Tuesday, September 19, 2017

FEEDING MY FIRST BAMBOO SHRIMPS



After much reading up about the behaviour of bamboo shrimp, I’ve decided to give this shrimp a home.   The shrimp has various names :  Mountain shrimp, Bamboo Shrimp. Fan Shrimp, Singapore Shrimp, Wood Shrimp, flower shrimp….

Unlike other common dwarf shrimps or amano shrimp which are quite capable of searching for its own food, the bamboo shrimp need special attention when it comes to feeding.  Here are two simple & hassle-free methods of feeding them:
















































AQUARIUM FOOD TAB or FISH FLAKES

Food Tab
What I love about Sera O nip food tab is that all types of aquarium fish just love them.   Tab them onto the glass and watch the fish nibble like crazy and the small food particles will float throughout the water column for other fishes to share them.  The tiny floating food particles provide sufficient food sources for my Bamboo Shrimp in their “permanent” selected position, usually facing against the outflow current of the filter.  Sera O Nip food tab can get a little messy, but to my bamboo shrimp, it became freeflow floating buffet until the foods slowly sucked into the filter or sank to the bottom.
















Flakes
Another simple method of feeding is by crushing the food flake into powdery form with your thumb.  Use a long pincer to grab the food powder and placed it near to the shrimp’s feeders, at a distance of about 2cm, the shrimp won’t run away – be gentle with them.  With the remaining food powder, washed them against the water flow facing the shrimp.   


























Signs of Well-fed Shrimp

Other than seeing them moulted once in a blue moon, notice a constant droppings (the size of a black sesame seed) from the tip of the bamboo Shrimp’s tail while the shrimp was keeping still.













Friendliness of the shrimp

The shrimp may grow large, but will not take up space because it would have established a "permanent" eating and resting place for itself, unlike other shrimps that constantly roamed around for food.   I have seen my Bamboo shrimp flinged at the Amano shrimp if the other party tried to get too close. However, other similar bamboo shrimp is always welcomed to piggy-back as shown in the pic…