter and food.

Do not neglect to feed your baby ghost shrimp, as starvation is the greatest killer of these little critters. Every three hours (yes, even through the night), they require a balanced diet of liquid fry food, microworms, daphnia, and baby brine shrimp.

Keep Your Tank Heavily Planted

You should also make sure you’re keeping the tank heavily planted for your ghost shrimp fry as well. Not only will this add more oxygen to the tank, but all the hiding places will give your shrimp the best chance of survival. And the plant debris in the tank can provide another source of food for your ghost shrimp!

What Is Common Ghost Shrimp Mating Behavior?

Males and females exhibit different types of behavior when it comes time to breed, but both recognize the other’s patterns and baby shrimp are the end result of their courtship.

When females are ready to mate, eggs will develop as small green specks on the saddle near the base of her abdomen. These will eventually move down to her rear legs under her tail, and she will exhibit a fanning behavior to oxygenate the eggs or perhaps make them more apparent to a male.

Males can detect when females are ready to breed, presumably through chemical cues released into the water. Male ghost shrimp will gather around the females and fight each other to compete for her approval to mate with her and fertilize her eggs.

Why Is a Pregnant Ghost Shrimp Curling Up?

The main reason why any ghost shrimp curls up is to clean itself or molt. Pregnant ghost shrimp may also be shedding unwanted eggs or eggs that are hatching.

Pregnant ghost shrimp still clean themselves while gravid and curling up may be a simple sign of cleaning.

Hatching Eggs

Another reason a pregnant ghost shrimp will curl up is if her eggs start to hatch. She may curl up and begin to use her forelegs to wipe off the eggs that are hatching to encourage the babies to be born.

How Long Does It Take for a Ghost Shrimp to Lay Eggs?

Female ghost shrimp will carry their eggs for a total of three weeks before they hatch. This time includes the development of the eggs as well as the fertilization. Most female ghost shrimp will carry 20 to 30 eggs at a time.

Will Ghost Shrimp Breed in a Community Tank?

Ghost shrimp will definitely breed in a community tank as long as the tank is adequately filtered, oxygenated, is the right temperature, and contains an abundance of food. Adding live plants to a community tank will further increase your chances of ghost shrimp breeding by providing additional food and shelter.

Just remember to keep baby ghost shrimp out of the community tank, or they will become quick prey to the adult shrimp and other inhabitants of the aquarium.

Will a Ghost Shrimp Die After Laying Eggs?

As long as a ghost shrimp is properly cared for, fed, and water conditions are optimal, a ghost shrimp should not die after laying eggs. Once their eggs are laid, they are viable to lay another set of eggs and keep cycling through the process until they do eventually die of old age.

Do Ghost Shrimps Lay Eggs or Give Birth?

Ghost shrimps lay eggs – they never carry the eggs inside their bodies and nourish them with yolks or through placental attachments. The eggs are fertilized externally by the male. As such female ghost shrimps bearing eggs are considered gravid, not pregnant.

Can Ghost Shrimp Give Birth in Community Tanks?

A ghost shrimp can hatch her eggs in a community tank. However, this is ill-advised. Newly hatched ghost shrimp are easy prey for adult ghost shrimp and other fish living in a community tank. If they do escape predation, the chances that they will fall victim to other aquarium hazards such as being sucked into the filter or starving to death are highly likely.

If you want your baby ghost shrimp to survive to adulthood, it’s best if they are hatched in a separate nursery tank and then moved to the community tank when they reach adulthood.

Do Ghost Shrimp Eat Their Babies?

Ghost shrimp will eat their babies, especially in cases where they are hungry. As well as this, if you house other fish in your tank, they will also eat your ghost shrimps babies. Providing plenty of hiding places is the best way to increase their chance of survival.

Why Are Your Ghost Shrimps Eggs Turning Black?

If your ghost shrimps eggs are turning black, it means they are starting to mature, and they’ll soon be ready to hatch. This will normally occur in the last phases of pregnancy when the embryos are just about to emerge.

Ghost shrimp are easy to care for and breed as long as you give them the proper attention and environment to thrive. Be sure to set up optimal conditions in their tanks, especially when it comes to oxygenation and food, and they will start breeding in no time.

Watch carefully for the mating behaviors of both males and females and observe how the gravid females progress through the stages of pregnancy. Note how the eggs turn from green to white as they become fertilized, and pay attention to the shedding behaviors of the female once eggs start to hatch.

It’s important to move newly hatched ghost shrimp fry to their own nursery tank in order to ensure they don’t fall prey to adult shrimp. Take extra caution in setting up their environment by eliminating any typical aquarium hazards such as the distraction of ambient light or the strong suction of normal filters.

Most importantly, feed those baby shrimp often as starvation is the number one killer of ghost shrimp fry. You are ready to start breeding your very own ghost shrimp – good luck!

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With this resource at your fingertips, managing your pregnant ghost shrimp will no longer be a nightmare.

In this blog post,  we’ll uncover all spawning stages for baby ghost shrimps and provide essential insights into proper care for parenting shrimps before, during, and even after their exciting journey toward reproduction.

Read on for more details about one famous (and somewhat mysterious!) aquarium creature!

Table of Contents

Can Ghost Shrimp Get Pregnant?

While the term “pregnant” is not typically used to describe the reproductive process in shrimp, female ghost shrimp carry eggs and undergo a process called “berried. “

Female shrimps produce eggs, which they carry under their abdomen. The  male ghost shrimp fertilize these eggs during mating.

