Shrimp make for a tasty snack for many fish species Their small size and abundance in many aquatic ecosystems make them an ideal food source But what fish actually eat shrimp? The answer depends on whether you’re looking at freshwater or saltwater habitats,
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the top shrimp predators in lakes, rivers, and oceans worldwide. Read on to learn what fish feast on these decapod crustaceans.
Freshwater Fish That Eat Shrimp
Several species of freshwater fish are known to consume shrimp. Here are some of the most common:
Rainbow Fish
These colorful fish found in lakes and streams around the world are omnivorous and will readily eat small shrimp. Their energetic feeding style allows them to grab quick-moving shrimp.
Catfish
From Cory catfish to plecos, many catfish eat shrimp, especially scavenging the bottom for dead or decaying shrimp. Live shrimp may also become prey.
Perch
Freshwater perch are aggressive predators that hunt down shrimp, especially younger ones. Shrimp tend to hide from perch in vegetation.
Cichlids
African cichlids like tilapia are adept shrimp hunters. Their speed and jaw strength let them overpower shrimp defenses.
Loaches
Bottom-dwellers like loaches will eat fallen shrimp or scavenge morsels left over from shrimp shells. Their sucking mouth parts are perfect for this.
Gouramis
Gouramis are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal matter When available, shrimp make for a tasty, protein-rich meal.
So most freshwater sport fish will eat shrimp when given the chance. However, vegetarian fish like goldfish avoid live shrimp.
Now let’s look at the saltwater side.
Saltwater Fish That Eat Shrimp
The massive oceans are filled with fish species dining on shrimp. Here are some of the most voracious:
Snapper
With lightning quickness, snapper pounce upon and devour small shrimp. Schools of snapper can decimate local shrimp populations.
Grouper
As ambush predators, groupers use camouflage to surprise shrimp and inhale them whole. Their huge mouths give them an advantage.
Wrasse
With varied diets, wrasses hunt shrimp both in the water column and along rocky sea floors. Their long bodies are perfect for poking into tight crevices.
Pufferfish
Normally sluggish, pufferfish transform into frenzied predators when hunting shrimp, using their beak-like jaws to crunch shells.
Eels
Shrimp make up a sizable portion of moray eels’ diets. They use their snake-like bodies to sneak up and grab unsuspecting shrimp.
Jacks
Fast and voracious, jacks will eat almost any small prey they come across, including swarms of shrimp. They may hunt cooperatively in packs.
Tuna
Large migratory tuna like bluefin feast upon shrimp, particularly in their larval stages. Tuna have evolved for speed to catch the fast-moving crustaceans.
As you can see, shrimp form an integral part of many saltwater food webs, serving as prey for apex predators and smaller species alike. Even huge fish like sharks and rays occasionally eat shrimp.
Next let’s look at a few key shrimp predators in more detail.
Top Shrimp Predators
Beyond the general species listed above, these fish are especially well-adapted shrimper hunters:
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout patrol shallow waters looking for small shrimp to grab. Their diverse diet includes a good amount of shrimp.
Betta Fish
Sometimes called Siamese fighting fish, bettas are aggressive predators that will readily devour smaller shrimp. They may even battle over shrimp prey.
Cod
Bottom-dwelling cod are well-camouflaged to surprise shrimp and vacuum them up with their large mouths. Young shrimp often fall prey.
Barracuda
With razor-sharp teeth and lightning speed, barracudas can tear through a shrimp swarm and rip them to shreds in seconds. Few shrimp escape their jaws.
Seabass
From smallmouth to giant seabass, these ambush experts lay still, allowing shrimp to come within striking distance before attacking.
So from dainty betta fish to hulking barracuda, shrimp make up an important part of the diet for diverse global fish species.
Shrimp Behavior in Response to Predators
Shrimp have evolved various adaptations and behaviors to avoid fish predators:
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Transparent bodies help camouflage shrimp against predators hunting by sight.
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Burrowing into sand or mud helps conceal shrimp from predators above.
-Schooling provides safety in numbers and confusion when predators attack.
-Erratic escape behaviors like ink clouds or quick tail-flips help shrimp evade strikes.
-Nocturnal activity means fewer encounters with daytime hunters.
-Spines and barbs make shrimp less appetizing as prey.
-Hiding in vegetation reduces visibility to roving predators.
So shrimp have developed a diverse set of defenses for dealing with constant fish predators. But many still succumb, providing nourishment to fuel food webs.
Impacts on Ecosystems
The predator-prey relationship between fish and shrimp impacts aquatic ecosystems in several ways:
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It keeps both populations in balance, preventing overpopulation.
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Removal of weaker shrimp by predators promotes genetic strength.
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Scavenging fish prevent dead shrimp accumulation.
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Both migratory fish and shrimp distribute nutrients between zones.
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Loss of key fish predators can allow shrimp overabundance and imbalance.
This interconnected relationship helps maintain equilibrium in coastal, brackish, and freshwater regions worldwide. Disrupting the link between fish and their shrimp prey harms the entire ecosystem.
For fish species across diverse habitats, shrimp provide a convenient meal packed with protein and nutrients. The abundance and small size of shrimp make them a prime target for active hunters and lay-in-wait ambush experts alike.
Understanding what fish eat shrimp provides insight into aquatic food webs and the complex predator-prey dynamics between fish and decapod crustaceans. This vital connection helps sustain underwater ecosystems across the planet.
So next time you enjoy a shrimp cocktail or scampi dinner, remember the drama playing out underwater as shrimp try to avoid becoming dinner themselves for cunning fish predators. This battle for survival never ends.
Feed or be fed
Keeping potential predators with potential prey will undoubtedly have some effect on the behaviour of both parties. Shrimp may hide more frequently and breed less frequently.
