Feeder shrimp
Small semi-transparent crustaceans sold as live prey for aquarium fish.
Feeder shrimp, also known as ghost shrimp, glass shrimp, grass shrimp, river shrimp, or feeder prawns, are inexpensive small, semi-transparent crustaceans commonly sold and fed as live prey to larger more aggressive aquarium fish. They typically measure 1 to 3 cm (0.39 to 1.18 in) in length.
- Typical length
- 1 to 3 cm (0.39 to 1.18 in)
- Families included
- Crangonidae, Palaemonidae, Penaeidae, Atyidae
- Example species
- Crangon crangon, Palaemon varians, Palaemonetes paludosus, Macrobrachium nipponense, Litopenaeus vannamei, Caridina flavilineata, Neocaridina davidi
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Key pigments
- astaxanthin, canthaxanthin
Lore & Background
Feeder shrimp belong to several families and genera, including Crangonidae (genus Crangon), Palaemonidae (genera Palaemon, Palaemonetes, Macrobrachium), Penaeidae (genus Litopenaeus), and Atyidae (genera Caridina and Neocaridina). They are almost always available for sale at local pet stores and larger chain stores, where they are frequently kept in a small tank with other shrimp of their kind. They are relatively easy freshwater aquarium shrimp to keep. In the wild, these crustaceans mostly feed on an herbivorous diet due to an abundance of plant matter, nibbling at live plants and heavily depending on algae, especially hair algae, making them prolific algae-eaters. They also feed on insect larvae and eggs.
Reader's Guide
Feeder shrimp serve as a scavenger type in both saltwater and freshwater aquariums, constantly searching for food and acting as good aquarium cleaners. They are omnivores that subsist on tiny bits of uneaten food, dead decaying plant matter, or other soft edible matter on the tank bottom. Ghost shrimp are safe with most fish and invertebrates and will not eat live aquatic plants. They look good when kept in a tank with black gravel or substrate and a black background. Their consumption enhances the coloration of aquarium fish because they contain high levels of carotenoid pigments like astaxanthin and canthaxanthin. When hosting a ghost shrimp in an aquarium, a diverse diet can be provided including brine shrimp, algae wafers, daphnia, spirulina, bloodworm, Indian almond leaves, and mosquito larvae. Aquatic plants such as hornwort and Java moss also serve as food sources. The quantity of food depends on the amount of algae present; more algae means less supplemental food is needed. Different foods should be offered at different times in small portions, avoiding overfeeding as they tend to eat non-stop.
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