• Shrimp are primarily swimmers, and are different from their close relatives, the lobsters and crabs, which are crawlers.

 

• A shrimp’s heart is in its head

 

 

• There are over 2000 shrimp species that have been discovered to date throughout the world, and they inhabit both freshwater and salt water.

 

•  Did you know that if keeping shrimp, copper based water additives or medicines should never be used?

 

 

• The Amano shrimp was named after Takashi Amano as their introduction into the hobby was pioneered by him after he observed their algae appetite.

 

• The life cycle of shrimp varies geographically and by species. Some shrimp live as long as 6-1/2 years, others live only a year. The Bamboo shrimp can live for more than 5 years and the Ghost shrimp has an average life span of 1-2 years.

 

• All shrimp are not the same, each type or species of shrimp have their own characteristics, requirements and a preference for different environmental habitats.

 

• Shrimp are not prawns and prawns are not shrimp. Despite the political incorrectness, the term shrimp is often used loosely and inconsistently to refer to prawns.  Geographical location and history is to blame for this interchangeable use of the words. Despite similar appearances, shrimp and prawns are different where biology is concerned. The only biological difference being that prawns have their second abdominal flap (counting from the head towards the tail) overlapping the first and the third. See shrimp anatomy

 

 

• Why do Shrimp molt? The reason that shrimp molt is that they continue to grow and develop. Even though shrimp are covered by a hard exoskeleton, the only way for them to grow and increase their body size is by shedding or molting the exoskeleton and growing a new one that is a bit larger. The time between each molting period varies according to various factors that have to be taken into consideration for instance: Age, food availability, environmental conditions and water parameters.

 

• A shrimp’s reproduction cycle is actually directly linked with their molting. When a female shrimp is about to molt she releases pheromones, and they send the male shrimp into an ecstatic frenzy as they blindly search for the female. Provided the male shrimp get to her in time, just after molting the female spawns and carries the fertilized eggs under the tail.

 

• The exoskeleton of a shrimp that has just molted is soft and hardens after a little while. During this period the shrimp is vulnerable and it should be provided with hiding spaces until the new exoskeleton is hard enough. