New to shrimp ?'s about feeding

[ChrissyC]

I am new to shrimp and just bought some baby Crystal Black Shrimp and Blue/Blond Tiger Shrimp they are very tiny.

I want to make sure they get the best of the best food and care that I can give them.

For the last two days I have read and read tons of topics here trying to learn the best food to feed my shrimp. I have read most of the topics in the Health & Nutrition section till my eyes hurt.

Sadly :cry: I am finding that a lot of the information is contradicting for example some say spinach is good but others say no. This is very confusing :huh: to a newbie like me.

So I would like to know how you would answer these 3 questions and please give a reason why. This will be a big help to me.

What is the best food for good health?
Best food to help with molting?
Best food for breeding?


One other question...

My son has tons of green algae growing in his tank on the glass and everywhere in fact he has a problem with it. If I was to wipe a silk plant leaf on his glass to hold some of the algae would that be a good natural food for my shrimp?

Thanks

[retardo]

I don't know that there is such a thing as a "best food." A lot of the food suggestions made here, for or against, are made based on one's personal preferences and a bit of trial and error. I personally use any combination of flake, pellets (algae, spirulina, crab cuisine, etc.), boiled/blanched vegetables (spinach, cucumber) , and other sources (frozen bloodworms, bbs, etc.).

Spinach is recommended for the simple fact that it is a good source of calcium, which is essential for the molting process because it forms the majority of the exoskeleton. Others have argued against it because it may be sprayed with pesticides, which may be detrimental to shrimp; however, you can buy organic vegetables to avoid any toxins that may be present.

[retardo]

One other question...

My son has tons of green algae growing in his tank on the glass and everywhere in fact he has a problem with it. If I was to wipe a silk plant leaf on his glass to hold some of the algae would that be a good natural food for my shrimp?

Thanks

Yes, it is. If the tank is planted you can also from time to time throw in a plant from the tank for cleaning.