Ornamental shrimp do not have a fixed feeding schedule; you can feed them once every few days or feed them daily. Typically, they should be fed twice a day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon. In the morning, feed 30% of the total daily amount, and feed the remaining 70% in the afternoon. However, the total amount of food should be around 5-8% of their body weight. There are many food options, such as spinach (which should be prepared in advance), shrimp food, and live food.
1. How Often to Feed Ornamental Shrimp
The feeding frequency of ornamental shrimp is not fixed. Some people feed them every two or three days, as long as there are water plants in the tank, it’s fine not to feed them for a short period. Others feed them once or twice a day. More frequent feeding promotes faster growth and better health. If you feed them twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, the total amount of food should be about 5-8% of their body weight. In the morning, feed a smaller amount, about 30% of the total daily amount, and in the afternoon, feed the remaining 70%.
2. What to Feed Ornamental Shrimp
- Spinach: The most common food for ornamental shrimp is spinach, but it’s best to use homegrown spinach as store-bought spinach may have pesticide residues. Before feeding, soak the spinach in saltwater for ten minutes, then rinse it several times. After that, boil it in a pot for 3-5 minutes, remove it, and cool it with cold water before feeding it to the shrimp.
- Shrimp Food: Feeding shrimp is similar to feeding fish, and shrimp food is the artificial feed used for them. Shrimp food comes in two types: pellets and flakes, which, as the names suggest, are in the form of small pellets or thin flakes. Shrimp food is rich in nutrients and can provide various essential nutrients. However, you should not feed only one type of food, and it’s best to combine it with other feed.
- Live Food: You can also feed ornamental shrimp live food from time to time, typically using red worms or brine shrimp. However, don’t feed live food too often, as this may lead to picky eating. In addition to live food, you can provide some meat, such as fish or snail meat, but it must be cut into small pieces before feeding. Be sure to remove any leftover food promptly, as it could pollute the water quality.
