Can Any Kind of Shrimp Survive in Freshwater?

There are shrimp that prefer freshwater and shrimp that prefer saltwater. There are big shrimp and tiny shrimp. Some shrimp species get along fine with fish, but others are pretty nasty towards them. It’s impossible to find a habitat that fits all shrimp due to their diversity.

Some kinds of shrimp can survive in freshwater, but some need to live in saltwater. Different shrimp species may live in oceans, estuaries, or freshwater, and each one needs water with a certain salt content to stay alive.

So, let’s discuss the various environments that different shrimp species live in. I’ll tell you about the water salinity necessary to care for shrimp and help you determine whether a shrimp can live in saltwater, freshwater, or brackish (slightly salty) water.

Can Any Kind of Shrimp Survive in Freshwater?

What Kind of Water Do Shrimps Live In?

A dinner party platter of shrimp is more familiar to most people than the types of shrimp that live nearest to people in landlocked areas. The biological diversity of these creatures has enabled them to survive in a wide array of freshwater and marine environments.

Shrimp live in cold saltwater, warm saltwater, freshwater, or estuaries, depending on their species and natural habitat. Each type of shrimp can only survive in conditions that mimic its natural habitat, so you can’t mix and match the water salinity when housing shrimp.

Cold Saltwater Shrimps

In contrast to warm-water species, cold-water shrimp live in deeper ocean waters. Some species, such as Galatheacaris abyssalis, thrive in the ocean’s depths, where temperatures are very chilly. Cold-water shrimps are usually larger than warm-water shrimps. The coastal regions of Central and Southeast Asia are also extensively fished for cold saltwater shrimp.

Warm Saltwater Shrimps

Most varieties of shrimp live in saltwater, and for the most part, they usually live in warm coastal saltwater. The South Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico fall into this category of warm water bodies.

Like most shrimp species, warm saltwater shrimp are benthic animals that live on the bottom of the ocean. Warm saltwater shrimp also make up a considerable catch in the shrimping industry.

Freshwater Shrimps

Shrimps in freshwater are generally larger than those in salt water. Because most freshwater shrimp aren’t edible, they aren’t as desirable in farming or fishing as saltwater species are. Also, freshwater specie s tend to inhabit shallower waters in landlocked bodies of water.

Because freshwater shrimp have a high tolerance for toxins and pollutants, they can even survive in slightly polluted water. Furthermore, the Japanese marsh shrimps and bamboo shrimps living in freshwaters are popular aquarium species since they possess exotic, colorful, and ornamental features.

Brine Shrimp, Farm-Raised Shrimp, and Coastal Shrimp

Estuaries are where saltwater and freshwater mix, and some shrimp species live there. The shrimp, however, usually live in the saltier portions of the estuary.

Many varieties of shrimp can also be commercially farmed, although, most of the time, only saltwater shrimp are profitable since they’re the tastiest to eat. In shrimp farms, nutrient concentrations and temperature are strictly controlled regardless of whether the water is fresh or saltwater.

The brine shrimp, or “sea monkey,” requires seawater that’s very salty, saltier even than seawater. An enclosed body of warm, excessively salted water is the only suitable habitat for brine shrimp.

Are Saltwater Shrimp Capable of Living in Freshwater?

Shrimps can’t live in both saltwater and freshwater. However, is it possible to house both shrimp types in one tank? Even if possible, nature and biology rarely allow two species to coexist in the same tank.

Saltwater shrimp can’t survive in water with a low salinity level. Saltwater shrimp require a salinity level above 35 gm/kg (0.56 oz/lb), so they can only thrive in seas and oceans. Therefore, saltwater shrimp are unable to live in freshwater.

These shrimps will bloat and die if placed in freshwater as their natural osmosis process is disrupted.

Why Are Saltwater Shrimps Unable To Live in Freshwater?

Saltwater shrimps are unable to live in freshwater due to the following reasons:

Saltwater shrimp need salt to prevent bloating.
Affected water parameters such as pH and nitrogen can kill your shrimp.
Saltwater shrimp can only eat ocean plants and animals.
Shrimp need the proper water to rear offspring.

Can Freshwater Shrimps Be Kept in Saltwater Aquariums?

Freshwater shrimps cannot be kept in saltwater aquariums. Osmosis also occurs in this case. Freshwater shrimps already have high levels of salt in their bodies. More salt causes the shrimp to lose water, leading to dehydration and death.

Is There a Shrimp That Lives in Both Saltwater and Freshwater?

There is not a shrimp that lives in both saltwater and freshwater. While some shrimps are capable of adapting to saltwater, others aren’t. However, these brackish waters aren’t considered saltwater since they have high salinity.

Shrimps are more sensitive to acclimatization than fish when placed in new tanks. So, it takes them a while to get used to new water and habitats.

Most of the time, when incorporating new shrimp into an aquarium, you will need to use the drip method. Using the drip method, it’s possible to acclimate dwarf shrimps (freshwater shrimps) to brackish water aquariums. However, freshwater aquariums simply cannot accommodate freshwater shrimp.

The Amano shrimp (Cardidina Multidentata) is most successful when you attempt to acclimate them to a saltier environment than they are used to. That’s because they breed in brackish water. However, the chances of surviving in a saltwater aquarium are slim to none.

Final Thoughts

A creature evolves to improve its chances of survival on earth. Like most life forms, saltwater shrimp have adapted to saline water. If kept in freshwater, these saltwater shrimp will die. They’re not suited for freshwater tanks. So, to keep them alive, you should make a separate tank for saltwater shrimp.