How to feed shrimp

The short answer

Shrimp are grazers. In a settled tank they spend the day picking at biofilm, algae and decaying plant matter, and the food you add is a supplement to that. A small colony needs very little, and the safest habit is to start low and watch.

Step by step

1. Feed small portions

Offer only what the colony can finish in a few hours. For a small colony that can be a pinch of food. Shrimp also graze biofilm and algae all day, so they are rarely as hungry as they look.

2. Pick a sinking food

Use a food made for shrimp or a small sinking pellet or powder so it reaches the shrimp instead of floating to the filter. Rotate between a staple food and occasional extras so the diet stays varied.

3. Add greens and leaf litter

Blanched vegetables such as spinach or zucchini, and dried leaves sold for aquarium use, give shrimp something to graze and grow biofilm on. Remove vegetables after a day so they do not rot.

4. Remove what is not eaten

Siphon out leftover food after a few hours, especially soft food. Rotting food fouls the water faster than any other cause in a small shrimp tank.

5. Skip feedings now and then

Many keepers skip a day or two each week. If the tank is mature and has plenty of biofilm, a missed feeding is much safer than an extra one.

Feeding and water quality

Uneaten food breaks down into ammonia, and a small tank has little room to absorb it. If you see cloudy water, a film on the surface or white fuzz on leftovers, cut back. Test ammonia and nitrite if shrimp stop grazing or hide more than usual.

Feeding does not change what the water needs to be. Neocaridina in dechlorinated San Diego tap and Caridina in RO water have different targets, so check the water parameter table for your species, and keep feeding portions small while a new tank is still maturing. Shrimp also eat the shell they have just shed, so see shrimp molting before you remove one.

Questions we get asked

How often should I feed shrimp?

Once a day is the most a typical tank needs, and a mature planted tank with biofilm and leaf litter often needs less. Watch how fast the food disappears and adjust, rather than following a fixed schedule.

How can I tell if I am overfeeding shrimp?

Food is still on the substrate hours later, the water turns cloudy or smells, white fuzz grows on leftovers, or ammonia and nitrite readings climb. Cut the portion and remove the leftovers.

Can shrimp survive without food while I am away?

A healthy shrimp in a mature tank with biofilm, plants and leaf litter can usually go a few days without being fed. For longer trips, ask a reliable person to feed a small amount rather than dropping in a large dose. Do not rely on an untested feeding block.

Do shrimp need special food?

Shrimp do well on foods made for them, but they are scavengers and will also eat blanched vegetables and biofilm. Check the label on any food or supplement, and avoid anything that lists copper as an active ingredient, because copper is toxic to invertebrates.

Do Caridina need different feeding from Neocaridina?

The foods are similar. The difference is the tank: Caridina need a mature, stable tank with plenty of biofilm before they go in, so feed lightly and keep the water clean. See the Caridina guide for the water they need.

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