Shrimp are fun to watch and can add an interesting color variation to a tank. However, they also require a lot of work and care.
They react very poorly to sudden changes in water conditions, much more so than fish. This makes water testing and acclimation crucial to their survival.
1. They’re Not Easy to Keep
Rare caridina shrimp are fascinating creatures to observe, and it’s hard not to fall in love with their acrobatic antics. But these crustaceans are not easy to keep, and if you’re not prepared for the challenge, it’s easy to spend a lot of money with very little to show for it.
First of all, shrimp are extremely sensitive to sudden changes in water parameters. They don’t do well with abrupt changes in pH, GH, KH, or nitrates. This makes them more prone to disease and parasites, especially when the water is too hot or too cold. This is one of the main reasons why many hobbyists prefer to keep their CR shrimp in a tank larger than 20 gallons, as it allows for a slower rate of change.
This sensitivity to changes in water conditions can also make it difficult for shrimp to reproduce and breed. It’s important to start with high quality shrimp (A or S grades) as they’re more likely to produce good offspring. The B and C grades are best suited for food or to sell at a cheaper price.
Additionally, a shrimp tank needs to be stocked with live plants to provide a suitable environment for breeding. These live plants will also help with the nutrient cycling and provide places for the shrimp to hide. Many of the same acclimation techniques used for fish can be used with shrimp, such as adding small volumes of freshwater over time or using drip acclimation kits to reduce stress.
It’s worth noting that shrimp are a very communal animal and will prefer to be kept in groups of at least ten. This is because they like to graze as a group, and hiding places will allow them to avoid being preyed on by more aggressive shrimp or fish. They can even benefit from the use of a gravel or sand substrate because they need less organic material to thrive.
Another thing to note is that it’s not a good idea to mix different species of Caridina shrimp together. This is because they’re very close genetically and the offspring can sometimes experience undesirable mutations.
2. They’re Expensive
A fresh shrimp in cocktail sauce or a hearty bowl of gumbo is delicious, but the crustacean can carry a high price tag. Shrimp prices are often determined by the fact that they’re rare. Rarity is a powerful force that can drive people to pay irrational amounts for something that has no intrinsic value. This can be attributed to the perception of rarity as a status symbol or a desire to own something limited.
When you’re dealing with rare freshwater shrimp, this is particularly true. These unique creatures can range in price from $10 to $10,000 based on their rarity, which is determined by breeding for specific colors and patterns. The color and pattern variations in freshwater shrimp are the result of genetic mutations, and breeders use a variety of methods to produce new varieties. The most expensive shrimp in the world are the Japanese Wakame Shrimp, which can sell for $300 per pound due to their delicate flavor and transparency.
In addition to their hefty price tags, rare freshwater shrimp can also be quite sensitive. These animals are often subjected to a wide variety of stresses in their early lives, including shipping and handling, and this can lead to behavioral changes, disease, and even death. This is why it’s important for anyone who wants to keep rare freshwater shrimp to invest in a good aquarium and quarantine system.
It’s not uncommon for people to get into rare freshwater shrimp keeping because they think it will be an easy way to make money. The truth is that it’s not at all easy and is best left to those with extensive experience who know what they’re doing. Anyone who gets into this hobby without enough knowledge will likely find themselves dropping a lot of cash on a hobby that isn’t nearly as lucrative as it sounds.
You can’t keep rare shrimp without a good setup and a large amount of time to dedicate to the effort. Additionally, the cost of maintaining a shrimp tank can be very expensive. It’s necessary to buy test kits to measure water parameters like pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates and to invest in a drip acclimation kit to avoid shock from rapid water changes.
3. They’re Not Easy to Breed
Shrimp breed very quickly, and can often be bred in small tanks. In the shrimp hobby, breeding is seen as an educational and fun project that can also be a way to earn some extra money on the side. Depending on the grade and rarity of your shrimp, you can sell them for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per individual.
However, not every shrimp breeder is a master at the craft of breeding. In fact, some breeders exclude specimens that don’t meet their breeding standards for a variety of reasons. These include bleak coloring, less attractive patterns, or a short carapace that leaves the gills exposed. This practice is known as selective breeding, and it’s a critical part of any successful breeder’s strategy.
Selective breeding has a few downsides: first, it can make your shrimp less resilient to disease and infection. Second, it can lead to a decrease in genetic diversity. In other words, if you only breed your shrimp to the point that they are genetically identical, you’re losing out on all the potential genetic variations in the gene pool. This is why it’s important to have a diverse population of shrimp in your tank at all times.
In addition, selective breeding can have a negative impact on your water quality. This is because, when you breed your shrimp, you’ll inevitably lose some of the natural bacteria in your tank. This can cause your shrimp to suffer from ammonia poisoning, which is incredibly dangerous for them.
To prevent this, you’ll want to have a healthy population of bacterial and ammonia-removing filter bacteria in your tank. To maintain a balanced environment, you’ll also need to have enough organic material in your tank to support the growth of these organisms.
If you’re a newcomer to the shrimp hobby, be prepared for a steep learning curve. The more you learn, the better your chances of success when it comes to breeding. Thankfully, there are lots of communities on social media (like Reddit’s r/shrimptank) to help you out. Just be sure to ask questions and research any information you find conflicting.
4. They’re Not Easy to Clean
The crowd-pleasing crustacean comes in all forms, from teeny Bay shrimp to colossal prawns, farm-raised and wild. But it’s also a bit of a chameleon, changing color to match the dappled sunlight on the sea floor or the rich hues of its cooking sauce. It’s not easy to shop for, prep or cook, but it’s always worth the effort.
The first step is making sure you’re working with a fresh, whole shrimp. Most of the time, the person behind the seafood counter will have removed the heads and legs for you, but it’s a good idea to do them yourself to be certain you’re not buying something that was previously frozen or overcooked. The second visual cue is the shape. Shrimp curl up into a tight “C” shape when cooked, and they’re overdone if they curve into a more open, “O” shape. If the shrimp are a dark brownish green or even red, that’s a good sign they’re overcooked and dry.
Next, you need to clean the shrimp. You can skip this step if you’ve bought shell-on shrimp that’s been deveined for you at the fish counter, or you can use a pair of kitchen shears (this petite pair from Joyce Chen works well). If you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at a deveiner that looks like a cross between a lobster claw and an electric toothbrush, but Chef Eric Ripert, who wrote the new book Seafood Simple, says these gadgets are unnecessary. A sharp paring knife or kitchen scissors with short blades can handle the job just fine, he says.
Once you’ve peeled the shells, you’re ready to remove the dark vein that runs along the back of the shrimp. Technically, that’s not actually a vein—it’s the end of the shrimp’s digestive tract and it looks like a thin string filled with dark grit. You can leave it in or remove it, but it adds an unpleasant flavor that you may not want in your finished shrimp.
A final note about cleaning: If your fresh or frozen shrimp smells of ammonia, that’s a bad sign. It means they’ve gone off and won’t be any good for you to eat.