Do Crystal Red Shrimp Eat Dead Shrimp?

Written by Noa in General Info

Whenever you house multiple shrimp in a tank, you’re bound to lose a shrimp or two. So, when one of your Crystal Red Shrimps tank mates passes away, you may wonder, will his friends eat him? 

Crystal Red Shrimp eat dead shrimp if you leave them in the tank together. Like all shrimp, Crystal Red Shrimp are scavengers and omnivores, meaning that their diet consists of any plants and animal matter that they can find.  

In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss concerns about your Crystal Red Shrimp eating their friends, what your shrimps’ diet should consist of, and whether it’s safe or not to leave a dead shrimp in the tank. 

Do Crystal Red Shrimp Eat Dead Shrimp?
Do Crystal Red Shrimp Eat Dead Shrimp?

Do Crystal Red Shrimp Eat Live Shrimp?

So, now we know that Crystal Red Shrimp will consume dead shrimp, but what about live ones? Is it normal for Crystal Red Shrimp to cannibalize one another? 

Crystal Red Shrimp do not often eat other live shrimp, but they may do so in rare circumstances. If your Crystal Red Shrimp are eating each other, it’s likely due to lack of protein in their current diet and should resolve when the proper nutrients are reintroduced to the troupe. 

So technically, your larger shrimp can go after the smaller ones if they’re not getting the nutrients they need. However, proper dietary care can easily prevent this kind of behavior. 

Soo Shrimp Breeders has a great video explaining what happens when you give your Crystal Shrimp the wrong diet and how it can lead to cannibalism within your tank:

What Crystal Red Shrimp Should Eat

Now, what exactly should you feed your Crystal Red Shrimps? As previously stated, shrimp are omnivores and enjoy a variety of plants and animal matter in their diets. 

Crystal Red Shrimp should be fed foods like:

  • Algae that occurs naturally in their tank. Shrimp are known for their insatiable appetites for algae, making them a good option for tank maintenance. They also enjoy the occasional algae pellet. 
  • Plant matter. Crystal Red Shrimp enjoy consuming bits of plant matter around their tank. Dead leaves from plants in their tanks also make for a favorite shrimp snack.
  • Tetra Blood Worms (available on Amazon). You can purchase blood worms live or freeze-dried. Both make for fantastic treats for your crystal shrimp. 
  • Small amounts of vegetables. Small bits of blanched veggies like zucchini, spinach, and lettuce are great treats for your shrimp. However, you should only offer them sparingly and remove any excess from the water if your shrimp can’t eat them all.
  • Aquatic Arts Shrimp Pellets (available on Amazon). Feeding your shrimp sinking pellets is ideal since your Crystal Red Shrimp spend most of their time at the bottom of their tank and will have easier access to food that sinks. 

Shrimp need a regular diet of plants and protein. That is why shrimp pellets are a fantastic way to ensure that your Crystal Shrimp gets all the nutrients they need. 

It’s also essential to pay attention to how much food your Crystal Red Shrimp can consume. Uneaten food will rot and result in murky, gross, potentially unsafe water. Just like you should be careful not to underfeed your shrimp, you should avoid overfeeding as well. 

So, be sure to fish out any pieces of food your shrimp have been unable to finish. Doing so will prevent gross water and keep your shrimp healthy and happy.  

Should I Remove Dead Shrimp From My Tank?

At some point in your shrimp-keeping, you’ll inevitably encounter the death of a shrimp, and when you lose a shrimp, you may be wondering what the best thing to do with the body is.

You should remove dead shrimp from your tank quickly to avoid a spike in the ammonia and nitrate levels in your tank. Like with any food left to rot in your shrimps’ water, the decomposition process releases unwanted liquids and gasses into the water polluting it.

If you accidentally miss a dead shrimp and notice your other Crystal Red Shrimp enjoying it as a tasty snack, you should still remove the shrimp’s body and check the water to ensure it hasn’t gotten too murky. 

Conclusion 

To conclude, it’s normal for your Crystal Red Shrimp to eat dead shrimp when you leave their bodies in your tank. Shrimp are scavengers, so they regularly consume both plant and animal matter. 

The Crystal Red Shrimp’s diet consists mainly of algae, dead plants, bugs, some vegetables, and specialized shrimp food. So, if you notice your Crystal shrimp snacking on a deceased friend, don’t fret. It’s normal behavior.

Just remember to remove the body to prevent murky water from developing in the future!

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