Feeding Shrimp: The Complete Guide
Feeding shrimp seems simple, but this is often where things go wrong: too much food disturbs water quality more quickly than with fish, because shrimp aquariums are often smaller and have less buffering capacity. This guide explains what, how much, and how often you should feed.
What do shrimp naturally eat?
Shrimp are omnivores that graze on biofilm, algae, and organic waste for most of the day. In a well-established, densely planted aquarium, they already get a large part of their nutrition from this – supplemental food is a supplement, not a main meal.
Types of shrimp food
Daily staple food
Sinking granules or pellet food, specially formulated for shrimp:
- Sera Shrimp Granules - water-stable granules with spirulina and willow bark
- Hikari Shrimp Cuisine - plant-based food made from seaweed, suitable for both Neocaridina and Caridina
Snacks and supplementary food
- SuperFish Shrimp Sticks - remain intact longer on the bottom, ideal for grazing over several days. Use a ceramic holder to keep the stick neatly upright
Live and fresh food
For extra protein and breeding stimulation, you can occasionally offer fresh food, such as live shrimp as food for larger inhabitants - please note: this is intended for fish that eat shrimp, not for your own shrimp colony.
How much and how often to feed?
This is where most beginner mistakes occur. Follow this rule of thumb:
- Feed 1 to 2 times a day, in an amount that is completely eaten within 2 to 3 hours
- Is there still food left after a few hours? Remove it and feed less next time
- In a well-planted, mature aquarium, you can even skip a day without the shrimp noticing - they will simply continue to graze on biofilm
Rule of thumb: better too little than too much. A shrimp colony in a healthy, planted aquarium survives fine with a little less food, but recovers with difficulty from a water quality problem due to overfeeding.
Why overfeeding is dangerous
Uneaten food breaks down into ammonia - precisely the substance that is deadly to shrimp in high concentrations. Because shrimp aquariums are often smaller (nano aquariums), too much food has a relatively greater impact on water quality than in a large community aquarium.
Feeding during molting
Shrimp molt regularly to grow. Right after molting, they are extra vulnerable and often hide. Feed a little more carefully during this period - they eat less actively anyway - and leave the shed exoskeleton: it is a valuable source of minerals that the shrimp will eat itself.
Feeding tips per situation
- New, young tank: feed carefully and in small amounts - there is still little biofilm present
- Mature, densely planted aquarium: you can go back to feeding once a day or even every other day
- Breeding tank: slightly more often and with protein-rich food like Hikari Shrimp Cuisine, for optimal growth of the young
Questions about feeding?
Feel free to visit our store in Heinkenszand for personal advice on the right nutrition for your shrimp colony, or ask your question via chat.