Have you ever wondered if clownfish can eat shrimp? Will they attack and eat live shrimp? We should look at if clownfish and shrimp could actually live together.
Let’s keep in mind that clownfish are omnivores.. They can most certainly eat a variety of blended shellfish or fish flakes as a regular meal.
Can Clownfish Eat Shrimp? Yes clownfish will eat shrimp as long as they can fit the shrimp in their mouth. Shrimp is high protein and will provide a nice meal for your clownfish.
Although they are cute and fun to look at, clownfish could get territorial and aggressive. If a shrimp gets in their way, they may become a target of attack. Let’s find out if they’ll actually eat them alive.
Can Clownfish Eat Raw Shrimp?
Yes! If we decide to feed our clownfish some raw shrimp, they can eat it. Feeding shrimp to fish in a tank is not very common however.
The go-to meal in an aquarium is usually fish flakes. This is not something a saltwater fish is used to in the wild, but clownfish are not fussy eaters!
The best news of the day is that because clownfish aren’t picky, you can feed them a variety of meat and plant based food including raw shrimp. You can cut them up or throw them in whole. Watch and see your clownfish devour that raw shrimp.
How much Shrimp Should You Feed a Clownfish?
Juvenile clownfish could eat up to 4 times a day, but 1-2 times a day is the recommended for most clownfish. Shrimp come in many varieties and sizes, so it’s best the start with 1-3 shrimps and go from there.
If we’re feeding clownfish pellets of fish food, 5-6 pellets would suffice per feeding. If we’re looking to add more variety to their diet, then we have to play it by ear. Go slow and see how it goes.
Clownfish will gladly eat shrimp, but sometimes they’ll play around with it if they aren’t too hungry.
Some clownfish will spit them out and take another shrimp into their mouth, then spit them out too! Clownfish are silly fish, but they’ll let you know when there’s too much food.
Can any Shrimp Live Safely with Clownfish?
Yes. Shrimp and clownfish can coexist in the same tank, but there must be enough room for them. The aquarium must be peaceful without the stress of territorial disputes. Clownfish will not back down if their home is threatened.
A mated pair of clownfish will make sure to protect their space. A female will also be aggressive to its neighbors if they constantly get too close. Clownfish can bully shrimp and attack them, but that doesn’t mean they’ll eat the shrimp.
If a clownfish is fed regularly, they won’t need to chomp up a shrimp. The shrimp may end up losing antennae or a missing chunk of their body could cause disease and eventual death. Even if this happens, the clownfish may not care to eat the shrimp.
The territory is the key. Give the clownfish their space, preferably an anemone to host them and watch them live peacefully.
Stick your hand near them or provoke them by placing shrimp very close to them and watch how a clownfish uses their little teeth to bite back.
Will Clownfish Eat Brine Shrimp?
Absolutely! Some people compare brine shrimp to a clownfish like candy to a child. They love them!The problem is the same however. Brine shrimp do not have much nutrition in them.
Remember to mix up plants in their meals. Algae or even small pieces of romaine lettuce could be mixed up with finely chopped brine shrimp. Some pet stores offer brine shrimp infused with spirulina which is a plant based superfood.
If the brine shrimp are still alive and placed near clownfish, they may end up becoming dinner. Clownfish request for ample space in a tank or else they’ll get aggressive and bully any intruders. Brine shrimp can be small enough to be eaten whole by clownfish.
Will Clownfish Eat Baby Brine Shrimp?
Oh yes! If brine shrimp is like candy to a clownfish, then baby brine shrimp is like sugar crystals. They love eating them, but there is little nutritional value.
There are solutions to this. Children are enticed to take vitamins that have a sugar coating on them. Clownfish will eat brine shrimp that are soaked or dipped in vitamin solutions. This is a great way to supplement their diet with vitamins mixed with water.
Dunk the baby brine shrimp in the solution first, then feed them to clownfish the way we feed ourselves sugar based snacks.
Will Clownfish Eat Cleaner Shrimp?
Cleaner shrimp help out most fish by eating parasites of their bodies. This is a symbiotic relationship that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Clownfish tend to avoid cleaner fish in most cases because they don’t like intruders in their territory.
The cleaner shrimp may approach, but the clownfish may bite back. Some clownfish bite the tail or antenna of a cleaner shrimp, but they don’t do it for feeding. Female clownfish will take a bite to exert their dominance, but not out of hunger.
Chop up some cleaner shrimp and mix it into their meal and clownfish will eat them. Clownfish are not fussy eaters, but they won’t pursue cleaner fish in the tank to eat them.
Will Clownfish Eat Peppermint Shrimp?
The cool thing about peppermint shrimp is that they’re really good at hiding. They tend to steer clear of predatory fish like lionfish. Clownfish are not looking to hunt down any peppermint shrimp.
They can definitely coexist in the same tank. It’s more than likely that the peppermint shrimp will avoid going near clownfish. If they get too close, watch out! Clownfish will take a bite, but most likely it will be out of instinct to protect their space.
Will clownfish eat peppermint shrimp that is added into their balanced meal for the day? Sure.
Will you be chopping up peppermint shrimp and feeding them to your clownfish? Go ahead. Clownfish are not fussy, so they’ll eat some. Will they actively pursue peppermint fish? Not likely.
Conclusion
Clownfish are territorial, but they are not picky eaters. Feed them shrimp and they’ll eat them. Give them enough space in the aquarium and they’ll avoid each other.
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