As the eggs develop, they become visible through the female’s translucent exoskeleton, giving the appearance of a cluster of berries, hence the term “berried.”

So, while ghost shrimp don’t get “pregnant” like mammals do, they carry eggs and go through a reproductive process that culminates in the hatching of their offspring.

Pregnancy Phases for Female Ghost Shrimp

The pregnancy can be as soon as three weeks or nine weeks in adult sex. Egg laying and fertilization take approximately six to eight weeks.

Female shrimp undergo three main stages of pregnancy.  These stages include the pre-mating phase, mating phase, and post-mating phase. 

What Are the Stages of Ghost Shrimp Pregnancy?

If you’re a freshwater aquarist with Ghost Shrimp, you may have noticed that your female shrimp has enlarged and darkened in color. But what does this mean? 

Knowing how to detect the pregnancy stages of your Ghost Shrimp is essential for properly caring for them – but it can be harsh to differentiate between the various phases as they progress. 

Here are the three phases of Shrimp Ghost Pregnancy:

• During the pre-mating phase,  female Ghost Shrimp will develop specialized reproductive organs known as gonopodia on their undersides that act as egg carriers. During this pregnant ghost shrimp stage, they also produce whorl-like bands on their bodies to attract  male ghost shrimps  for mating. 
• The mating phase  lasts two days, and during this time, female Shrimp mate with multiple males to ensure good genetics for their offspring. During this time, the male shrimp transfer sperm to the female, stored in her stomach pouch for later use when laying eggs. 
• In the post-mating phase,  a bonded pair of male and female shrimp will lay between one hundred fifty to one thousand eggs over several weeks, depending on the water temperature and available food supply.

The tiny yellow or orange-colored eggs are attached beneath either side of the female’s body near her tail fin before they drop off into an incubation site, such as crevices in rocks or other objects located underwater that provide shelter from predators and currents until hatching occurs ten days later. 

Once hatched,  mother Ghost Shrimp take care of their young by fanning them with gills to aerate the water for breathing purposes while protecting them from potential dangers until after a few days when juveniles can fend for themselves independently in open waters if necessary conditions permit survival success.

Can Ghost Shrimps Breed In Community Tanks?

Yes, ghost shrimp breed in community tanks; however, the success rates are relatively low.  Fish are hungry to eat  ghost shrimp larvae  while they are growing older, so they will naturally reduce the number of eggs that hatch.

It’s best to provide plenty of hiding spaces and food sources. To maximize egg hatching and ensure a healthy population of Ghost Shrimp in your tank, 

Ghost Shrimp also needs a variety of temperatures to reproduce successfully, so if possible, provide a temperature gradient so the female can find an optimal temperature for her eggs. 

Lastly,  it’s also essential to ensure the community tank is clean and free from any parasites or other diseases that can potentially harm the Ghost Shrimp eggs.

These simple tips can increase the chances of successful breeding and ensure a healthy population in your  ghost shrimp breeding tank .

Signs of Pregnant Ghost Shrimp

How to Tell if a Female Ghost Shrimp Is Pregnant:  The following three indicators of pregnancy with Ghost Shrimps can be seen.

– White or Light Green Dots under the Tail

That’s probably most clearly an indication your shrimp are pregnant. A white line under the wingtips of Ghost Shrimps indicates they are successful mates. During pregnancy, your ghost shrimp will have similar white dots and grow larger.

Ghost shrimp eggs have clear outer covers and are easily identifiable through their translucent outer coating. This is one reason pregnant Ghost Shrimp is so fascinating.

– Consistent Leg Fanning or Splaying

Experienced aquarists observed increasing numbers of pregnant Shrimp fans and splayed their arms. It is believed that these activities help aerate eggs and maintain optimum temperatures. Other fish keepers say that being gravid ghost shrimp may irritate female ghost shrimp.

– Weight Gain

Usually, the male that cohabitates with the female’s breeding tank competes for their attention, and they have hoped to become the first ones whose eggs would be fertilized. Add 20-25 eggs to make your female ghost shrimp appear bigger than previously observed.

Male attention, In other words, your  female ghost shrimps  are suddenly getting more attention than they had before. Typically ghost shrimp are not born until three months of age and have a small number of female offspring if they are healthy.

How Often Do Ghost Shrimp Have Babies?

How often can I breed my ghost shrimp?  Ghost shrimp reproduce pretty quickly, with adults being able to produce babies every few weeks at least. The gestation period of the ghost shrimp is only about two weeks long.

This means it doesn’t take too long for the babies to appear after mating. The female shrimp carries her eggs in a pouch on her underside until they are ready to hatch.

Each litter generally contains between 30 and 50 baby shrimps, although some scraps can have as many as 100 or more!

It is also not uncommon for ghost shrimp populations to experience multiple generations within a single season, especially in areas where temperatures remain warm year-round.

Furthermore,  when ghost shrimp reach maturity, they don’t need an external source of oxygen to mate and have offspring like other aquatic animals do – this makes their reproduction process much easier and faster than most other species. 

How Long Is a Ghost Shrimp Pregnant For?

How long do ghost shrimp stay pregnant?  Ghost shrimp can breed at least three times a year.  It took around four to five weeks for a female’s egg to hatch and the male’s egg to reproduce (1 to 3 weeks).

Ghost shrimp are bred from 3 to 9 weeks old. In the table below, ghost shrimps give their eggs when they become pregnant. This helps plan your shrimp and provides plenty of room to keep them healthy.

How Many Babies Do Ghost Shrimp Have?

