What to feed my Ghost Shrimp?

[reignman40]

I just bought 4 Ghost Shrimp and added them to my 20 gall planted tank yesterday. Fish are:
8 Cardinal Tetras
1 Betta
1 ADF (Maybe, haven't seen in days and I lost 1 already)
3 Snails (Hitchhikers. Haven't discerned what they are yet)
4 Ghost Shrimp

I keep my tank very well. Regular water changes. Don't think there is much algae. I also only feed once every other day so I'm not sure there is much leftover food to scavange. I was wondering what I could feed my shrimp?

Also I had a side question...
What are your guys thoughts on feeding once every other day? I've found multiple sources that say the Betta will live longer and healthier on that schedule but I don't want to stress or underfeed my tetras also.

Thanks in advance,
Curtis

 

[reiverix]

I wouldn't make a point of trying to target feed your ghost shrimp. They will do fine just picking off little bits of uneaten particles. In time they will soon learn where the food comes from. Mine hide among the plants and then rush out when I feed the fish to grab a flake. Then they scurry back to their hideouts as fast as they can. It's quite comical.

 

[happychem]

Feeding every other day is fine, but not necessary. Just feed very lightly. You won't underfeed, don't worry. I think that you'll find the fish far more entertaining with a light feeding regimen as opposed to a heavy one.

They learn how to recognise feeding time. Mine know that I feed them sometime between 3 and 6pm and that when the canopy door is opened it may mean food. If I open the canopy door in the morning there's a little interest, a few fish are curious as to what I'm doing. If I open it anytime between 3 and 6pm, every fish in the tank rushes up and starts swimming around near the surface, well, except the cories, they start looking around the bottom with added allacrity.

Anyway, the point is that by feeding very lightly your fish will be more active, more natural. When I was overfeeding the fish would just swim lethargically around, grabbing the occasional bit of food that sank past them.

As for the shrimp, as Reiverix said, don't target feed. They're great scavengers, let them do what they do best.

 

[reignman40]

I've heard some people on other sites say they drop in an algae wafer or two every couple of days. Is that something you guys that have shrimp would recommend to sort of suppliment or should I just leave them be completely and trust they can scavange for what they need?

Also in regards to the feeding. How light are we talking? When I feed them every couple of days I give them probably 4 small pinches of Tropical Granules. Sometimes I will also change it up with 3 pinches and 1 pinch of freeze dried bloodworms. Then at night for the frog I have a pinch of sinking frog bites I drop in about 20 minutes after lights out to help ensure most of it reaches the bottom without the other fish seeing it.

Thanks,
Curtis

 

[greendeltatke]

Don't be surprised if you lose the ghost shrimp. My friend's betta killed four in two days. On the other hand they might clean up any remaining traces of your frog!

 

[reignman40]

Oh I agree with you. I actually wanted Amano Shrimp but I figured the Betta would mess with or kill them. So I thought I would get 4 Ghost since they are cheap and test it. I watched them for a good hour after introducing to the tank. The Tetras looked curiously at first and then just left them alone.

The Betta found a couple of them. He sort of stalked them for a bit curiously wondering... "Hmmm is this food". I was surprised he didn't flare at them. He got close about 2-3 times to one to touch it and the shrimp just darted off to fast for the Betta to catch. After that he really just ignored them. I'm still going to keep an eye out but I actually just put this new Betta in because my last one was WAY too aggressive. This one seems much better. He just chases the Tetras around failing to catch them.

 

[flyfly]

I wouldnt use an algae wafer unless you were feeding other fish with it. All my shrimp do great eating what they can find.