Sexy shrimp, also known as dancing shrimp, are a popular addition to nano and pico reef tanks Their vibrant colors, peaceful temperament, and quirky dancing behavior make them an entertaining presence. But keeping these shrimp healthy requires meeting their dietary needs. So what do sexy shrimp eat?
An Overview of Sexy Shrimp Diet
In the wild, sexy shrimp are opportunistic omnivores. They will scavenge for food on the substrate and coral rubble, feeding on detritus and aufwuchs. Their diet consists of:
- Detritus
- Aufwuchs
- Copepods
- Amphipods
- Phytoplankton
- Zooplankton
- Small worms
- Leftover fish food
- Coral mucus
In captivity, sexy shrimp are just as flexible and adaptive in their eating habits. They make easy work of cleaning up excess fish food, phytoplankton, copepods, and other edible particles in your tank.
But relying solely on opportunistic feeding is not enough to keep captive sexy shrimp optimally nourished Their diet should be supplemented with specialty foods to ensure they thrive
Best Foods for Sexy Shrimp
The most convenient foods for sexy shrimp are sinking pellets or flakes made specifically for invertebrates, These are formulated to meet all their nutritional requirements Some top choices include
- New Life Spectrum Marine Formula – a sinking pellet with quality marine protein sources like whole Antarctic krill
- Omega One Super Color – protein-packed sinking shrimp pellets
- Hikari Crab Cuisine – sinking sticks made of algae, shrimp, krill, spinach, and more
- API Bottom Feeder Shrimp Pellets – formulated for shrimp and other bottom dwellers
You can also feed sexy shrimp small pieces of frozen or freeze-dried prepared foods like:
- Mysis shrimp
- Brine shrimp
- Bloodworms
- Daphnia
- Copepods
- Cyclops
Take care not to overfeed with frozen foods, as leftover pieces can foul water quality. Thaw only what shrimp will consume within a few minutes 1-2 times per week.
For variety, supplement with a reef roid or coral food containing plankton, which sexy shrimp will pick at. This helps cover their need for microalgae and zooplankton.
How to Feed Sexy Shrimp
Sexy shrimp are stealthy eaters. They forage for food scraps along the substrate and on rocks. It can be tricky getting them to accept foods directly. Here are some tips:
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Target feed sinking foods. Use a turkey baster or pipette to concentrate food near their hiding spots and along the substrate. Sinking pellets or sticks have less risk of getting blown around the tank.
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Presoak foods first. Foods that initially float like freeze dried items or flakes will sink faster once soaked, making it easier for shrimp to find and eat them.
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Feed at night. Sexy shrimp are most active after lights out. Take advantage of this nocturnal behavior by feeding later in the evening. Use a red LED flashlight to monitor their feeding response.
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Use feeding dishes. Place sinking pellets or freeze dried items in a shallow dish on the substrate in their preferred haunts. This corrals food in one place for easy access.
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Remove uneaten food. Clear away any uneaten food within an hour to prevent water fouling. Sexy shrimp rarely overeat.
How Often to Feed Sexy Shrimp
For captive sexy shrimp, aim to feed a small amount of specialized food 1-2 times per week. This is in addition to any opportunistic grazing they’ll do on their own. The actual frequency depends on:
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Number of shrimp – Tanks housing more sexy shrimp need more frequent feedings. Adjust quantities accordingly.
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Presence of fish – In tanks with well-fed fish, shrimp can pick at leftovers, allowing you to feed a bit less frequently.
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Corals present – If keeping shrimp with non-photosynthetic corals like goniopora or LPS corals that need target feeding, shrimp may be able to graze on coral foods as well.
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Tank size – Shrimp in smaller tanks have less room to forage for natural foods. Supplement more often in pico tanks.
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Overall diet – Shrimp accepting prepared foods readily likely need less frequent feedings than those who won’t eat them.
The best feeding schedule involves closely observing shrimp behavior in response to feedings to hone in on the optimal frequency and amount. Signs of underfeeding include picking at coral polyps or loss of color intensity. Overfeeding risks fouling water.
