Hey there! I’m Mike, and I’ve been keeping cherry shrimp for over 5 years now. One of the most common questions I get from fellow shrimp keepers is about feeding frequency. Today, I’m gonna break down everything you need to know about feeding your cherry shrimp the right way.
The Quick Answer
For most cherry shrimp tanks, feeding 2-3 times per week is ideal. However, the exact frequency depends on your tank setup and shrimp population. Let me explain why…
Factors That Affect Feeding Frequency
Tank Age Matters!
- New Tanks (< 6 months): Feed daily or every other day
- Established Tanks (> 6 months): Feed 2-3 times per week
- Heavily Planted Tanks: Can reduce feeding to 1-2 times per week
Population Size is Critical
- Small Colony (< 25 shrimp): Feed every 2-3 days
- Medium Colony (25-100 shrimp): Feed every other day
- Large Colony (100+ shrimp): Feed daily
Why You Shouldn’t Overfeed
I made this mistake when I first started – overfeeding my shrimp thinking they needed lots of food. But here’s the truth:
- Cherry shrimp are constant grazers
- They get lots of nutrition from biofilm in your tank
- Overfeeding leads to:
- Poor water quality
- Algae blooms
- Potential shrimp deaths
The Perfect Feeding Schedule
Here’s what works best in my experience:
For Most Tank Setups:
Monday: Main feeding (algae-based food)Wednesday: Light feeding (protein-based food)Friday: Main feeding (algae-based food)Weekend: No feeding (let them graze naturally)What About Different Tank Types?
Heavily Planted Tank
These tanks have lots of natural food sources. My schedule for planted tanks
- Feed once every 3 days
- Small portions only
- Focus on protein-rich foods
Bare Bottom/Minimal Setup
Without plants and natural biofilm
- Feed every other day
- Slightly larger portions
- Mix of algae and protein-based foods
Signs You’re Feeding Right
Watch for these indicators:
- Shrimp actively grazing between feedings
- Food gone within 2-3 hours
- Stable molting patterns
- Regular breeding activity
Signs You’re Feeding Wrong
Warning signs to watch for:
- Food remaining after 4 hours
- Cloudy water
- Declining shrimp population
- Irregular molting
Pro Tips From My Experience
-
Test Before Trusting
Start with feeding every other day and adjust based on your shrimp’s behavior. -
The Two-Hour Rule
Remove any uneaten food after 2 hours. Trust me, this saved my colony more than once! -
Vacation Feeding
For trips under 2 weeks, your shrimp will be fine without feeding in an established tank. I’ve done this many times!
Common Feeding Mistakes
-
Overfeeding New Tanks
New tanks don’t have enough biofilm. Start slow and increase gradually. -
Ignoring Tank Maturity
Many keepers feed the same amount regardless of tank age. Big mistake! -
Not Adjusting for Population
As your colony grows, you’ll need to adjust feeding accordingly.
Special Considerations
Breeding Periods
When you notice lots of berried females:
- Increase feeding frequency slightly
- Add more protein-rich foods
- Watch for uneaten food
Seasonal Changes
During warmer months:
- Metabolism increases
- Might need to feed slightly more
- Watch water parameters closely
Final Thoughts
Remember, every tank is different. These guidelines worked great for my tanks, but you might need to adjust based on your specific setup. The key is observation – watch your shrimp and they’ll tell you if they need more or less food.
If you’re still unsure, start with feeding every other day and adjust from there. It’s better to underfeed slightly than to overfeed. Your cherry shrimp are pretty good at finding food in between feedings!
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my other articles about cherry shrimp care and breeding tips!
How Often and How Much to Feed Shrimp
So, how often and how much to feed dwarf shrimp in the tank? These are one of the first questions new shrimp keepers typically ask. And while it might sound like simple ones, the answer is anything but.
In fact, there are almost as many answers to this question as there are shrimp tanks. Generally, the amount and frequency of feeding depend on your tank set up, livestock, shrimp’s age, and the size of the shrimp colony.
Each set up is unique and requires a different approach when it comes to feeding. The problem, though, is that these general explanations usually do not help much, especially for somebody who is new to this hobby.
Therefore, in this article, you will find out ways to figure out how often and how much to feed dwarf shrimp in the tank, how to prevent overfeeding, shrimp’s food preferences, natural habits, and some other useful information.
Dwarf Shrimp’s Natural Diet
Before we jump into discussions, I would like to start off with a general description of what dwarf shrimp eat in nature. That will help you to better understand their feeding requirements.
According to multiple studies, an analysis of the stomach contents of dwarf shrimp indicated that they are considered omnivorous scavengers. It means that they can eat any organic matter that falls on the bottom of the tank. It can be any:
- fish food, shrimp food, crab food, flakes, pellets, etc.,
- vegetables,
- dying plants and leaves,
- different types of algae,
- tiny microorganisms that form a biofilm,
- fish or snails waste,
- dead fish, dead snails, or even other dead shrimp,
- detritus of any type.
As we can see, dwarf shrimp are detritivorous. They will eat anything they come across in the tank. It makes them an amazing cleaning crew.
How Often Should You Feed Red Cherry Shrimp?
FAQ
How long can cherry shrimp go without feeding?
Is 10 shrimp enough to start a colony?
As a rule regular shrimp colony starter will be about 10 shrimp. If its expensive kind, it can be trio but you have to be able to keep them healthy and happy and it’s not that easy sometimes. If conditions are good they will breed fast. Do you have any other inhabitants in the tank?
Should I feed shrimp every day?
Once you start seeing babies, its best to up the powder feedings to twice a week. Don’t be afraid to feed your shrimp twice a day, if you feed a little less each time. This will give you the ability to feed more types of food, so they can get a more varied diet.Dec 7, 2021
Do cherry shrimp multiply fast?