Shrimp -- why?

[BirdOfPray]

I figure this is the place for clueless questions, so here's yet another. What's the story with shrimp in freshwater tanks? Is there a real benefit to having them or are they just a matter of personal taste? How do they work with stocking levels? Just wondering if I'm missing out on something. The ghost shrimp are pretty cool looking, and my LFS also has some red ones the same size (cherry shrimp?) that are also pretty attractive looking in their tanks.

[Red]

shrimp are best in shrimp only tanks, and if you can get them to breed, you could make a pretty penny. (not ghost shrimp) Cherry shrimp are awesome, and you could house over 50 in a 5 gallon. They could sell from $1-2 each, and fairly easy to breed.

[BirdOfPray]

I'll have to bear that in mind. I'm trying to keep in mind a few ideas for small tanks just in case I can ever talk my husband into letting me have another one. Maybe when the kiddo is a little older and would want to help me pick out the inhabitants... :)

[korith]

Shrimp are just a preference for some of us. Depending on the the type of fish, some may consider them food. You can add some ghost shrimp to the tank, they are about twice as large as red cherry shrimp. I have a few dozen in my community tank, and none of tetras go after them. Interesting to watch and they are a nice clean up crew of sorts. I've had a fish die and decide to scoop it out in morning, by morning the shrimp have finished the dead fish. Just gives more activity to the tank. Can buy ghost shrimp sold as feeders for $1 for 10-15 locally here.

If you're thinking about red cherry shrimp, you could easily add a dozen to a small 1-2gallon tank, a small sponge filter (basically an air stone, sponge and an air pump), drop a small piece of algae wafer into the tank once a week.

[HeatherB]

I (had) ghost shrimp in all of my tanks at one point or another. They are very cheap, and hardy. The ones I lost: one was eaten by a betta, and at least the other two took a trip thru the python (and haven't been seen since). I still have two in a tank at work.

I love them. They are great for cleaning up uneaten food (esp. with my bettas) and are very fun to look at.

I prefer ghost shrimp just because they are cheaper...they are about .25 cents here! I would like cherry shrimp though, but I am scared to put them in and then some fish eat them!

[smaug]

I stock about 50 ghosts in my tank per month.They are a food item for the small predators in my tank,and despite some opinions on there lack of nutrients I have a fat peacock eel who if he could talk would say different,that is all he eats,he went from 6" to 10" in about 2 months.They also do a minor job of cleaning up.Its also interesting to watch the behaviours of the last few survivors toward the end of the month.