What Do Shrimp Eat: Different Types & Their Individual Food Habits!
Shrimps are one of the most unique sea animals and we all know that. Shrimps are eaten almost in every country around the globe and people love the amazing taste of it. what most of the people don’t know is that there are more than 1000 types of shrimps available. Recently a lot of people have been wondering what is the diet of the shrimps or what do shrimp eat. If you are someone curious about the same question, then you are at the right place. Our blog will inform the readers about the various types of shrimps available around the world, their type of diet, and some amazing facts about shrimps that you didn’t know before.
Table of Contents
What Do Shrimp Eat & Their Different Types?
Let us take a detailed view of the different types and what do shrimp eat.
1. Brown Shrimps
Brown shrimps can be found on the Atlantic side, and they have more of a mineral shape. These shrimps consist of more iodine and their taste also depends on the type of diet they consume. Apart from being called brown shrimp, it also goes by the name bay shrimp, sand shrimp as well as common shrimp. Brown shrimp at first live in the shallow water but as they keep growing they start moving to salty and deep water. So, now let’s take a look at what do shrimp eat?
What do the brown shrimps eat?
Brown shrimps are generally known to survive on a species of plant called plankton. Plankton is found in the sea as well as ocean and they are tiny floating plants. When the shrimps grow big and turn into adults they become omnivorous and start feeding on algae and worms.
2. White shrimp
White shrimp or whiteleg shrimp is a widely known shrimp and they are generally found in the Pacific Ocean. Apart from being called white shrimps, they are also known as southern shrimp, green shrimp, common shrimp, and northern white shrimp. The white shrimp has around 10 long walking legs, their body has a light gray color and the part around the tail is generally green in color.
What do white shrimps eat?
These white shrimps when they are younger, start by feeding on plankton which is floating animals and plants. As they grow old and start becoming adults, they start feeding on microorganisms as well as small fishes that are found inside the sea. Cannibalism is followed among the white shrimp as well.
3. Pink Shrimp
Pink Shrimps also go by the name Pandalus borealis and these pink shrimps are generally found in the cold parts. These shrimps can be found mostly in the northern part of the Atlantic and also in the Pacific Ocean. These shrimps also go by the name northern shrimps. Some of the other names are deep-sea prawn, grooved shrimp, Pushed shrimp as well as green shrimp. They have 10 walking legs and five pairs of swimming legs.
What do pink shrimps eat?
The pink shrimp when young and newly born start by feeding on plankton which are tiny floating plants as well as animals that are found in the sea. As they start growing older they become omnivorous and start feeding on yeast, slime, bacteria, algae, mollusks, and many more.
4. Tiger Shrimp
Tiger shrimp also goes by the name giant tiger prawn and this prawn or shrimp is generally found in the Indian Ocean. When they are born, they are generally found near the coast, but as they keep growing, they move into deep water. These shrimps are usually dark-colored and are consumed by humans as well.
What do tiger shrimps eat?
When the tiger shrimp are born, they survive on plankton, which are tiny floating plants and animals found inside the sea. The food consumed by the tiger shrimps are mollusks, crustaceans, and plants.
5. Rock Shrimp
The rock shrimp is also called brown rock shrimp in many places around the globe. These types of shrimps are generally found in the Atlantic Ocean and it is a very famous seafood as well. These shrimps generally live in the sand bottoms and are active mostly in the night.
What do rock shrimps eat?
The brown rock shrimp, when younger feed on plankton which are tiny floating animals and plants. As they grow old, they start feeding off the ocean floor and also consume mollusks and crustaceans.
Interesting Facts About Shrimps
After knowing what different types of shrimps eat, let us know some interesting facts about shrimps
1. They are not small in size
People have a very wrong idea that shrimps are small in size but that is so not true. Shrimps can be as long as 12 inches or more as well.
2. Shrimps contain cancer-fighting mineral
Shrimps when eaten by humans can help them in fighting cancer in the near future. Moreover, shrimps tend to have a mineral that helps in fighting cancer and helps in preventing the growth of cancer.
3. Most of the shrimps are omnivorous
The shrimps have a very diversified diet, and they are known to consume everything including plants as well as animals. They eat small fishes, plankton, worms, etc.
4. Life span
If the shrimps are not eaten, then they can live up to 8 years.
5. Shrimps clean the water
Shrimps are known to keep the water clean by eating up a lot of parasites and dead tissues of the fish.
Wrapping up
I hope you like our blog and find it relevant to the search that you have made. our blog mentioned various types of shrimps and also mentioned their diet. Furthermore, to make the blog overall interesting, some amazing facts about shrimps have been added.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is shrimp more expensive or prawns?
Prawns are more expensive as they are larger.
2. What do shrimps eat?
Algae, fish, plankton, and many more sea plants.
3. Is shrimp considered meat?
No, shrimps are not considered meat, as they are considered to be seafood.