How Many Fry Do Shrimps Ghost Give Birth To?  Ghost shrimp lay between 30 and 50 eggs a week . Some larvae reach adulthood. Mortality for Ghost Shrimps is high. You have to ensure the whole thing works so they do not die.

If you intend on breeding Ghost Shrimp, you should understand the number of babies. Typically Ghost Shrimp has about 80 babies at once. It will surely add up in a year, and they may end up with 100 babies.

It’s important to note that ghost shrimp babies are tiny and require specialized care. Ghost shrimp fry thrives in tanks with large plants, hiding spots, and stable water parameters.

The fry will not tolerate high levels of ammonia or nitrite, so ensuring your community tank is well cycled before attempting to breed ghost shrimp is essential.

Caring For Pregnant Ghost Shrimps

If you begin finding pregnant ghost shrimp, immediately move them into breeding pools for a breeding program.

But it would help if you were gentle to avoid harming your mother’s shrimp and eggs. Use a cable and quickly transfer them into a prepared fry tank. If necessary, keep tanks nearby to move women. They have a reputation for dropping eggs under stress.

Once fertilized, the incubating period varies from 24 to 24 days. During these times, feeding gravid shrimps with nutritious meals is essential. Take them to eat vegetation or insect foods if possible. Nonetheless, ensure not to overeat.

Feed your pregnant ghost shrimp a variety of food. Vegetable and protein-rich foods, such as blanched spinach and cooked peas, will help provide all the necessary nutrients for their eggs and fry.

Remember that ghost shrimp are sensitive to water quality, and you should only feed your pregnant shrimp with high-quality food.

How To Setup Ghost Shrimp Breeding Tank ?

Having a separate breeding tank for ghost shrimp is vital since newly conceived young are difficult to keep alive, especially in crowded adults and fish. This is how we set up a breeding tank to help the juvenile ghost shrimps survive.

First,  you’ll need a tank with at least 10 gallons of volume. Next, add some hiding places like rocks and caves for the adults. Then fill the tank with dechlorinated water with a  ph level  of 6.5-7.5, slightly soft to medium hardness, and a temperature of 64-84F.

Finally,  add some live plants and aeration to ensure the water is safe for the baby ghost shrimp. This will give the adults plenty of space to hide while providing a safe environment for the fry to grow and thrive.

With all these conditions, your breeding tank should have the perfect environment for our ghost shrimp. Now you can start breeding and raising healthy baby ghost shrimps!

Install Filters And Air Pumps

Shrimp molts need fresh drinking water. Hoses must be kept completely clean throughout the breeding tank and the tank’s life. You can put whatever filter into your community tank that will work most efficiently.

For instance, I use canister filters as tanks have guppies tetras. Most filters use water to wash them. This problem should be resolved in our fry tank.

So use sponge filters to filter out the water. This Hikari USA sponge filter offers excellent value for very reasonable prices. In addition, the pump should contain air so the air can be supplied to everyone. This will provide oxygen so that our shrimp fry can breathe better.

Remember to clean the filter weekly to ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently.

How Do You Know if Your Ghost Shrimp Is About to Give Birth?

Pregnant ghost shrimp giving birth  has a few telltale signs you can look out for. Firstly, you may notice the female’s abdomen swelling up.

Additionally, she will be active and have an increased appetite. You may also see her pushing against the tank walls and other objects to release her eggs.

When it’s time for the birth, you can expect to see a small pouch attached to her body filled with eggs. This is typically released within 24 hours of labor and is a sign that the eggs have hatched.

Finally,  you may notice that the  pregnant female ghost shrimp  stops eating after giving birth as she focuses her energy on looking after her babies.

As the fry grows, you can expect to see more and more shrimp fry in  the bottom of the tank . If you provide enough food, plenty of hiding places, and other necessities, your ghost shrimp population will surely grow!

How to Tell If Ghost Shrimp Eggs Are Fertilized?

Fertilized ghost shrimp eggs  appear slightly opaque, while unfertilized eggs are transparent. A black spot in the center of the egg can also identify the fertilized eggs.

In addition, ghost shrimp eggs are slightly red or orange when fertilized. If you notice these signs, your ghost shrimp eggs are most likely fertilized and will soon hatch!

Once the eggs have hatched, you should provide plenty of food and hiding spots for the baby ghost shrimp. You can add a few live plants to help keep the water clean and give the fry somewhere to hide. With a bit of care, your ghost shrimp population will indeed thrive! 

Caring for and Feeding Ghost Shrimp Fry

The birth of another generation of Ghost Shrimps has given us a perfect idea of how to handle these tiny creatures. The main challenge in breeding Ghost Shrimp isn’t getting them to partner but helping the newborn Shrimp survive his first week in the aquarium.

Give your little ghost shrimp some tips on how to keep them healthy for adult life:

• 1. Feed them high-protein foods that are small enough for their mouths and stomachs, such as baby brine shrimp, bloodworms, and other small crustaceans.
• 2. Protect them with various hiding spots like rocks or plants.
• 3. Keep the water clean and perform regular partial water changes.
• 4. Consider adding an air stone or other aerator to ensure the water is well-oxygenated.
• 5. Monitor their growth and health to ensure they adapt to their new environment.

With the proper care, your Ghost Shrimp fry will grow into healthy adults and add variety to your aquarium. With effort and patience, you can ensure your Ghost Shrimp fry thrives!

What Do Baby Ghost Shrimp Eat?

