If you’re a hobby aquarium enthusiast and you’ve considered owning freshwater shrimp, you may be surprised at the high cost. The average price can vary widely but is always pretty expensive, from $3 to $15 apiece. But why are freshwater shrimp so expensive?
Freshwater shrimp are expensive because they have a high mortality rate, the harvesting process is costly, it’s pricey to ship freshwater shrimp, and COVID-19 impacted the shrimp market.
In this article, I’ll cover in detail the four reasons freshwater shrimp are so expensive, as well as how to make some extra cash by breeding shrimp to make up for the initial cost.
1. Shrimps Have an Early Mortality Rate
Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease, otherwise known as Early Mortality Syndrome, is a newly emerging disease in shrimp. It affects shrimp in Asia, spreading primarily among the four major shrimp breeding countries: China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Bangladesh. This syndrome can wipe out an entire shrimp farm in just one month.
This disease means that these shrimp-producing countries experienced a reduction in production, and therefore, the worldwide supply of shrimp is lower than the demand, driving the price up.
2. The Harvesting Process for Shrimp Is Costly
The harvesting process for shrimp isn’t easy or cheap. Ocean shrimp are going deeper into the oceans and seas, so traditional nets aren’t enough to reach them anymore. As such, there are increasing costs relating to acquiring the shrimp. Additionally, shrimp farms have to test their shrimp regularly to ensure they are healthy and don’t have Early Mortality Syndrome.
To cover the high costs of harvesting, shrimp farms have to charge more for their prawns to make a profit.
3. Shipping Shrimp Is Expensive
If you’re buying from a breeder, the breeder needs to cover their shipping costs with the price of the shrimp. There are a few options for shipping live shrimp, but none of them are cheap. USPS offers the most affordable rates for priority mail cubic or priority mail express.
Packaging is critical: shrimp need to be put in a new, corrugated cardboard box. The good news is that these boxes can be ordered for free from the USPS website. The package needs to be insulated with styrofoam lining.
Then, the shrimp must be put in an airtight plastic baggie filled halfway with water. This bag should then be placed in a styrofoam container with a lid. Shrimp are usually shipped overnight, which starts around $22, depending on the destination location.
An extensive shipping process also drives up the cost if you’re buying from a farm or a market. The shrimp must be harvested, processed, cleaned, and sent to wholesalers who distribute the shrimp to markets.
The extensive shipment process and cost, whether it’s from a breeder or a farm, drive up the price of shrimp.
4. COVID-19 Impacted the Shrimp Market
The global pandemic impacted every market and supply chain globally, and the shrimp market is no exception. During early February and March of 2020, the Chinese demand for shrimp went down drastically due to the spread of COVID-19. This led to a price reduction in the United States market in 2020, but as lockdowns are ending, the demand for shrimps is going back up.
Additionally, experts predict a 20%-50% reduction in shrimp reduction in Southeast Asia due to COVID-19 lockdowns and conditions in that area. Because of this, the global supply of shrimp is down, causing a price increase.
How to Make Money from Shrimp Breeding
If you’re alarmed by the prices of freshwater shrimp, you can try breeding your shrimp and selling them to make some of the money back. You’ll need to get high-quality shrimp and take proper care of them.
Freshwater shrimp are small, but if you’re planning on breeding your shrimp, you should go with at least a ten-gallon tank. I like the Ultum Nature Systems Ultra Clear Glass Aquarium from Amazon.com. This aquarium has a sleek and simple design that will work with any room, and the Diamant glass has 91% clarity.
Almost any fish will eat baby shrimp, so you should keep the shrimplets in their tank so they can survive into adulthood. Keep them until they are at least one centimeter in length, and then you can sell them for $30 to $50 each!
Final Thoughts
Freshwater shrimp are beautiful and can be exciting to raise at home, but you do need to consider the initial cost of the shrimp before you decide to purchase them. However, if you choose to take the plunge, you can breed your shrimp and sell them to make a profit. This way, the cost will be worth it!
Sources
- Ok Fisher: Why is Shrimp So Expensive?
- Buceplant: A Guide for Keeping Freshwater Shrimp
- Marius: Early Mortality Syndrome in Shrimp-The Facts
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