As someone who’s spent years researching marine life and aquaculture, I’ve discovered that shrimp are quite the interesting little creatures when it comes to their eating habits. Let me break down everything you need to know about shrimp and their relationship with kelp.
The Quick Answer
Yes shrimp do eat kelp! These little sea creatures are actually pretty fond of kelp and other seaweeds as part of their natural diet. They’re opportunistic omnivores, which means they’ll munch on whatever nutritious food they can find in their environment.
Why Do Shrimp Eat Kelp?
Shrimp love kelp for several good reasons:
- Nutrient-rich: Kelp is packed with vitamins and minerals
- Easy to digest: Their digestive systems handle kelp better than land plants
- Natural habitat: It’s part of their native environment
- Readily available: Kelp grows abundantly in their ecosystem
Nutritional Benefits of Kelp for Shrimp
When shrimp munch on kelp they’re getting quite the nutritional feast
- Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K
- Essential minerals like:
- Iodine
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Iron
- Dietary fiber
- Antioxidants
How Do Shrimp Eat Kelp?
Here’s something interesting I’ve observed – shrimp have a pretty unique way of eating kelp:
- They use their tiny claws to grab onto the kelp
- Their specialized mouthparts help them scrape off small pieces
- They often eat the softer parts first
- They prefer to feed on kelp during quiet periods, usually at night
Types of Kelp Shrimp Prefer
Not all kelp is created equal in a shrimp’s eyes! Here are some favorites:
- Kombu
- Wakame
- Sea Lettuce
- Bladderwrack
- Alaria
Feeding Kelp to Pet Shrimp
If you’re keeping pet shrimp. here’s how to incorporate kelp into their diet
Recommended Methods:
- Dried kelp powder
- Blanched fresh kelp pieces
- Commercial kelp-based shrimp food
- Kelp strips
Feeding Tips:
- Feed small amounts 2-3 times weekly
- Remove uneaten kelp after a few hours
- Start with tiny portions
- Watch their eating response
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Listen, I’ve made some mistakes when feeding kelp to shrimp, and I want you to avoid them:
❌ Overfeeding
❌ Using unwashed kelp
❌ Leaving old kelp in the tank
❌ Not varying their diet enough
Best Practices for Kelp Feeding
Here’s what I’ve learned works best:
✅ Mix kelp with other foods
✅ Clean kelp thoroughly before feeding
✅ Start with small portions
✅ Observe eating patterns
✅ Store kelp properly
When Kelp Isn’t Enough
Remember, while kelp is great, shrimp need a varied diet. They should also eat:
- Algae
- Plankton
- Small invertebrates
- Detritus
- Other plant matter
Seasonal Considerations
Something many folks don’t know is that shrimp’s appetite for kelp can change with seasons:
- Spring: Increased appetite for fresh kelp
- Summer: Moderate kelp consumption
- Fall: Higher interest in kelp as winter approaches
- Winter: May need more kelp supplementation
Final Thoughts
After years of observation and research, I can confidently say that kelp is an excellent food source for shrimp. It’s natural, nutritious, and they absolutely love it! Just remember to keep their diet varied and not go overboard with any single food type.
Quick Tips Summary:
- Feed kelp in moderation
- Mix with other foods
- Keep it fresh
- Watch their response
- Remove uneaten portions
We’ve found that happy, healthy shrimp are those that get a good mix of foods, including kelp, in their diet. Whether you’re raising shrimp commercially or keeping them as pets, kelp should definitely be on their menu!
Remember, every shrimp is different, so pay attention to how your little friends respond to kelp and adjust accordingly. Happy feeding!
Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata)
The Amano shrimp is such an effective algae eater that one of its common names is actually “algae eating shrimp”! With its transparent body, this species is not the most exciting to look at. Dont let that fool you, though. Its extremely popular due to being the go-to algae exterminator throughout the aquarium and aquascape hobbies.
Amano shrimp arent picky when it comes to algae and will eat almost any type, with black beard algae and cyanobacteria being the only common exceptions. A group of five or so should be enough to keep algae under control in tanks smaller than 20 gallons. Ten or more should work well for larger setups. Do keep in mind that a colony of Amano shrimp usually cant survive off algae alone, so youll have to provide them with additional food at least a few times a week. Pretty much anything works for this: high-end shrimp pellets, simple fish flakes or even some simple blanched peas. Amano shrimp will happily eat it all.