Baby Ghost Shrimp are omnivorous, meaning they can eat various foods. These tiny crustaceans feed on microbial films, small organic matter such as soft vegetables, and other zooplankton and invertebrates in their natural habitats.

They may also nibble on algae growing in the substrate. When kept in captivity, baby Ghost Shrimp generally enjoy commercially available fish food pellets or flakes formulated for bottom-feeding species and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, blood worms, and mysis shrimp. You can even try  liquid fry food or  sinking wafers.

It’s also essential to supplement their diets with flake foods occasionally to give them the vital minerals and vitamins babies need for healthy growth.

Ghost Shrimp Eggs for Sale

Ghost Shrimp eggs are available for sale in pet stores, specialty aquarium stores , and online. Before you buy them, make sure to choose eggs from a reputable supplier.

You should also check the eggs carefully for signs of infestation or disease, which can be challenging to spot in small eggs. When you purchase Ghost Shrimp eggs, storing them properly in a cool, dark place and keeping them moist is essential.

Commonly Asked Questions about Pregnant Ghost Shrimp (FAQ)

Do ghost shrimps lay eggs or give birth.

Ghost shrimp lay eggs. These are eggs that cannot be carried into the body. Then it nourishes the egg by the yolk and by placental attachment. Usually, eggs can be fertilized by a male. Consequently,  pregnant female ghost shrimp  carrying eggs can be considered gravid, not pregnant.

Do Ghost Shrimp Give Live Birth?

No, ghost shrimp do not give live birth. They lay eggs in a brood pouch, and the baby shrimp hatch from the eggs once fertilized. Once the eggs are laid, they don’t require any additional care or attention from the mother, and she will not give birth to live  young ghost shrimp .

How Long Does it Take for Shrimp Ghost Eggs to Hatch?

On average, it is expected about 2-3 weeks for the eggs of a ghost shrimp to hatch. It can sometimes take longer if the water temperature could be better, and other environmental factors affect the hatching process, such as too much ammonia or nitrates in the water. In short, After fertilization, a 12 to 14-day incubation period ensues. Following this, tiny and fragile larvae emerge and begin free swimming.

Will Ghost Shrimp Eat Baby Fish?

Yes, Ghost Shrimp will eat baby fish if they can catch them. While the babies are small and very fast, the adult Ghost Shrimp can sometimes out-maneuver them and snatch them up before they can escape.

Do Ghost Shrimp Lay Their Eggs in the Aquarium?

Yes, Ghost Shrimp will lay their eggs in the aquarium if there are enough food and suitable conditions for them to do so. However, the eggs are not viable in saltwater and will not hatch, so providing them with freshwater conditions is crucial if you want them to hatch successfully.

How To Know When Ghost Shrimp Eggs Will Hatch?

Ghost Shrimp Eggs Hatching signs:  There are several ways to tell when Ghost Shrimp eggs will hatch. The first is to look for small white dots on the eggs, which indicates when the embryos have started to develop.

Why Are My Ghost Shrimp Eggs Black?

Ghost shrimp eggs typically start milky white and then turn black as they mature. The  Pregnant Ghost Shrimp Black Eggs  indicate that the eggs are nearing hatching, and if you see them closely, you may be lucky enough to watch them emerge!

How Can Ghost Shrimp Die from Breeding?

Ghost Shrimp can die from breeding if they are not provided with the right environment. They require clean and well-oxygenated water and the right food and temperature to breed successfully. If these requirements are unmet, the shrimp can become stressed, weak, and eventually die.

What Is Common Ghost Shrimp Mating Behavior?

Males and female ghost shrimps have different behavior when breeding, but they recognize their respective behavior patterns, and a baby shrimp is the final product of their pairing.

Will a Ghost Shrimp Die After Laying Eggs?

If a ghost shrimp were adequately treated and fed and water conditions were optimal, the sperm would not die when it lays its eggs. After the egg has been laid, the embryos can continue to lay eggs similarly; once the embryo dies, the baby can be cycled throughout the life cycle.

Do Ghost Shrimps Eat Their Babies?

Ghost shrimp can eat your baby! Why this happens hasn’t been explained yet, but it’s probably because of two different things:

Helping your ghost shrimp through their pregnancy with proper care and attention can be a rewarding and beautiful experience. All you need is the appropriate practice and experience to ensure they’re successful. After learning all the signs, stages, and tips you need to give them a better chance of having healthy young ones, you should feel confident in setting up appropriate arrangements for helping with their maternity needs. You can watch these unique creatures thrive by planting food sources like bloodworms and providing plenty of moss and rocks, which they can hide while building nests. Remember: even small acts of kindness can do wonders for our undersea friends! Now go forth and help your ghost shrimp get a happy ending!

You might also like

• What Does a Ghost Shrimp Eat : Top 5 Foods For Optimal Health
• Does Ghost Shrimp Eat Algae : Let’s Clear Up All the Confusion!
• Ghost Shrimps Care 101: Some Excellent Facts You Can’t-Miss!
• Ghost Shrimp life span 101: Excellent Tips You Can’t-Miss
• Female Pregnant Ghost Shrimp Stages : Comprehensive Breeding Guide
• Ghost Shrimp Care 101: Ultimate Guide & Breeding Tips
• How Long Do Ghost Shrimp Live for : (Prolong Their Lifespan)
• Breeding for Ghost Shrimp : Unlock the Secrets of Successful Raising
• Ghost Shrimp Eggs : 5 Simple Tips for (Successful Hatching)
• How Many Ghost Shrimp Per Gallon : (A Comprehensive Guide)

I am the founder of infishtank.com, a devoted wife and mother, and an avid fish enthusiast. My aim is to assist fellow fish lovers worldwide in understanding how to properly care for and breed their pet fish.

