How Often Should You Feed Your Shrimp?

Ask ten shrimp keepers how often they feed, and you’ll probably get ten different answers.

Some feed daily, others once a week, and a few barely feed at all. So, how often should you feed your shrimp? The short answer — it depends. But if you’re looking for a simple, safe starting point, here it is:

Feed your shrimp two to three times per week.

Less Is Often More

Unlike fish, shrimp don’t need regular daily meals. In a healthy, planted tank, there’s always something to graze on — biofilm, algae, detritus, and decaying plant matter all form a natural buffet.

Feeding two or three times a week keeps your colony well-fed without overloading the tank.

Of course, that’s not a hard rule. A large, heavily stocked tank might need feeding every other day, while a smaller, lightly stocked one might go a week between feeds without issue. The goal is to supplement what nature already provides — not replace it.

Food Type Matters

The kind of food you’re using changes everything. Long-lasting foods like ShrimpSense Snowflake Pellets can safely stay in the tank for days, meaning you can feed less often. On the other hand, protein-rich or fresh foods should be removed after a few hours, so you’ll likely feed those more regularly in smaller amounts.

I usually mix it up — snowflake one day, nettle the next, and ShrimpSense Vibrance once a week for an extra protein boost. It keeps things varied and ensures all life stages, from tiny babies to adults, get what they need.

Watch the Tank, Not the Calendar

The best feeding schedule is the one your tank tells you. If your shrimp swarm the food the moment it lands, it’s probably time for a top-up. If they’re slow to gather or there’s still food left from last time, wait a day or two longer. I’ve gone ten days without feeding before in a mature tank full of biofilm — and the shrimp were absolutely fine.

Signs You’re Feeding Too Often

• Uneaten food lingering after several hours
• Cloudy water or mulm building up around feeding spots
• Sudden boom in pests like planaria or hydra

If any of these show up, it’s time to cut back.

Final Thoughts

Feeding shrimp isn’t about sticking to a strict timetable — it’s about finding a rhythm that matches your tank’s ecosystem. Two to three times a week is a great place to start, but don’t be afraid to adapt based on what you see. Shrimp are opportunistic grazers, and their world runs 24/7 — not by your feeding schedule.

Want to know what to feed as well as how often? Have a look at our full guide: Best Shrimp Food UK.

And if you’re looking for easy, natural foods to build your rotation, try ShrimpSense Snowflake, Nettle Pellets, or Vibrance — they’re gentle on your water and loved by shrimp.