Best Shrimp Food UK (2025): What Real Keepers Actually Feed Their Shrimp
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If you’ve ever stood in front of your shrimp tank wondering which food will actually make a difference — you’re not alone. Between powders, pellets, botanicals, and the endless YouTube advice, finding the best shrimp food in the UK can feel like guesswork.
In this guide, I’ll break down exactly what I (and many long-time shrimp keepers) actually feed — from natural biofilm boosters to complete daily diets — and share a few foods that have truly stood out in my tanks.
Some are the quiet heroes, others are the crowd-pleasers, but all have earned their place in my shrimp room.
I’ve bred shrimp for years, and I’ve tried just about every pellet and leaf going — with some big hits (and a few smelly misses). So, let’s take the guesswork out of feeding your colony.
What Makes a Good Shrimp Food?
Before diving into the top picks, it’s worth knowing what separates a good shrimp food from a bad one.
Shrimp have small stomachs but big appetites for grazing, so the goal isn’t just to feed them — it’s to support their natural behaviour and keep your tank balanced.
- Balanced nutrition — enough protein for growth and breeding, but not so much that it pollutes the tank.
- Water stability — a good food should soften slowly, allowing shrimp to graze for hours without turning the water cloudy.
- Encourages natural feeding — shrimp are micro-grazers; the best foods mimic their wild diet of algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter.
- Colour and shell health — minerals like calcium and ingredients like spirulina help keep shells strong and colours vibrant.
If your shrimp swarm the moment a pellet hits the substrate, that’s a good sign. But if it disintegrates before they’ve even found it — it’s not doing them much good.
Types of Shrimp Foods (and When to Use Them)
1. Biofilm and Natural Foods
Even the best pellets are supplements — biofilm is still their staple. That slimy layer growing on driftwood, rocks, and plants?
It’s pure gold for shrimp. It’s packed with microorganisms and microalgae, forming the base of their natural diet.
If you’re new to shrimp keeping, check out our Complete Guide to Shrimp Nutrition for a deeper dive into biofilm and natural feeding.
2. Snowflake Pellets (Soybean Husk)
Snowflake pellets have become a cult classic among shrimp keepers — and for good reason. Made from fermented soybean husks, they break down slowly into a fluffy, fungus-like layer that shrimp and baby shrimp can graze on for days.
- Perfect for colonies and holidays — won’t foul your tank.
- Encourages healthy bacterial growth.
- Provides food for both adults and shrimplets.
I call these my “set and forget” food — one tiny piece keeps a whole colony happy for the weekend. If you’ve never tried ShrimpSense Snowflake, it’s brilliant for boosting biofilm and colony stability, especially in newer tanks.
3. Nettle Pellets and Botanicals
Nettle pellets are another natural staple — full of fibre, minerals, and tannins that shrimp absolutely love. They promote good digestion, add variety, and bring a touch of the wild into your aquarium. Think of them as the salad course of a shrimp’s weekly menu.
My shrimp go mad for them. The moment they soften, it’s like a tiny buffet in there — even the shy ones join in.
You can find our ShrimpSense Nettle Pellets in small packs that last for months, and they’re made right here in the UK using high-quality dried nettle leaf. Perfect for keepers who like to keep things natural.
4. Complete Daily Pellets (High Protein & Colour Boosting)
For steady growth and bright colouration, shrimp need a proper balanced pellet — something that delivers all the essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins they’d otherwise struggle to get in captivity.
That’s where ShrimpSense Vibrance comes in. It’s a complete daily food made with fish meal, spirulina, gammarus, and seaweed — ingredients chosen to naturally enhance colour and shell strength. I’ve seen noticeably deeper reds in my Neocaridina after a few weeks of feeding it.
Tip: feed tiny amounts — a colony of 30 shrimp only needs a pellet or two at a time. You want them active and foraging, not bloated and lazy.
5. Speciality Foods: Spirulina, Veg & Treats
Variety is key to long-term health. Alongside pellets, I like to add a pinch of spirulina powder for baby shrimp and blanched vegetables (courgette, spinach, cucumber) once or twice a week. It keeps them curious and promotes natural feeding behaviour.
Our ShrimpSense Spirulina Complete is ideal here — packed with 10% pure spirulina, it’s an excellent supplement for baby shrimp and grazing adults alike.
Feeding Schedule & Common Mistakes
Most shrimp keepers (my past self included) feed far too much. Overfeeding is the number one cause of cloudy water, ammonia spikes, and sluggish shrimp.
- Feed small amounts — only what they’ll finish within a couple of hours.
- Rotate foods — variety prevents nutritional gaps.
- Use a feeding dish for easy clean-up.
- Remove uneaten food (except snowflake) after a few hours.
Early on, I was guilty of thinking “more food = more shrimp.” In reality, the opposite is true. A cleaner tank and lighter feeding schedule always lead to stronger, healthier colonies.
My Top Shrimp Food Picks for 2025 (UK Edition)
| Rank | Shrimp Food | Type | Why I Recommend It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | ShrimpSense Vibrance | Complete Pellet | Fantastic colour and growth results — shrimp go wild for it. |
| 🥈 | ShrimpSense Snowflake | Long-Term Food | Perfect for stable biofilm and colony health — safe to leave over weekends. |
| 🥉 | ShrimpSense Nettle Pellets | Botanical | Adds variety, fibre, and natural minerals from real nettle leaf. |
| 4️⃣ | ShrimpSense Spirulina Complete | Supplement | Excellent for baby shrimp and overall vitality. |
| 5️⃣ | Blanched Vegetables | Treat | Cheap, natural variety — just remove leftovers quickly. |
All these foods are readily available in the UK — no need for pricey imports or long shipping times. And because they’re UK-made, they arrive fresher and stay that way for longer.
Where to Buy Shrimp Food in the UK
You’ll find shrimp foods from major brands online, but for freshness and traceability, I recommend buying from small UK-based producers who make their food in small batches. Our ShrimpSense range is made and packed right here in Britain — no long shelf times, and every batch is checked for quality before it leaves the door.
It’s also worth mixing and matching a few types. One of the best things about shrimp keeping is how easy it is to experiment — and your shrimp will tell you what they prefer.
Final Thoughts
The best shrimp food isn’t one single pellet — it’s the mix that keeps your shrimp active, colourful, and breeding. A bit of snowflake for the weekends, some Vibrance for colour and protein, and nettle pellets for variety — that’s what’s kept my colonies thriving for years.
If you fancy trying the same mix I use, you can find all three — Snowflake, Nettle Pellets, and Vibrance — on the shop. They’re simple, natural, and made for UK shrimp keepers who care about quality.
Have you found a food your shrimp go mad for? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you — drop a comment below and let’s compare notes!