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Pregnant Ghost Shrimp 101: What to Expect and What to Do

• by Mollie Newton
• November 28, 2022
• 10 minute read

Why are there green and white dots on my ghost shrimp’s abdomen?

In this article...

Seeing spots on your aquatic friend is usually a sign for concern, however, in this case it might mean that your ghost shrimp is pregnant.

Whether you’re breeding ghost shrimp, or just keeping them as tank mates, keep reading for a step-by-step guide to help identify if your ghost shrimp is pregnant, how to care for her, what to feed her, how to separate her from the community tank and how to start caring for your new baby shrimps.

Can ghost shrimp reproduce on their own?

A common misconception is that ghost shrimp are hermaphroditic (an animal that has both female and male sex organs). Hermaphroditic animals are able to reproduce on their own, however, ghost shrimp are a gonochoric species.

Gonochoric species have a female and male sex, both are required for fertilized eggs. Without a male counterpart the female will still produce eggs, however they will not hatch.

FUN FACT It’s incorrect to call ghost shrimps pregnant. All shrimp are egg layers and do not become pregnant (a term generally used for bearers of live-young). Instead female ghost shrimps are gravid with eggs. In this article we’ll mostly use the term pregnant as that’s what most people refer to gravid ghost shrimp as.

How to tell if a ghost shrimp is pregnant?

When deciding if female ghost shrimps are pregnant or not the first thing you will notice is bright green dots along their abdomen. This is an indication that your female is a gravid shrimp and almost ready for fertilization. These dots are actually unfertilized eggs that will stay in the abdomen region for roughly 7 days.

After a week you’ll see the little green eggs beginning to migrate closer to the saddle . At this stage that male ghost shrimp fertilize the eggs, thus turning them white, this generally takes about a week. Fertilized females will carry for 2.5 to 3 weeks, during the last week the mother shrimp will move her clutch of eggs to a lower part of her tail and use her swimmerets or her rear legs to fan the eggs.

NOTE Not sure what the saddle is? Pregnant ghost shrimps have a light green spot high up on their back just behind their head. The little green dots or eggs are held on the underside of their belly and migrate along the belly towards the saddle to be in position for fertilization.

I don’t see tiny green dots, is my female ghost shrimp pregnant?

Other ways to tell if a ghost shrimp is pregnant is an increase in size, appetite, and foraging behavior. Leg fanning , sometimes known as splaying, is thought to be performed for two main reasons;

• Provide oxygen and aeration to the eggs to regulate temperature
• Relieve the discomfort of carrying eggs

RECOMMENDATION You can keep an air pump in the tank to help your pregnant shrimps aerate their eggs.

How long do ghost shrimp stay pregnant?

Ghost shrimp can breed every 30-40 days . Keep in mind that the breeding process takes roughly 5 weeks, depending on how long it takes the male shrimp to fertilize the female’s eggs (1 to 3 weeks). Ghost shrimp can be bred at any time during their adult life, or from ages 3-9 months.

The table below shows ghost shrimp pregnancy from the time a female becomes pregnant until the female ghost shrimp lay eggs. This can help you plan for your baby ghost shrimps and make sure you have enough space to properly care for them!

How often can I breed my ghost shrimp?

Something that I am often asked is whether ghost shrimp die because of breeding? The short answer is no, though breeding consistently shortens their lifespan in my experience. Ghost shrimp generally live 1-1.5 years, meaning that once you’ve bred them 3 or 4 times their bodies might not be able to successfully continue laying eggs.

Fertilization/Egg Laying Timeline

How many eggs can ghost shrimp produce.

I have learned that how often ghost shrimp get pregnant greatly depends on the temperature of the tank water. The warmer the water temperature, the better it replicates summer months which is when wild ghost shrimp usually mate. Using a reliable heater is the most effective way to initiate mating.

However, keeping your temperature on the high end of the ghost shrimp tolerance range will decrease their lifespan.

How many eggs can ghost shrimp carry per pregnancy?

During each successful breeding pregnant ghost shrimp can carry 20-30 eggs , but the average number of hatchlings that are successfully released into the aquarium varies.

How many times a year can ghost shrimp get pregnant?

Once they reach breeding age each ghost shrimp can get pregnant 4 to 8x per year. Doing the math that means each ghost shrimp produces 80-240 eggs in a year, but most experts agree that only 5-70 will turn into hatchlings.

Can Ghost Shrimp Breed in a Community Tank?

While ghost shrimp can breed in a community tank that doesn’t necessarily mean they should. Especially, if your community tank contains bad tank mates such as oscars, cichlids, and other aggressive fish.

In fact, as soon as you notice your female ghost shrimp becoming gravid you should move her and the male ghost shrimps into a breeding tank. Some fish keepers claim that you should place 1 female for every 2 males. I’ve never experienced a difference in fertilization times regardless of how many males are in a tank.

Should I separate a pregnant ghost shrimp from the tank?

Once the female lays her eggs it’s suggested that you remove her from the breeding area as well. There’s no danger of the eggs being eaten before they are laid in community tanks, however, it’s much easier to remove the pregnant ghost shrimp than 20-30 eggs that are the size of pinheads.

Another hazard of leaving ghost shrimp larvae in a community tank is that other fish will eat the eggs and ghost shrimp fry. I recommend using a separate breeding tank until the young ghost shrimp are big enough to be introduced to the community tank around 5 weeks of age.

