Hey turtle lovers! As someone who’s kept turtles for years, I get this question a lot: “Can turtles eat shrimp?” The short answer is yes – turtles can absolutely eat shrimp! But there’s way more to it than just tossing some shrimp into your turtle’s tank. Let me break down everything you need to know about feeding shrimp to your turtle buddy.
Quick Answer Summary
- Yes, turtles can eat both freshwater and marine shrimp
- Shrimp make an excellent protein-rich treat for turtles
- Most turtle species will happily munch on shrimp
- Can be fed raw or cooked (but raw is more natural)
- Should be part of a varied diet, not the main food
Benefits of Feeding Shrimp to Turtles
Listen up! Shrimp aren’t just tasty for your turtle – they’re super nutritious too! Here’s why shrimp make such an awesome turtle treat:
- High in protein for healthy growth
- Rich in calcium for strong shells
- Contains omega-3 fatty acids
- Provides essential vitamins and minerals
- Natural source of chitin (good for shell health)
- Low in fat compared to other protein sources
Types of Shrimp You Can Feed
We’ve tried different types with our turtles, and here’s what works best:
Ghost Shrimp
These lil’ guys are perfect! They’re
- Small and easy to eat
- Inexpensive
- Can live in the tank
- Great at cleaning up leftover food
- Super fast swimmers (keeps your turtle active)
Cherry Shrimp
Another excellent choice
- Bright red color attracts turtles
- Can breed in the tank
- Good at hiding
- Help keep tank clean
Other Options
- Regular grocery store shrimp (raw or cooked)
- Freeze-dried shrimp
- Dried shrimp
- Marine shrimp
How to Feed Shrimp to Your Turtle
Okay, here’s the deal on feeding shrimp properly:
-
Size Matters
- Cut larger shrimp into turtle-sized pieces
- Choose smaller shrimp for juvenile turtles
- Make sure pieces aren’t choking hazards
-
Preparation Tips
- Remove shells from larger shrimp
- Can serve raw or lightly cooked
- Avoid seasoned or processed shrimp
- Thaw frozen shrimp completely
-
Feeding Schedule
- Offer as treats 2-3 times per week
- Don’t make it the main protein source
- Feed amount based on turtle size
Living Shrimp in Turtle Tanks
Now this is interesting! Some folks keep live shrimp with their turtles. From my experience:
Pros:
- Help clean the tank
- Provide entertainment
- Natural hunting exercise
- Remove uneaten food
Cons:
- Most become turtle snacks quickly
- Need hiding places to survive
- Can be expensive if eaten
- May not reproduce fast enough
Tips for Keeping Live Shrimp:
- Provide lots of hiding spots
- Add plants (real or fake)
- Use undergravel filters as shelter
- Buy in bulk when possible
- Accept that some will become food
Common Questions About Turtles and Shrimp
How often can turtles eat shrimp?
2-3 times weekly is plenty. Don’t overdo it!
Can baby turtles eat shrimp?
Yep! Just make sure to:
- Choose tiny shrimp
- Cut larger ones into small pieces
- Monitor feeding
Raw vs. Cooked?
Both work, but raw is more natural and retains more nutrients.
Can turtles eat shrimp shells?
Yes, but:
- Better for larger turtles
- Remove from bigger shrimp
- Monitor for digestive issues
Potential Risks and Concerns
Gotta keep it real – there are some things to watch out for:
-
Choking Hazards
- Don’t feed whole large shrimp
- Watch your turtle while eating
- Cut into appropriate sizes
-
Nutritional Balance
- Don’t rely only on shrimp
- Mix with other proteins
- Include vegetables in diet
-
Quality Concerns
- Use fresh or properly stored shrimp
- Avoid seasoned/processed varieties
- Watch for signs of spoilage
Creating a Balanced Diet with Shrimp
Here’s how we incorporate shrimp into our turtle’s diet:
Sample Weekly Menu:
- Monday: Commercial turtle pellets
- Tuesday: Shrimp + leafy greens
- Wednesday: Other protein (fish/worms)
- Thursday: Pellets + vegetables
- Friday: Shrimp day again!
- Weekend: Mix it up!
Tips for Buying and Storing Shrimp
Some practical advice from years of experience:
Buying Tips:
- Buy in bulk when on sale
- Choose unseasoned varieties
- Check for freshness
- Consider frozen options
Storage:
- Keep frozen shrimp sealed
- Thaw only what’s needed
- Refrigerate unused portions
- Don’t refreeze thawed shrimp
Our Experience with Shrimp and Turtles
In our turtle sanctuary, we’ve noticed that different species react differently to shrimp. Some are total shrimp fanatics, while others take their sweet time getting used to it. It’s kinda like how some people love sushi and others… not so much!
One time, we added some ghost shrimp to our Red-eared Slider’s tank, thinking they’d be gone in seconds. Surprise! Some clever little shrimp found perfect hiding spots and lived there for months! They even helped keep the tank cleaner by munching on leftover food.
Final Thoughts
Shrimp can be an awesome addition to your turtle’s diet when done right. Just remember:
- Moderation is key
- Mix up the diet
- Watch for individual preferences
- Keep it sized appropriately
- Consider live shrimp for tank cleanup
Your turtle might become a total shrimp lover or just enjoy it as an occasional treat. Either way, now you’ve got all the info you need to safely include shrimp in your turtle’s menu!
Can Turtles And Amano Shrimps Live Together?
Amano shrimp are larger than most other pet shrimps. They are also relentless algae eaters. However, Amano might put up a fight with the turtle if attacked. Adult Amano shrimps can grow up to 2 inches. But for them, it’s a losing battle – your turtle will always overpower in the end.
Amano shrimps are more expensive than other shrimps, too. So, I recommend not to buy these shrimps just so they can be your turtle’s next meal. . Also, Amano shrimps cannot breed and create colonies in captivity to their full potential. They need brackish water to lay their eggs. However, they have to live in regular freshwater once they reach the juvenile stage.
So, we can conclude that Amanos aren’t the right choice of shrimps to be kept in a turtle tank.
Can Turtles And Ghost Shrimps Live Together?
Ghost shrimps are one of the most clever shrimps best known for their ability to camouflage with the water. They are translucent and aren’t easily noticed by their predators. Members in several turtle forums have claimed that the survival rate of ghost shrimp is better than other shrimps in a turtle tank.
Before keeping ghost shrimp in a turtle tank, you need a lot of plants to help the ghost shrimps hide whenever the turtle attacks. Turtles aren’t relentless predators and will give up after a few chases. They will be better off feeding on pellets rather than struggling to eat your ghost shrimps.
Ghost shrimps are bottom dwellers, and your turtle needs to dive deep enough to chase these tiny creatures. Since a turtle cannot hold its breath for a much longer period during strenuous activities like hunting, ghost shrimps will have a better chance of surviving a turtle attack.
However, if your turtle encounters a docile or a dead shrimp then he won’t hesitate to devour his meal. Here’s a short video of a turtle eating ghost shrimp.Turtle eating ghost shrimps