Aquarium shrimp have become increasingly popular over the last few years. They add a new, fun element to aquariums and come in a range of colors and sizes.
Some people think shrimp are hard to take care of, but once you know how, they’re pretty simple. Here’s what you need to know about keeping shrimp in an aquarium.
As an aquarium enthusiast, you may have wondered if shrimp will snack on fish eggs in your tank. This is an important question, since you want your fish to successfully spawn and hatch. I did some digging to uncover the truth about shrimp and fish eggs.
Do Shrimp Eat Fish Eggs?
The short answer is – sometimes! Shrimp are opportunistic eaters and will consume fish eggs if hungry enough. However, there are a few factors that determine if shrimp will go after eggs:
Type of Shrimp
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Neocaridina shrimp (like Cherry Shrimp) Generally leave fish eggs alone and even help clean them of fungus. They only eat dead or dying eggs
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Amano shrimp: Known to eat both healthy and fungus-infected eggs. Not ideal tank mates for spawning fish.
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Other shrimp: Varies by species. Ghost shrimp fall somewhere in between with mixed reports.
Availability of Other Food
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Well-fed shrimp that have additional food sources like algae are less likely to go after healthy fish eggs.
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Shrimp in tanks with limited food may become more aggressive egg eaters
Egg Size and Strength
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Shrimp tend to ignore larger, tougher eggs from fish like cichlids.
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They are more likely to attack smaller, delicate eggs from species like tetras.
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Weak eggs with thin membranes are also more vulnerable.
Expert Opinions on Shrimp Eating Fish Eggs
Looking at input from experienced aquarists sheds further light on this shrimp behavior:
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One forum user kept Cherry Shrimp with Panda Cory eggs and reported seeing lots of cory fry, indicating the shrimp did not eat the eggs.
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Another aquarist directly observed Cherry Shrimp cleaning fungus off eggs but leaving healthy ones alone during fish spawning.
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There are some accounts of smaller shrimp species accidentally damaging delicate eggs while trying to clean them.
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One report mentioned neocaridina shrimp eating rainbowfish eggs when starved in a sterile container with no other food.
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Amano shrimp are frequently cited as active egg eaters that should not be kept with spawning fish.
The consensus seems to be that most shrimp, especially larger varieties like Cherry Shrimp, will not intentionally eat viable fish eggs but may opportunistically snack on dead or dying ones. Making sure shrimp are well-fed appears to be key.
Why Would Shrimp Eat Fish Eggs?
While not their preferred food, there are some reasons shrimp might take advantage of fish eggs as a protein source:
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Fish eggs provide a convenient, high-nutrition meal without exerting much effort. Shrimp are known to be opportunistic omnivores.
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Eggs may become targeted if insufficient algae, biofilm or commercial foods are available. Shrimp have a strong drive to eat.
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Some species are simply more predatory than others. Amanos have a greater reputation for egg-eating.
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Smaller shrimp may inadvertently damage fragile eggs while cleaning them of fungus or debris.
Tips to Keep Shrimp from Eating Fish Eggs
If you want your fish to successfully breed, here are some tips to minimize shrimp interfering with the process:
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Choose docile shrimp species known to ignore healthy eggs, like Cherry, Blue Velvet or Red Cherry Shrimp. Avoid Amanos.
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Supplement shrimp diet with algae wafers, blanched veggies and other foods to discourage egg-eating behavior.
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Maintain stable water parameters and minimize stressors to encourage shrimp to leave eggs alone.
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Remove berried shrimp or egg clutches if egg predation becomes an issue. Isolation may be necessary.
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Use nursery tanks or breeding traps to separate spawning fish and vulnerable eggs from shrimp.
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Increase tank cleaning to remove extra food sources and biofilm to avoid attracting shrimp.
With some planning and diligence, you can have both active fish spawns and clean-up shrimp in your aquarium. Paying attention to shrimp species, tank conditions and isolating eggs can allow both to thrive.
A Dive into the Aquatic Food Chain
The relationship between fish eggs and shrimp highlights the interconnectivity of aquarium ecosystems. To understand this linkage better, let’s take a closer look at common predators of fish eggs:
Other Fish
From bettas to cichlids, many fish find the nutritious taste of eggs irresistible. Some may even protect the nests of their own or related species.
Amphibians
Salamanders and frogs will gorge on caviar-like eggs whenever they get the chance in shared habitat.
Insects
Waterbugs, backswimmers and other aquatic insects prey heavily on fish eggs as part of their diet. Small but mighty!