RECOMMENDATION If purchasing your ghost shrimp from a pet store or breeder for breeding yourself it’s recommended that you get at least 20 ghost shrimps to ensure that you have a mix of males and females.

Another option for separating your pregnant ghost shrimp from the members of the community tank is hanging a fine mesh basket from the top of your tank. This will allow the female ghost shrimp to safely lay eggs within the mesh basket without interference from other fish.

The benefit of this method is that you don’t have to cycle or maintain a separate tank. However, this does severely limit the amount of ghost shrimp fry you can have at once.

How big of a tank do I need for hatchlings?

Be sure to plan how many babies will fit in your ghost shrimp breeding tank before the eggs hatch. It’s recommended that you have a minimum tank size of 5 gallons with a maximum of 8-10 ghost shrimp per gallon, in my experience 3-4 ghost shrimp per gallon is a better number and allows plenty of foraging room for all ghost shrimps.

These tank size requirements apply to adult shrimps (2 inches long), or after 3 months of age.

NOTE Note: 5 weeks of age refers to from the time the baby shrimps were free-swimming, not from the time the eggs were laid!

How do I set-up a breeding tank for ghost shrimp?

Before your ghost shrimp emerge from the hatched eggs, you should start cycling the intended breeding tank. We’ve included some of the water parameters in the table below. Cycling a tank for your baby ghost shrimps should be no different than cycling other tanks.

What should I put in the tank?

Ghost shrimp are omnivorous and while you should feed your ghost shrimp according to the schedule we provide in the next two sections they will also forage for algae and other detritus in the water column. Hatchlings can begin foraging as soon as 48 hours after becoming free-swimming.

Therefore, provide live plants, terracotta pots or other decor where algae will collect to allow foraging behavior. Substrates such as sand or fine gravel will also be helpful for hatchlings as it will give them more foraging places and traction along the bottom of the tank.

RECOMMENDATION I suggest using a sponge filter and air pump in the baby shrimp tank.

My tank is set up, now how do I maintain it?

Even more important than the initial set up is the maintenance of the tank, the most common mistake: forgetting to change the water.

It’s important to have high quality water in your tank at all times when dealing with pregnant ghost shrimp and newborn ghost shrimp. You should perform a 20% water change every 1 to 2 weeks to ensure that you are ridding the tank of harmful substances while maintaining the levels of important minerals and elements.

20% water changes every 1 to 2 weeks is a good rule of thumb if your tank is well cycled, however you should monitor water parameters to see if you should do bigger or smaller water changes.

Tank Refill

When refilling your tank after a water change make sure that the new water is close to your tank parameters in regards to temperature, pH, hardness, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

You also want to make sure that you are either using bottled spring water (not distilled!) or tap water that has been dechlorinated. Other neutralizers may be needed depending on your source of water.

RECOMMENDATION How frequently you perform water changes depends on the size of your tank and your bioload. For example, it’s recommended that you have 3-4 adult shrimp per gallon, and the minimum tank size is 5 gallons. If you have 20 adult ghost shrimp (the max amount of biomass) in a 5 gallon tank you are probably going to have to do frequent or large water changes. If you have 20 adult shrimp in a 10 gallon tank you will have to do less frequent or smaller water changes.

Nitrate Level

Help! My ghost shrimp hatchling tank has a nitrate level of 10ppm! How big of a water change should I do??

For this example we’re going to assume that the tank in question is 10 gallons. Nitrate is a dissolved substance which means it’s equally distributed throughout the water column, in other words, 1ppm of nitrate per gallon of water. Nitrate levels are considered high if they are above 5-10ppm. In this tank, we’re going to try to get nitrate levels down to 3ppm.

A change of 7ppm means 7 gallons of the water need to be replaced or a 70% water change. This might seem drastic but a high amount of nitrates in the water can cause ammonium burns and even death. It’s especially important to monitor these levels in your breeding and hatchling tanks because pregnant ghost shrimp and ghost shrimp fry are especially sensitive to these changes.

What do Pregnant Ghost Shrimp Eat?

Pregnant ghost shrimps eat a mix of plant matter, organic matter, and other animals. During pregnancy you should be feeding your pregnant ghost shrimps a variety of algae wafers, small plant matter, microworms, and detritus or debris twice a day. You can also supplement her diet with additional nutrition using sources such as water soluble vitamins, nutrient-rich wafers, or high quality shrimp flakes.

It’s easy to overdose on these supplements and while it won’t necessarily do your ghost shrimp any harm, it’s also not beneficial. Aim to feed additional nutrition sources to your pregnant ghost shrimp no more than once a week.

You should provide live plants in both the community and breeding tank for your pregnant ghost shrimp to provide foraging opportunities during all stages of pregnancy. Ghost shrimps are foragers by nature and will supplement their diet themselves by finding algae or particles in the water column.

TIP Aquatic plants need high levels of dissolved oxygen and good circulation, keeping an air pump in your tank can help keep your plants and ghost shrimp happy!

Remember, you should feed your female shrimps good quality food so they lay good quality eggs!

Baby Ghost Shrimp Care and Feeding

Congratulations! You have 20-30 eggs that are about to hatch, but how are you going to care for them?

Luckily, you’ve already established the tank for your new baby shrimp. The breeding tank you set up and cycled at the beginning of this process can also serve as a nursery for your newborn shrimp. It’s important to note that you will likely need to do more water changes as a nursery tank then you did as a breeding tank as hatchlings make much more waste than eggs.