As it is, shrimp can take a while to get used to new tanks. If your shrimp are still hiding after a few weeks of being with fish, it’s possible that they’re being chased at night.
See “berried” (pregnant) female shrimp but no babies, or if you don’t see berried females even when the water conditions are perfect. Then, take a close look at the other fish in the tank.
Shrimp can miss out when it comes to feeding. Fish are usually faster to the food and less likely to run away when a shrimp shows it is a threat. Also, fish that are thought to be friendly to shrimp tend to naturally compete for the best algae or biofilm.
Without their habitual diet, young shrimp are less likely to survive. Aquascapers-to-be might also want to stay away from keeping fish with their shrimp because fish can hurt plants.
Spiny eels love to snack on shrimps.
All of this is before we even talk about how live fish can hurt shrimp! The problem is that fish will eat just about anything. That’s largely true, but not always. Many fish will indeed automatically hunt anything that is small enough for them to eat, but some won’t. And some that could, hypothetically, still don’t. And then there are those that will eat juvenile shrimp but not adults. So which fish are best to keep with shrimp?.
First, we can get rid of any big fish and cichlids (yes, that includes Angelfish and Discus). Even dwarf cichlids are hunting machines and they will quickly clear up any shrimp they can find. Amano shrimp, Caridina multidentata, may survive, but they will certainly have sense to hide. Other fish that shouldn’t be near shrimp are goldfish (of any size—their mouths are bigger and greedier than you might think), large rainbowfish, large gourami of any kind, spiny eels, large livebearers, and most loaches, especially those from the Botia genus that are known for being snappy.
With any of these, it is not a matter of if but when they will eat your shrimp. Personally, I would put the bigger tetras and barbs in this group, but I’m sure some hobbyists have kept them together without any problems.
Pseudomugil are a big maybe.
Then there are the fish that might or might not eat your shrimp.
If you don’t want to breed them, these could be a good middle ground because they will almost certainly eat the young. Nevertheless, it is worth giving your shrimp colony time to build up before you add the fish.
Adding lots of plants and hiding spots for the fish and making sure they have plenty to eat will help keep losses to a minimum. Some fish in this group are guppies, Endlers, rasboras, small danios and rasboras, Kuhli loaches, smaller pencilfish, clown killifish, and corydoras.
White Cloud Mountain minnows and the small rainbowfish of the Pseudomugilidae are also good potential tankmates.
One fish in particular that people want to keep with their shrimp is the Siamese fighter, Betta splendens. Without trying to make fish into people, keeping them with invertebrates seems to depend on the fish’s “personality” and a lot of luck. Some people have kept a Betta that didn’t bother shrimp at all, while others have had whole colonies of shrimp killed in just a few days. The same applies to Dwarf puffers, Carinotetraodon travancoricus; again, this is a gamble that may not pay off.
Otocinclus are 100% safe Who’s in?
All things considered, which fish are completely safe to keep with shrimp of all sizes?
In the first place, if it eats algae, it probably won’t want to (or even be able to) eat your shrimp, no matter how big they are. Unfortunately, these aren’t usually the bright, colorful fish that people dream of. Instead, they’re usually dull, shy grazers that only come out to move around the tank and shuffle over plants or rocks. Otocinclus and its close relatives Parotocinclus or Hypoptopoma are the most likely candidates.
If you want something a little different, you can look at Zebra otos, Otocinclus cocama, but they cost a lot more than a regular Oto. If you have the room and want something bigger, Farlowella or other thin but long suckermouths might be the way to go.
If you want a splash of color in your aquarium, I suggest the Dwarf rasboras of Boraras, especially B. brigittae, B. merah or B. maculatus. These are striking to look at, calm, not too expensive, and small enough to keep with shrimp. They also have very small mouths, which is an added bonus. Any losses will be restricted to the tiniest and youngest shrimp.
The real question isn’t “what fish can I keep with my shrimp?” but “should I keep fish with my shrimp?” And, of course, you are the only one who can decide.
It can work well if you are simply interested in keeping adults, rather than breeding.
However, after seeing your male shrimp race around the tank with all his might to find a newly formed female releasing her pheromones and then spending day after day watching your berried female grow in size until you can see eyes starting to form in the eggs, the last thing you will want is for your fish to eat your precious shrimplets.
With some time and a tank just for shrimp, you can have an aquarium full of active, colorful invertebrates that are bright enough to compete with any fish. Try it; your shrimp will thank you for it.
Crystal red bee shrimp.
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What animals eat shrimp?
Animals that eat shrimp include catfish, cod, crabs, dolphins, and birds. There are a variety of animals that eat shrimp, both in the wild and in captivity. Some of the most common animals that eat shrimp include fish, sea turtles, and manatees. Shrimp is a popular food item for many fish species, including both saltwater and freshwater fish.
Do Angelfish eat shrimp?
Unlike other types of fish that may spare the shrimp if they are housed in a large enough aquarium, Angelfish will hunt down the shrimp and eat them anyway. Betta fish are horrible tank mates for shrimp. Shrimp is a natural food source for Betta fish. They are highly predatory and aggressive as well.
Which freshwater fish eats shrimp?
Another popular group of freshwater fish that eats shrimp is tetras. Tetras have a reputation for being peaceful aquarium fish; however, they can display predatory behavior when it comes to feeding time. The combination of speed and agility makes them adept at catching elusive prey like shrimp.
Do fish eat shrimp?
While some fish can live with shrimp peacefully under the right conditions, these breeds are known to eat shrimp and should be kept away from them. Any large fish are likely to eat shrimp and so are omnivorous fish, so both of these types should be avoided.