Shrimp
As opportunistic scavengers, shrimp join the ranks of fish egg consumers if no better meal presents itself.
Snails
Snails like ramshorns and leeches have also been observed eating eggs in some cases. Their slow speed limits this, however.
This diversity of egg predators helps balance fish populations and ensures strong genes are passed on. It’s the circle of life at work!
Verdict: Shrimp Can Safely Live With Spawning Fish
After diving into the available information and experiences on this topic, the verdict is clear – most shrimp species can safely coexist with spawning fish given the right circumstances and precautions.
The key takeaways are:
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Select docile shrimp varieties like Cherry or Amano that won’t aggressively hunt eggs. Avoid known egg eaters.
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Keep shrimp well fed with quality foods to discourage unwanted foraging.
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Monitor tank conditions and minimize stressors and aggressive behavior.
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Isolate vulnerable eggs in a breeder box or separate tank if needed.
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Clean tanks regularly to limit attracting opportunistic shrimp.
With prudence and proper tank maintenance, your shrimp can help control algae and clean up debris without sabotaging the spawning process. The two can coexist in aquarium harmony with a balance of natural behaviors and management. You may even find shrimp act as “nannies” and help tend eggs!
So don’t hesitate to add shrimp to your community aquarium. With some basic precautions, you can have both active fish breeding and shrimp as helpful clean-up crew members. Your tank will benefit from their respective contributions to the aquatic ecosystem.
About the Author
Tracy Key has been keeping freshwater aquariums for over 10 years and enjoys sharing her experience with others. She is an avid shrimp keeper and provides advice to help aquarists succeed at fish breeding. Tracy has written extensively on aquarium care topics to help fellow hobbyists thrive in the world of fishkeeping. When not caring for her tanks, she enjoys camping and hiking with her golden retriever.
Shrimp Carry Their Eggs
Shrimp carry their eggs on the underside of their bodies, while most fish either lay eggs or keep eggs inside their bodies to give birth live. A shrimp carrying eggs is known as a berried shrimp.
The female will release sexual hormones into the water when she is ready to breed. The male will then find her and lay his eggs on her. The female will then pass the eggs under her tail.
The eggs stay there, constantly being fanned by the shrimp’s tail until they are ready to hatch. Fanning helps to provide the eggs with oxygen—just like adult shrimps need oxygen, so do the eggs. Shrimp also fan their eggs to keep them clean and ensure that mold and bacteria don’t grow.
Shrimp eggs are usually visible to our eyes and are quite fascinating to see. Some shrimp, such as cherry shrimp, are extremely easy to breed in aquariums. But others, such as amano shrimp, are much harder.
Shrimp Are Brilliant Swimmers
While their primary mode of moving around is walking, shrimp are actually really good at swimming. Because shrimp don’t have fins, they swim in a way that is different from how fish usually swim. However, shrimp can move quickly through the water.
Shrimp are best at swimming backward. These arthropods can propel themselves backward by flexing the muscles in their abdomen and tail quickly. They move their abdomen toward their body, and this projects them quite quickly through the water.
With the help of the legs on the bottom of their bodies, shrimp can swim forward, though it’s slower than swimming backward.
By Robert Woods of Fishkeepingworld.com
Featured : Adobe/Swapan
Do Red Cherry Shrimp Eat Their Babies?
Can you eat shrimp eggs?
You can safely eat shrimp eggs, as long as they’re been safely treated and preserved correctly. The flavor is slightly sweet and slightly salty. Shrimp roe noodles and shrimp roe sushi are two popular ways to eat shrimp eggs. You can also make shrimp roe kimbap, steamed shrimp roe, or you can sauté the roe in any way you desire.
Do fish eat shrimp?
They see a small, snack-sized shrimp, and they eat. Some of the more common aquarium fish that wouldn’t hesitate to munch on your shrimp include: If a fish in your tank is considered aggressive or even semi-aggressive, chances are, they will at least have a nibble at any shrimp in your tank.
Can cherry shrimp eat eggs?
However, if the eggs are not healthy or well-hidden, cherry shrimp may be tempted to eat them. If you are concerned about this, you can take steps to protect the eggs. Several popular aquarium shrimp species include the Neocaridina shrimp, Cherry shrimp, and Amano shrimp.
Do shrimp produce eggs?
They do produce eggs, but the female shrimp will carry them underneath their body until they hatch. They don’t give live birth to their young because the baby shrimp hatch out of the eggs that the female shrimp has been carrying. They aren’t born from inside the female shrimp itself.