Feeding your baby shrimp is perhaps the most challenging aspect of care due to their tiny mouths. For the first few days we recommend feeding your babies infusoria. After 48 hours of free-swimming the baby ghost shrimp are able to forage and you can start feeding them algae powder, ground shrimp flakes, or tiny microworms. Other options include liquid fry food, sinking wafers, soft vegetables, or baby brine shrimp.

Transfer to Main Aquarium

After 5 weeks your baby ghost shrimp are ready to be introduced to the main aquarium. Before introduction, make sure to adjust them slowly to the water parameters of your community tank so they aren’t shocked. Then keep an eye on them for 48-72 hours and be ready with nutrient supplements in case they aren’t as efficient at foraging as the adult ghost shrimp in your community tank.

Wrapping up

In this guide we’ve looked at many aspects of pregnant shrimp identification and care. At the end of the day there’s no one way to breed ghost shrimp and it does take some experimentation to find the best set up for you. Closely monitoring your ghost shrimp is the best way to identify fertility and the various stages of pregnancy.

We think you’re ready to start caring for your own ghost shrimp, and wish you luck in your new aquarium adventure! As always let us know what you think about this article and share this post if you found it helpful!

Mollie Newton

Founder of PetMeTwice. I love all types of animals from fish to fluff-balls! I also enjoy writing short stories and helping train animals 🤩

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Pregnant Ghost Shrimp – Helpful Caring Guide For Beginners

Popular in freshwater aquariums, ghost shrimp are prized for their unique appearance and engaging behavior. These diminutive, transparent critters are calm and simple to take care of, making them a favorite among new aquarists. But if your tank contains female ghost shrimp, you can soon discover a surprise: a ghost shrimp is pregnant, which means she is carrying eggs. We will talk about pregnant ghost shrimp in this post, including how to spot a pregnant female, what to expect during the pregnancy, and how to take care of the mother and her young.

Stages Of Pregnant Ghost Shrimp

Three stages of development occur when a ghost shrimp is pregnant. The pre-egg, egg, and post-egg stages are as follows. The female shrimp saves food in her belly during the pre-egg stage so that the eggs can eat it when they hatch. The egg stage lasts from the time the eggs are laid until the shrimp fry and fourth-stage larvae emerge. All young ghost shrimp undergo their first molts during the post-egg stage, losing their exoskeletons to become juveniles (the first stage), which will eventually develop into adults.

But what does it imply if your shrimp has green dots under its tail? That implies that the ghost shrimp you have is a female who is carrying eggs. Let’s see some typical signs of pregnancy in ghost shrimp down below.

Pregnant Ghost Shrimp Signs?

The female ghost shrimp is the easiest to distinguish since she will be larger, plumper, heavier, and have a brown or black patch on the back of her abdomen. She may also be experiencing foam emerging from her anus as a result of egg yolk excretion. The presence of males in the tank frequently causes the female shrimp to become stressed, which results in her color changing in the presence of green dots. After the male ghost shrimp fertilize the eggs for a few days, the pregnant shrimp will start to exhibit pregnancy symptoms.

When a female dies, it happens instantaneously if she is still generating eggs . Females normally stop laying eggs approximately three weeks before they pass away. Your pregnant female ghost shrimp is probably going to live less time in an established tank (with the abundance of food) than if she were in a newly set up or established tank.

It depends on the species as to how long the pregnancy lasts. When pregnant, ghost shrimp from regions with differing temperatures may live less time than those from more tropical regions.

• Throughout the entire pregnancy, a ghost shrimp will be present in the tank.
• The shrimp’s tail appears transparent and is white and opaque .
• There may be an additional pair of eyes on the top of the ghost shrimp’s head.

A pregnant ghost shrimp is a sensitive creature and should be avoided. In plain view of the other residents of the tank, a female will lay her eggs on the substrate (the watering area outside the filter).

Pregnant Ghost Shrimp Caring

Using a fine substrate that allows for scavenging and adding living plants, like java moss or hornwort, which provide a food supply and shelter, are two suggestions for setting up an appropriate tank for ghost shrimp, not in a community tank. For the additional cover, add rocks, driftwood, or man-made caves. Ghost shrimp frequently lose their shells, so they require a place to hide while waiting for their new shells to develop. These additives can maintain a high level of oxygen in the water and give pregnant ghost shrimp a secure and comfortable environment.

How to set up a tank for pregnant ghost shrimp?

• Install the tank with filter: Water that is pure and clean should be poured into a 10-gallon tank . To clean the water more effectively, it is suggested to utilize a filter with a larger surface area. Aquatic plants should be present in tanks as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the water to maintain water oxygenation.
• Install a blower: Your shrimp won’t have any trouble breathing if you use an air pump. If you consider an air pump to be a financial waste. Well, you are mistaken. Your ghost shrimp will perish if it is not housed in a tank with an air pump.
• Bottom of the tank cover: You should be more cautious about the gravel’s color in the case of ghost shrimps, though. Because it interferes with the newborn shrimps’ transparency, consequently, it is advisable to use gravel or sand that is light in color for young shrimp.
• Pour water into: It is essential to fill the tank with clean, pure water because doing so promotes the healthy development of young shrimp. Moreover, you should have some pH testing strips on hand so that you can determine the pH of the water. In order to raise newborn shrimp, keep the pH of the water close to 7 (neutral).
• Add greenery: It is a good idea to breed bottom with some plantations since it helps to create a favorable breeding habitat. Young ghost shrimp might find a nice hiding place in plants. 

What are the suitable water conditions for pregnant ghost shrimp?