You can buy Amano shrimp at The Shrimp Farm! Order your aquarium cleaning crew here.
Cherry shrimp/Sakura shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
Probably the absolute most popular aquarium shrimp in the hobby, cherry shrimp are appreciated for their red coloration, fast breeding and efficiency when it comes to eating algae. Like Amano shrimp, they will eat various types of algae – and they do it quickly. Cherries spend their entire day foraging, eating algae and biofilm wherever they can find them.
Just introduce a colony of at least ten cherry shrimp into your aquarium and sit back! They will multiply quickly, creating a larger and larger algae eating army. Overcrowding wont be an issue, as these shrimp have a low bioload. Most aquariums can sustain dozens or even hundreds of them, as long as youre offering additional foods regularly. If you do feel like your colony is expanding a bit too fast, just sell or give away a few shrimp to a fellow hobbyist.
You can buy cherry shrimp at The Shrimp Farm! Order your cherries here.
Do Red Cherry Shrimp Eat Algae? (Black Beard, Hair, Green, Staghorn, Brown Diatom Algae)
FAQ
Does shrimp eat kelp?
They primarily feed on small organisms, detritus, and plant matter. This can include algae and phytoplankton. However, they are not typically known to eat kelp or sea grass, as these are generally too large and tough for them to consume.
What is shrimp’s favorite food?
- Hikari Shrimp Cuisine. Hikari is a long-lived company known for its excellent, delicious fish foods in the aquarium hobby, and their Shrimp Cuisine is no different. …
- Xtreme Shrimpee Sinking Sticks. …
- Repashy Gel Food. …
- Zoo Med Nano Banquet Food Blocks. …
- Vegetables.
What not to feed shrimp?
Meat from mammals has no business in the shrimp aquarium. Shrimp do not have intestinal muscles, they just push the food through. So you need a certain amount to make digestion work smoothly, and it shouldn’t be too substantial. So fibre is really very important to them.
What species of fish eat kelp?
Sea urchins and some species of fish, such as the Halfmoon and Opaleye, are known to eat kelp. These organisms play a crucial role in the ecosystem by controlling the growth of kelp forests.
What animals eat kelp?
Crabs are one of the most common animals that eat kelp. They use the kelp for both shelter and food. The kelp provides the crab with a place to hide from predators and a source of food. The crab will often eat the kelp when it is molting, as this is a time when they are especially vulnerable and need a nutritious food source. 5. Halfmoon Fish
Do shrimp eat seaweed?
Seaweed comes in thousands of varieties, and some are easier for shrimp to find and eat than others. Most shrimp prefer to eat other aquatic plants before seaweed, as there is a lot of algae on the bottom of the ocean or lake. If other animals haven’t eaten seaweed and it reaches the ocean floor, shrimp are more likely to eat it.
What do shrimp eat in the ocean?
While moving about on the ocean floors, shrimp will feed on any type of plant matter they can find. They enjoy eating all sorts of algae organisms and will also eat other types of dead and decayed plant matter such as tiny pieces of dead coral, leaves, roots, and much more. Is shrimp healthy to eat?
Do shrimp eat other shrimp?
While most shrimp don’t make a habit of eating other shrimp, they have been known to consume their own kind if there isn’t much other food available. Shrimp may eat another shrimp if it has molted, stripping away its defenses and tough outer exterior. A larger shrimp may eat a smaller, softer shrimp if they can’t find other food nearby.
Do shrimp eat algae?
Shrimp are actually recognized for their ability to support cleaner aquatic environments by eating decaying materials that would otherwise build up and affect water quality. This is especially true for freshwater shrimp, which mainly feed on microscopic particles of decaying algae at the bottom of the lake or stream.
Do sea snails eat kelp?
Sea snails are a type of marine mollusk that eat kelp. There are many different types of sea snail, and all of them feed on kelp. Sea snails are an important part of the food chain, and they help to keep the marine environment healthy. Kelp is a type of seaweed that grows in marine environments all over the world.