Do you have shrimp and algae together in your tank or pond? Do shrimp eat algae?
Which shrimp are the best algae eaters? I want to share my top 4 with you.
In this article, you will discover the truth behind why employing shrimp to help you with algae is a good idea.
Do Shrimp Eat Algae?
Yes. Shrimps are good eaters of algae as they will start eating algae as they grow from their early stage to their adult stage.
Plenty of shrimp spend countless hours hunting for algae to feed on:
- hard surfaces
- ornaments
- power filter intakes
- live plant leaves
- aquarium glass
They will also feed on leftovers, debris and worms in the tank, both alive and dead.
What Kind of Shrimp Eat Algae?
Various shrimps will eat algae from your tank or pond. At the same time, not all shrimps eat algae. Here a four shrimp that will eat algae whenever they come across them.
- Amano shrimp
- Cardinal shrimp
- Cherry shrimp
- Ghost shrimps
1. Amano shrimp
They are one of the algae eating shrimps you can put in your tank. They are effective algae cleaners and will perform a good job in clearing your tank of algae. Amano algae will also eat any algae that comes their way.
2. Cardinal shrimp
Cardinal shrimp are also a good exterminator of algae in the tank. They come in beautiful colors and provide a gorgeous look for your tank. They will also help eat and get rid of algae from your tank for better water quality.
3. Cherry shrimp
Cherry shrimps are one of the most popular shrimps in the aquarium hobby. It is not difficult to discover the algae-eating abilities of these shrimps as you will see them munching on them in no time. They will spend most of their day and time eating algae and biofilms from their waters.
4. Ghost shrimp
Ghost shrimps have a similar body appearance to Amano shrimps, making most people mistake them for each other. Like Amano shrimps, ghost shrimps have a clear body. They will also feed on algae every time they come across them.
Are Shrimp Omnivores?
Yes. All shrimps are omnivores, which means they will spend their lifetime eating varieties of food ranging from flesh to plants. Most shrimps will eat biofilms, small plants, algae, etc., while others will look for tastier options. You can even have these shrimps in your tank to help get rid of your algae infestation.
Several other types of shrimps eat algae. You only have to discover their algae eating abilities.
Do Shrimp Eat Algae Wafers?
Yes. Shrimp will eat algae wafers when they come across them. Although this might only apply to shrimps that eat algae, generally, shrimps will eat algae wafers.
Algae wafers are:
- highly nutritious
- provide beneficial nutrients to your shrimp
If you are feeding your shrimp with algae wafers, you will need to do that daily. The amount of algae wafers you feed to them depends on the number of shrimps you have in your tank or pond. A larger number of shrimps means you will need a large amount of algae wafers to feed them.
How To Give Shrimp Algae Wafers
You can make algae wafers a treat and give them to them once in a while. You can also include it in their diet and give them an adequate amount of it. Giving your shrimp an inadequate amount of algae wafers can tell on their health or body.
You can supplement the algae wafers with another high-quality food. You can even substitute other foods for algae wafers when feeding your shrimps. Whatever you decide to feed the shrimps, you should ensure you provide them with highly nutritious food.
Is Algae Good for Shrimp?
Yes. Algae is good for your shrimp as they provide them with high nutritional values. In the wild, shrimp eat algae, which means it has many nutritional benefits. Feeding your shrimp with algae is good for your shrimp’s health, growth and development.
If you have a stable supply of these nutrients in your shrimp food, you might not need to feed them with algae. But if your shrimp foods are not of standard quality, you might need to add algae to their diet to supplement the nutrient. Algae are good as a treat for your shrimps but will make no less impact if added to their diet.
Will Shrimp Eat Algae Off Glass?
Shrimps can eat algae off anything. You can notice your algae spending hours searching and scraping off algae from the glass of your tank. They will only not eat algae off-tank but also on structures in the tank.
You can see them surfing substrates while they pick and eat up algae they come across. Shrimps will also move about on structures in the tank, scraping and eating every alga they encounter. They will also eat algae off decorations, water devices, etc.
Algae are easy to scrape off and will cause the shrimp no stress. Most times, algae exist on the surface of structures like tank walls, decorations, water equipment, plants, etc. Your shrimp will always have to scrape them off the surface to feed on them.
How Long Do Algae Eating Shrimp Live?
Many might expect algae-eating shrimps not to live long, but the reverse is the case. Algae-eating shrimps usually live longer than most aquarists expect.
- Algae eating shrimps can live for about 2 to 3 years before giving up on life.
It occurs because of the nutritional value algae provide to shrimps. Feeding algae to your shrimp gives it the needed nutrients for its daily activities and long-term survival. Algae also help your algae-eating shrimps build their immunity, adding to their long life.
It might be tedious and require professionalism to take care of algae-eating shrimps; you can rest assured that they will live for a long while.
Are Ghost Shrimp Algae Eaters?
Yes. Ghost shrimps are efficient algae eaters. They will eat algae so well they can keep your tank clean of them within a short period. Ghost shrimps have a strong appetite for algae and will feed on them whenever they see them.
Ghost shrimps will also make a compatible tankmate for other aquatic organisms. You can keep them with different fish in the same tank and have no issues. You can also keep them with other shrimps in the same tank.
Ghost shrimps will help you provide your tank with a clean environment. They will also help maintain good water quality for your aquatic life.
Will Shrimp Eat Green Algae?
Yes. Most freshwater aquarium shrimp are detrivores by nature. This particular omnivore will consume whatever it can find.
Typically, their natural diet consists of:
- biofilm that forms on rocks and plants
- decaying plant debris
- dead fish
- meaty meals
- various types of algae including green algae
Conclusion
Shrimps will eat algae when they come across them.
Not all shrimp eat algae. All algae-eating shrimp will treat themselves to a meal of algae when they come across them. Several shrimps eat algae, like ghost shrimp and Amano shrimp.
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