As you can see, the fourth step involves filling the tank with water. So, which water parameters are effective? Secondly, make sure the water is crystal clear and incredibly clean. The filter should then be run before introducing the shrimp to the tank. All dangerous chemicals and undesired substances will be eliminated.

In a variety of water temperatures and conditions, ghost shrimp can survive. Maintain the water’s temperature between 65 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit for your shrimp’s best health (18 – 28 degrees C). The ideal pH range for water is between 7.0 and 8.0 . Maintain a water hardness range of 3.72 to 6.75.

Equipment you should have

The newborn and juvenile shrimp are not good swimmers, but adult ghost shrimp are. As I mentioned above, if you utilize a powerful system, there is a chance that they will be drawn into the filter. For the breeding tank, install a sponge filter. The moderate current created by this filter will be more relaxing for the adults in addition to safeguarding your young shrimp.

Together with the live plants, adding an air pump may keep the water properly oxygenated. If you have enough plant cover, ghost shrimp can spend their entire day at the bottom of the aquarium without any special lighting.

What Causes Pregnant Ghost Shrimp?

In the majority of reef aquariums, pregnant ghost shrimp become pregnant for no apparent reason . The usage of common reef additives, water quality/filter capacity, illumination, or other natural elements is the most frequent culprit. The usage of common reef additives is the most frequent cause of pregnant ghost shrimps.

The most frequent food or supplement ingredients that can make ghost shrimp pregnant are carbon, iron, and Red Sea coral products. A female may store food in her intestine and become pregnant if there are iron or carbon supplements in the water.

By lowering the pH level of the female shrimp , carbon or iron supplementation may also have the same effect as reducing egg production. Moreover, other elements, like changes in temperature or abrupt changes in light, may also cause pH to alter. The pH of the water used by the shrimp has also changed as a result of iron or carbon additions. The male shrimp may be able to exude his fragrance. As a result, causing the ghost shrimp deposit eggs. This will induce an abrupt increase in egg production and pregnancy to occur.

Using various lighting setups when setting up your tank would be another factor. If you’ve never done this before, it could have an immediate impact on the quality of the water.

Baby Ghost Shrimp Caring

Even while pregnant, ghost shrimp are quite simple to maintain. Females who are pregnant could become more secretive and regularly withdraw to hiding places. As a result, it’s crucial to give them lots of hiding places in the tank.

Ghost shrimp thrive in a fine substrate because they hunt near the tank’s bottom for food. Live plants can be added to the aquarium to give the pregnant ghost shrimp more food options and cover. Examples of these plants are java moss and hornwort as hiding places after molting. Boulders, driftwood, or man-made caverns can also be used.

Regular water changes are advised since ghost shrimp during pregnancy depend on the water’s quality . Use a water conditioner to get rid of the chloramine and chlorine in your tap water.

How many ghost shrimp babies will come?

On a smaller scale, one female ghost shrimp can successfully fertilize eight to thirty eggs . Every 30 to 40 days, she will continue to lay clutches of eggs for fertilization.

In a whole year, the normal Ghost Shrimp can carry anything from eight to 85 eggs behind her tail. The chances of all the eggs surviving the phases of pregnancy and delivery are slim. During the duration of the entire year, the typical range of ghost shrimp lay eggs is between five and 70.

A young Ghost Shrimp must withstand its mother’s natural feeding urges after birth and consume enough food to grow to maturity.

What is the best food for baby ghost shrimp?

The best nourishment for baby shrimp is modest amounts of liquid or finely powdered food . Ghost shrimp that have just hatched, known as nauplii, eat minute amounts of bacteria and algae in the water, but as they get bigger, they need more substantial food sources. Baby ghost shrimp can be fed brine shrimp, micro worms, finely crushed flake or pellet feeds, and baby brine shrimp. To make sure they are getting enough to eat, it is crucial to feed them in modest amounts multiple times throughout the day. Also, it’s crucial to prevent overfeeding because too much food might harm the quality of the water.

How many times a year can ghost shrimp get pregnant?

Every few weeks, ghost shrimp can get pregnant and reproduce all year long. The number of times a year that ghost shrimp can reproduce is difficult to pinpoint because it depends on a variety of variables, including their age, health, and environmental circumstances.

Why are your ghost shrimp eggs turning black?

Ghost shrimp eggs can become black for a number of causes, such as fungus, bacteria, or bad water quality. In order to prevent additional harm to the eggs or the adult shrimp, it is crucial to address the root problem as soon as you realize that your ghost shrimp eggs are becoming black.

Why is a pregnant ghost shrimp curling up?

Curling up could be an indication of tension or pain in a pregnant ghost shrimp . To maintain the health and well-being of the pregnant shrimp as well as the other occupants of the tank, it is crucial to treat any possible problems as soon as they arise.

References:

• Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_shrimp
• How To Breed Ghost Shrimp – https://www.wikihow.com/Breed-Ghost-Shrimp

Annette M. Chaney is an experienced marine biologist with over 20 years of experience as an aquarist and fishkeeper. She started her first aquarium at a young age, filling it with frogs and goldfish obtained from the ten-cent pet store.

Annette grew up caring for and breeding African Cichlids, which led to a hobby in high school that doubled as a profitable means. Attending Reed College gave her time to solidify herself as an accomplished aquarium caretaker with an eye for sales. After that, from 2009 – 2013, she studied at Roger Williams University – one of the most prestigious universities for Aquaculture and Aquarium in USA. She is the founder of AquariumCircle since 2010.