Maintaining excellent water quality and providing a balanced diet are key to keeping sexy shrimp thriving in captivity. Their versatile appetites make it simple to provide proper nutrition. Following these feeding tips will help satisfy their hearty crustacean appetites.
Frequency of Entities:
sexy shrimp: 20
shrimp: 16
food: 15
diet: 6
eat: 6
feeding: 6
frozen: 3
pellet: 3
flake: 2
mysis: 2
brine: 2
bloodworm: 1
daphnia: 1
copepod: 1
cyclops: 1
reef roid: 1
coral: 1
forage: 1
graze: 1
night: 1
LED: 1
uneaten: 1
overeat: 1
pico: 1
nano: 1
picking: 1
polyp: 1
foul: 1
water: 3
quality: 2
protein: 1
spinach: 1
krill: 1
algae: 1
worm: 1
detritus: 1
aufwuchs: 1
copepod: 1
amphipod: 1
phytoplankton: 1
zooplankton: 1
mucus: 1
fish: 1
omnivore: 1
opportunistic: 2
adaptable: 1
particle: 1
thrive: 1
convenient: 1
requirement: 1
nutrition: 1
formulate: 1
variety: 1
microalgae: 1
stealthy: 1
haunt: 1
corral: 1
frequently: 1
schedule: 1
behavior: 1
response: 1
optimally: 1
hearty: 1
appetite: 1
OverviewThe Sexy Anemone Shrimp is named for its unusual body movements. When walking, Thor amboinensis sways its abdomen back and forth with exotic flair. In addition to this fascinating behavior, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp is also uniquely dressed in a reddish brown body dotted with brilliant white spots. These characteristics make the Sexy Anemone Shrimps an enchanting aquarium addition.
This fish is from the Hippolytidae family and lives in the reefs of the Indo-Pacific. It is usually found among the tentacles of an anemone. The Sexy Anemone Shrimp, on the other hand, usually sits on a coral fragment or piece of live rock in a home aquarium. Most of them are as brave and pretty as they are, and they will look for meaty foods anywhere in the aquarium.
The Sexy Anemone Shrimp should be kept in small groups and fed a variety of foods, such as plankton and flaked, frozen, and meaty foods. It is peaceful towards members of its own species and other tankmates. Fish that eat other fish shouldn’t be kept with Sexy Anemone Shrimp because the fish could attack the small shrimp.
Interestingly, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp is a relatively fast grower and will molt about once a month. However, most Sexy Anemone Shrimp will grow only to a maximum size of around 1-1/2″. Although very hardy, it requires a slow acclimation process to avoid any salinity and/or pH shock. Like other invertebrates, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp cannot tolerate high nitrate or copper levels. To promote proper molting, sufficient iodine levels must be maintained.
Approximate Purchase Size: 1/4″ to 3/4″
All About The Sexy Shrimp
What do Sexy Shrimp eat?
Sexy Shrimp are carnivores. They accept a wide range of fish, shrimp, or sea anemones as food. In the absence of anemones, they will require some food. No direct feeding is necessary, as they can also feed off the slime of corals in the aquarium and on trapped organisms within it.
How to care for a Sexy Shrimp?
To care for a Sexy Shrimp, maintain a stable salinity level of 1.023-1.025 (specific gravity) in their tank. Keep the water temperature in the range of 75-79°F (24-27°C) using a reliable aquarium heater.
At what temperature do sexy shrimp feed?
Sexy shrimp feed in water temperatures ranging from 72-82°F (22-27°C). They thrive in tanks with pH levels ranging from 8.1-8.4, salinity levels around 1.023 – 1.025, and a calcium concentration between 400-450 ppm. Water alkalinity should be kept in the 7-12 dKH range. Sexy shrimp prefer water temperatures similar to tropical environments.
Which fish prey on Sexy Shrimp?
The sexy shrimp’s tank mates should be small and calm fish such as gobies, blennies, and pygmy angels. Wrasses, seahorses, pipefish, and butterfly fish should not be in the same tank since they have a tendency to prey upon the shrimp. The sexy shrimp’s tank mates should be small, calm fish.