Hey there! As a shrimp keeper for over 5 years, I’ve learned quite a bit about these fascinating little creatures and their eating habits. Today, I’m gonna share everything you need to know about feeding freshwater shrimp – from their natural diet to the best foods for keeping them healthy and thriving in your aquarium.
Quick Answer
Freshwater shrimp are omnivorous scavengers that eat both plant and animal matter. In the wild and in aquariums, they primarily feed on
- Algae and biofilm
- Decaying plant matter
- Leftover fish food
- Small organisms and detritus
- Commercial shrimp foods
The Natural Diet of Freshwater Shrimp
Biofilm: The Most Important Food Source
In nature and in our tanks biofilm forms the foundation of a shrimp’s diet. This nearly invisible layer of bacteria and microorganisms grows on every surface in your aquarium – the glass rocks, driftwood, and plants. Your shrimp will spend hours grazing on this nutritious coating.
Algae: A Shrimp’s Favorite Snack
Most freshwater shrimp species love munching on soft algae types. However, don’t expect them to be your tank’s cleanup crew – they typically won’t eat tougher algae varieties. Cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp are particularly fond of certain algae species.
Best Foods for Aquarium Shrimp
1. Commercial Shrimp Foods
We’ve tested many commercial foods and these are our top picks
-
Pellets and Wafers
- Hikari Shrimp Cuisine
- Xtreme Shrimpee Sinking Sticks
- Regular algae wafers
-
Specialty Foods
- Repashy gel foods
- Zoo Med Nano Banquet Food Blocks
- Shrimp-specific granules
2. Fresh Vegetables
My shrimp go crazy for these blanched veggies:
- Zucchini
- Spinach
- Cucumber
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Green beans
Pro tip: Always blanch vegetables before adding them to your tank! Just boil them briefly until soft, then dunk in cold water. This makes them easier for shrimp to eat and prevents water quality issues.
3. Natural Supplements
Indian Almond Leaves
These aren’t just decoration! Indian almond leaves provide:
- Growing surface for biofilm
- Natural food source as they decompose
- Beneficial tannins for water quality
- Hide-outs for baby shrimp
Bee Pollen
A fantastic natural supplement packed with:
- Calcium
- Proteins
- Essential minerals
- Vitamins
Feeding Guidelines
How Much to Feed?
Here’s my rule of thumb: Only feed what your shrimp can eat in 2-3 hours. Start small and watch how quickly they consume it. If food remains after 3 hours, you’re probably feeding too much.
How Often to Feed?
It depends on your tank setup:
- New tanks: Daily feeding recommended
- Mature tanks: Every 2-3 days is usually sufficient
- Well-established tanks with lots of biofilm: 2-3 times per week
Tips for Successful Feeding
-
Use a Feeding Dish
- Keeps substrate cleaner
- Makes it easier to remove uneaten food
- Helps monitor feeding amounts
-
Vacation Feeding
- For trips up to 2 weeks, your shrimp can survive on:
- Tank biofilm
- Snowflake food (1-2 pellets)
- Indian almond leaves
- For trips up to 2 weeks, your shrimp can survive on:
-
Baby Shrimp Feeding
- Need extra fine particles
- Powdered foods work best
- Biofilm is crucial for survival
Common Feeding Mistakes to Avoid
-
Overfeeding
- Leads to water quality issues
- Can cause population crashes
- Encourages pest snail outbreaks
-
Insufficient Variety
- Can lead to nutritional deficiencies
- May affect molting
- Might reduce breeding success
-
Wrong Food Sizes
- Too large pieces are hard to eat
- Baby shrimp need very fine particles
- Some foods dissolve too quickly
Special Considerations
Specialist Feeders
Some shrimp species have specific dietary needs:
- Filter feeders (Bamboo and Vampire shrimp)
- Algae specialists (Amano shrimp)
- Specialized cleaners (certain marine species)
Molting Support
To support healthy molting, ensure your feeding program includes:
- Calcium-rich foods
- Protein sources
- Mineral supplements
Final Thoughts
Feeding freshwater shrimp isn’t rocket science, but it does require some attention to detail. In my experience, the key to success is variety – mix up their diet with different food types while maintaining good water quality. Remember, a well-fed shrimp is a happy shrimp, and happy shrimp make for a thriving colony!
Got questions about feeding your shrimp? Drop them in the comments below – I’d love to help out fellow shrimp keepers!
Updated: August 2025
Repashy Gel Food
As tiny scavengers with tiny stomachs, shrimp prefer to constantly graze all throughout the day. That’s why Repashy gel food makes it onto our list. Simply mix the powder with hot water to form a nutritious gel food that stays water stable for up to 24 hours and yet is soft enough for shrimp to easily grab a bite. You can even feed the powder directly into the water column for the baby shrimp to eat, since newborns do not swim around a lot and can’t compete with adults during mealtime. Repashy Soilent Green is high in algae and plant matter, such as spirulina, pea protein, alfalfa leaves, and seaweed. Repashy Community Plus is a good omnivore blend made with krill, alfalfa, squid, and seaweed. Read this article to learn how easy it is to make gel food.
Xtreme Shrimpee Sinking Sticks
While most shrimp foods dissolve quickly into tiny particles to make sure the babies can get a bite, all the excess nutrients floating around in the aquarium can lead to cloudiness and dangerous water quality issues if you’re not careful. If you keep adult shrimp in a community tank and aren’t as focused on breeding for profit, Shrimpee Sinking Sticks might be a better choice for your setup. These 3 mm sticks are made to hold their shape underwater for long periods of time, giving your shrimp plenty of time to graze without their food melting into the cracks between the substrate. This staple shrimp food can be fed every day because it contains quality ingredients, calcium, and high levels of vitamins.
7 Tips for Keeping Shrimp in an Aquarium
FAQ
What do freshwater shrimp eat?
So they eat whatever is floating along with them, which is usually plankton (microscopic plants and animals). As they grow, shrimp will also eat: Algae. Dead and living plants.
Do freshwater shrimp need plants?
As a freshwater aquarium owner, it is essential to keep the right plants with your beloved shrimp. The right plants will give your shrimp the perfect place to hide or play, provide a food source, they can regulate the pH of the water and help to oxygenate the tank properly.
How often do freshwater shrimp need to be fed?
In a community tank, no specific feeding may be needed, as the shrimp will consume uneaten fish food, algae, and biofilm. In a dedicated shrimp tank or a tank with a sparse fish population, the shrimp can be fed a few times a week (with any uneaten food being removed after an hour or so).