Shrimp Black Marble

Black Marble Shrimp are small freshwater Bee Shrimp that are an interesting addition to the aquarium. They should be housed with plenty of cover such as plants in order for them to avoid predatory fish. These shrimp are generally more difficult to keep than other dwarf shrimps.

Behavior 

They are active throughout the day, and can be seen grazing on biofilm, aquarium décor or the sides of the tank, hunting detritus among the gravel, and sometimes even mating. Periodically, a shrimp will shed its exoskeleton, leaving an empty white ghost of itself caught in the plants or drifting around the tank. This should be left in the tank, as the shrimp will eat it to recover the valuable minerals it contains.  Pregnant females can also often be observed waving fresh water over their eggs to supply them with oxygen from time to time, but will most likely be hiding under plants or near the back of the tank.

Moulting

Though their lives are short, shrimp will molt regularly as they eat and grow, becoming too large for their previous shell. This can become fairly frequent, it all depends on how much they eat and how fast they grow.  Once they have shed their old shell, they will be particularly vulnerable until their new shell hardens. While this should not be cause to worry, do not be surprised if your ghost shrimp get damaged from boisterous fish.

Ensure that your tank has crevices or plants for molting shrimp to hide in.  When you see a molted shell sitting on the sediment it is natural to panic and assume it is a dead shrimp, but with closer inspection its hollow interior should clearly identify it as a discarded shell.  When a shell is shed you do not need to remove it from the aquarium immediately because they usually become food for other shrimp in the tank.

Tank Conditions

All shrimp will feel safest (and thus display bright coloration and behave naturally) when plenty of hiding places are present in their aquarium. This can be anything from live plants to special shrimp tubes.  One can use driftwood, live plant and moss.  Indian Almond Leaf is frequently used to help in the process of shrimp breeding by providing a beneficial spot for bacteria to grow that young shrimp can feed on. When the leaves are left in the tank a multitude of microorganisms will begin to colonize the leave and break it down.

A sponge filter or a regular filter with a pre-filter sponge is recommended when keeping dwarf shrimp, as their fry are very small and can easily get sucked up by powerful filters. A heater is usually not a necessity if the setup is located in a heated room, however you can choose to go for one if you want to make sure the temperature remains stable.

Compatibility

Black Marble shrimp, like other dwarf shrimp, are very peaceful and vulnerable. They will never harm any tank mates but will easily fall prey to hungry fish. If you keep higher and more expensive grades it might be a good idea to set up a single species aquarium, though peaceful inverts like other shrimp and small snails are always a possibility.

Feeding

In the wild, freshwater shrimp will eat anything they can find; their diet consists mostly of algae. In the aquarium shrimp will also feed on algae and the tiny organisms living in plants and other organic material, but their diet will usually have to be supplemented. A high-quality shrimp food can be used as a staple. Nature Boys Macadamia Husk or DBS Husk are a great natural food medium.  The shrimp either graze on the bio-film that will accumulate on the husk or eat the husk itself as it breaks down over a period of time.

Click for a full line of foods specific for shrimps at Rebel Pets.

They will also accept blanched vegetables, frozen foods and all kinds of sinking fish foods.  Any sinking pellet type food works well as a food source. Also, any common flake fish food that falls to the bottom will be eaten and for this reason, many aquarist use dwarf shrimp as a clean up crew. Be sure to read the ingredients label carefully, any food containing copper should not be used. (Copper Sulfate is a common ingredient in fish foods).  All of the Rebel Pets shrimp foods are copper free.

Unfortunately they will not eat string / hair algae so they are not a good control measure for those types of algae.

Care

Black Marble Shrimp (like other Bee Shrimp) are generally more difficult to keep than other species within the industry and are therefore not recommended for beginners. They prefer warm water of 20-26°C with a pH of 5.8-6.8. They can be kept in either soft or hard water. Hard water with a gH of at least 8 is best for them to show their best color.

The Aquarium should be fully cycled before introducing any shrimp. There should be no trace of Ammonia and Nitrite, Nitrate under 25ppm. Weekly water change of 10-20% is suggested to keep the nitrate low.

With any Shrimp and most other invertebrates, you should avoid anything with Copper (medications and ornaments) in the tank as it is toxic to most invertebrates. Be sure to check the labels as many fish foods and medication contain Copper (Copper Sulfate).