Hey there fellow shrimp keepers! I’ve been keeping aquarium shrimp for years now, and one of the most common questions I get is about feeding these tiny critters. Today, I’m gonna share everything you need to know about keeping your shrimp well-fed and healthy.
Quick Answer
Aquarium shrimp are natural scavengers that eat a varied diet including:
- Commercial shrimp foods
- Vegetables
- Biofilm and algae
- Decaying plant matter
- Dead organic material
Best Commercial Foods for Aquarium Shrimp
Let me break down the top commercial foods that we’ve tested and our shrimp absolutely love
1. Hikari Shrimp Cuisine
This is my personal favorite and go-to food for both baby and adult shrimp. Here’s why:
- Tiny sinking pellets perfect for all shrimp sizes
- Contains natural color enhancers from krill
- Has essential calcium for healthy molting
- Includes seaweed and spirulina for balanced nutrition
2. Xtreme Shrimpee Sinking Sticks
These are great for community tanks because:
- 3mm sticks that maintain shape underwater
- Don’t cloud your water
- Perfect for adult shrimp
- High in vitamins and minerals
3. Repashy Gel Foods
We love these because
- Stays stable for up to 24 hours
- Can be fed directly as powder for baby shrimp
- Available in different formulations:
- Soilent Green (high in algae content)
- Community Plus (omnivore blend)
Natural Foods and Supplements
Vegetables
My shrimp go crazy for these veggies
- Canned green beans (their absolute favorite!)
- Sliced carrots (helps enhance colors)
- Blanched zucchini
Pro tip: Don’t overdo it with veggies – remove uneaten portions after 24 hours to avoid water quality issues.
Catappa (Indian Almond) Leaves
These are amazing because:
- Creates biofilm for baby shrimp
- Releases beneficial tannins
- Natural food source
- Use 1 leaf per 20 gallons
Feeding Tips and Tricks
Proper Feeding Schedule
I’ve found this schedule works best:
- Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily
- Watch for leftover food after 2-3 hours
- Adjust portions based on consumption
Signs of Overfeeding
Watch out for:
- Cloudy water
- Food accumulating on substrate
- Spike in ammonia levels
- Decreased shrimp activity
Special Considerations
For Baby Shrimp
- Need smaller food particles
- Require more frequent feeding
- Benefit from powdered foods
For Breeding Colonies
- Higher protein requirements
- Need more calcium supplementation
- Require varied diet
Common Feeding Mistakes to Avoid
- Only feeding one type of food
- Overfeeding vegetables
- Not providing enough calcium
- Forgetting about biofilm importance
- Using copper-heavy foods
My Personal Feeding Routine
Here’s what works for my shrimp tanks:
Morning:
- Small portion of Hikari Shrimp Cuisine
- Check for leftover food
Afternoon:
- Alternate between vegetables and gel food
- Remove any uneaten vegetables
Evening:
- Light feeding of sinking pellets
- Monitor shrimp activity
Extra Tips for Success
- Keep catappa leaves in the tank constantly
- Rotate between different food types
- Feed less during water changes
- Monitor molting frequency
- Watch for color changes
Emergency Food Options
If you run out of commercial food, these work great:
- Blanched spinach
- Crushed fish flakes
- Algae wafers
- Boiled lettuce
Feeding aquarium shrimp isn’t rocket science, but it does require attention to detail and variety. Remember, these little guys are natural scavengers, so they’re pretty adaptable. Just keep their diet varied, don’t overfeed, and watch your water quality.
Got any questions about feeding your shrimp? Drop them in the comments below! I’d love to hear about your experiences and share more tips.
P.S. Remember that every tank is different, so you might need to adjust these guidelines based on your specific setup and shrimp population.
Would you like me to explain anything in more detail? I’m happy to dive deeper into any aspect of shrimp feeding!
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.
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. These tiny sinking pellets are great for breeding crystal and cherry shrimp because they’re tiny enough to be eaten by both babies and adults. (If you prefer a larger pellet size, Hikari Crab Cuisine is a very similar food for shrimp, snails, crayfish, and crabs.)
Shrimp Cuisine is a comprehensive shrimp diet that contains vegetable matter like seaweed and spirulina algae, as well as natural color enhancers like krill. It also provides calcium and other vitamins to promote healthy molting and growth. Beginner shrimp keepers often fear that the copper in shrimp foods can harm their invertebrates, but many shrimp foods such as Shrimp Cuisine contain trace amounts of copper that are necessary for the shrimp to make blood or hemocyanin.
What Do Red Cherry Shrimp Eat? FEEDING RED CHERRY SHRIMP THE BEST FOODS FOR COLOR, GROWTH AND EGGS!
FAQ
What do you feed aquarium shrimp?
Do shrimp need plants in an aquarium?
In the end, aquarium plants are a good idea when keeping dwarf shrimp. The ideal environment for freshwater shrimp includes plants and greenery that provide them with a good source of food and nutrition while also giving them a place to play or hide, which they love to do.
How to keep shrimp alive in an aquarium?
To keep shrimp alive in an aquarium, maintain stable water conditions, including proper temperature (68-74°F), pH (6.5-7.5), and water hardness. Ensure the tank is fully established with a good filtration system and provide hiding places like plants, driftwood, or rocks.
How often should I feed shrimp in an aquarium?
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).