In the wild, shrimps have a muddy-brown colour. Breeders removed their natural defense mechanism and they react instinctively by enhancing what colour they have.
Stress can also have an impact on color intensity. Hide spots and caves in the aquarium can help to create a stress-free environment. High quality food and water is crucial for optimal health, especially when crystal red shrimp grading.
1. Spirulina
Spirulina, also called Arthrospira, is a blue-green algae that can be found in freshwater and marine habitats. It is a great source of protein and essential amino acids, micro and macro nutrients, EFFA like gamma LNA, and antioxidant pigments such as beta and alpha carotene, phycocyanin and chlorophyll. It is a natural color enhancer as well. This is why many fish show intensified colors when fed a Spirulina based diet (this is true for Koi, Goldfish and even Rosy Barbs).
Spirulina flourishes in waters that have high pH levels, resulting in alkaline conditions that are not suitable for other plant life. It absorbs these minerals and transforms them into natural organic forms that are easily absorbed by the body of shrimp or other aquatic organisms. This makes it very easy for them to get the essential minerals they need in their bodies, without the side effects of ingesting high levels of mineral salts.
The other important thing to remember about Spirulina is that it is a powerful immune booster. It has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are extremely beneficial in protecting against infection and disease in freshwater and marine shrimp. It also helps inhibit the release of histamine by mast cells, preventing allergic reactions in the shrimp and other aquatic organisms.
Blue spirulina powder is available in many specialty aquarium stores and online. It is a safe and all-natural food coloring that can be used in small amounts to add a blue tint to foods. It can be mixed with flakes, pellets or brine shrimp to create a food that is appealing to your shrimp and other aquatic animals. It can also be added to freshwater or marine algae cultures to give them a nice blue coloration.
2. Freeze-Dried Foods
Freeze-drying is a process that removes the water from food by turning it into vapor. It is a very common form of dehydration used in many products like fruits, vegetables and even coffee. Freeze-dried foods have a very long shelf life and retain incredible nutrient density. You can find freeze-dried foods in almost any store.
In the wild, shrimp eat a wide variety of leaves and algae that provide them with a natural source of color pigments. These food sources contain carotenes, a group of yellow, orange, red, purple, blue and green pigments that are chemically bound to proteins and can increase the wavelength of light to produce different colors. The most important carotenoid for enhancing the color of a shrimp is astaxanthin. This naturally occurring pigment can be found in many foods including algae, carrots, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, and kale (1).
Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune system, helps to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease, promotes eye health and reduces inflammation. It is also a great supplement for promoting the natural coloration of a shrimp (2).
Some foods that are high in astaxanthin include spirulina, pea protein and alfalfa leaves. One of the best foods to add to your tank for a natural astaxanthin boost is Repashy’s Soilent Green gel food (3). This food contains a combination of algae and plants, including spirulina, alfalfa leaf powder, and pea protein that provides the right mix of color pigments for your shrimp.
Shrimp are a very social animal and their coloration will be affected by their environment. Stress factors can also affect their coloration. For this reason it is important to keep them in a large group with other shrimp and make sure there are no hiding spots or caves in the aquarium.
3. Canned or Blanched Vegetables
Canned or blanched vegetables are a great way to boost the amount of carotenoids in your shrimp’s diet. They also provide lots of other vitamins and minerals that aren’t found in fresh food. Carotenoids are a group of pigments that give plants and animals their color. They are primarily found in algae, flowers, fruits, and leafy vegetables. Shrimp and crayfish turn these pigments into their own color-giving chemicals (astaxanthin, beta crustacyanin), which are stored in special cells that give them their species-specific coloration.
Some foods, like spinach and kale, contain enough natural carotenoid pigments that they can naturally enhance the color of your shrimp. Others, such as carrots, have a high beta-carotene content and are an excellent source of this nutrient. The best way to get the most out of these vegetables is to blanch them, which involves partially cooking them in boiling water and then quickly cooling them in an ice bath. This process takes just a few minutes, but it’s well worth the effort for the benefit it brings to your shrimp’s color.
Blanching is an easy, effective, and low-effort method for boosting the color of most vegetables and fruits. It’s the same technique that restaurant line cooks use to heat up ingredients for a meal, but it’s much simpler and easier to do at home.
While there are many different types of commercial shrimp foods available, the best ones for enhancing your shrimp’s color are TetraColor and Hikari Micro Wafers. These products offer a large amount of carotenoids, astaxanthin, and other nutrients that promote a healthy shell, strong muscles, and vivid colors. These foods can be used in conjunction with a variety of other foods, including fresh greens and fruits.
4. Daphnia
Daphnia, commonly known as “water fleas,” are no stranger to freshwater aquarium hobbyists. These tiny crustaceans have been scooped from ponds, ditches and rivers to use as aquarium feed for decades. More assiduous hobbyists even successfully culture them for long periods of time in homemade green water (along with a little yeast and other goodies).
They’re nature’s cannon fodder, used as the first step towards the protein and fat rich diet of fish and shrimp. However, these pea-sized crustaceans are not without a few fighting backs of their own. Daphnia are filter feeders and a major source of microorganisms in natural ecosystems. Their feeding legs protrude through a gap in their shell, attracting microscopic algae and bacteria to be filtered through their mouths. This process can filter more than 4ml of water an hour! Daphnia also act as a major food source for a variety of other aquatic organisms, including the larvae of phantom midges, dragonfly and damselfly nymphs, water boatmen, newts and even some fish fry.
Like their marine cousins, daphnia are packed with nutrients. The best way to provide your daphnia with the most nutrition is by providing them with a rich source of live phytoplankton. They can be fed a combination of ocean algae paste (from AlgaeBarn) and powdered yeast, which adds protein and B vitamins.
To raise your own daphnia, start by filling a large glass jar with green water from your 10-gallon tank. Place the jar in a location with medium light intensity at room temperature. In a few days, you should notice the jar water turn darker and more dense, becoming dark enough to cover the bottom of the container. Using a clean spoon, transfer the Daphnia from the jar to your aquarium and allow it to float for 10 minutes to acclimate to the new water chemistry.
5. Frozen Foods
There are many different frozen foods that can be used in a shrimp tank, such as Dennerle Color (a colour-enhancing food that adds a red tint to water), GlasGarten Artemia (which is a tablet shaped food that releases green colour into the water) and Shrimp King Color (sinking granules with high levels of natural colours enhancers like astaxanthin). These foods are great because they don’t have to be dissolved in the water and they also contain important vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy colony of Neocaridina.
These food sources should be a regular part of your shrimp’s diet. In addition to these food sources, be sure to provide them with plenty of hiding spots in their tank by using rocks, driftwood and plants. Providing them with a variety of places to hide will help ensure that they are comfortable and happy in their tank, and will also reduce stress.
It is also important to feed your shrimp regularly, especially when they are molting. The protein in these foods helps them develop their exoskeletons and the shell that protects them. In addition to protein, make sure that you are giving your shrimp enough calcium to support their molting cycle. You can do this by adding chunks of cuttlebone or crushed eggshells to the tank, or by using a calcium carbonate powder.
It is also a good idea to offer your shrimp some fresh vegetables in addition to the above-mentioned foods. Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, as well as protein. It is best to boil the broccoli before feeding it to your shrimp, as this makes it soft and easier for them to eat.
