What Do Shrimp Eat? A Deep Dive into the Diverse Diets of These Crustaceans

Shrimp are amazing little creatures that come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colors. From tiny ghost shrimp to massive tiger prawns, shrimp have adapted to feast on a wide range of food sources. But what exactly do these popular seafood items eat in their natural habitats? Let’s explore the diverse dietary habits of various shrimp species.

An Overview of Shrimp Diets

Shrimp are omnivores meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Most species are opportunistic eaters and aren’t picky at all about their food sources. Here’s a quick look at some of their main dietary components:

• Algae – Shrimp eat algae growing on the seabed, on rocks and aquatic plants. Algae provides protein, vitamins and minerals.

• Detritus – Decaying organic matter is a shrimp favorite, They pick through debris on the ocean floor searching for edible bits

• Plankton – Tiny drifting plants and animals make up the plankton shrimp regularly feast on. Plankton provides essential nutrients

• Crustaceans – Smaller shrimp and crab larvae are occasionally eaten by bigger shrimp. This supplements their diet.

• Worms and insects – Shrimp locate and consume small worms, aquatic insect larvae and more for protein.

• Fish remains – Leftover tissue from dead fish is devoured by opportunistic shrimp.

• Biofilm – The thin slimy film of bacteria and algae coating submerged surfaces is grazed on.

Now let’s look at some specific shrimp species and their nutritional preferences in more detail.

Pink Shrimp

Pink shrimp, also called Caribbean pink shrimp, are a popular wild-caught shrimp. Here’s what they like to eat:

• As larvae, they feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton suspended in the water column.

• Adults forage for algae, yeast, mold, bacterial films and tiny plankton on the seafloor.

• They also eat small bivalves, plant debris and detritus.

• Their mouthparts help them scrape up and grasp food particles.

Ghost Shrimp

Ghost shrimp, or glass shrimp, are small translucent shrimp popular in aquariums. Here is their diet:

• In the wild, they are detritivores and feed on decaying leaves, wood and algae deposits.

• They use specialized fan-like mouthparts to filter organic particles from mud and debris.

• In aquariums they eat fish food, algae wafers, blanched vegetables and planted tank detritus.

Vampire Shrimp

Vampire shrimp, also called African filter shrimp, are impressive looking shrimp with long legs. They eat:

• Microorganisms like daphnia, cyclops, rotifers and plankton filtered from the water.

• Detritus filtered from aquatic plants and picked from the substrate.

• Uneaten fish food and algae in home aquariums.

Bamboo Shrimp

Bamboo shrimp are also filter feeders native to Asia. Their diet includes:

• Phytoplankton, zooplankton and microorganisms filtered from the water.

• Detritus filtered from moss, leaves and biofilms in their habitat.

• Fish food, powdered supplements and algae in home tanks.

Mantis Shrimp

Mantis shrimp are not true shrimp, but stomatopods. They are aggressive predators that eat:

• Small fish, crabs, snails, bivalves and other crustaceans they can capture with their raptorial claws.

• Worms, bristle worms, jellyfish, rotifers and other soft-bodied creatures.

• Zooplankton like krill, copepods and amphipods.

What Influences Shrimp Diets?

The specific diets of shrimp depends on a few factors:

• Type of habitat – Shrimp in coral reefs eat more plant matter while those in marshes eat more animal prey.

• Availability of food – Shrimp aren’t picky and eat what’s available in their habitat.

• Size of shrimp – Larger shrimp can capture more mobile prey compared to small shrimp.

• Specializations – Some shrimp have evolved adaptations like filter feeding mechanisms and claw types that influence diet.

While shrimp eat a wide variety of foods, most of their nutrition comes from grazing on algae, plankton and debris. Very small prey is preferred since most shrimp don’t have strong claws or chewing mouthparts. Watching shrimp pick through the seabed and filter feed is a fascinating look into their dietary habits.

Frequency of Entities:
shrimp – 73
algae – 8
detritus – 5
plankton – 5
pink shrimp – 4
ghost shrimp – 3
vampire shrimp – 3
bamboo shrimp – 3
mantis shrimp – 3
phytoplankton – 2
zooplankton – 3
bivalves – 1
daphnia – 1
cyclops – 1
rotifers – 2
bristle worms – 1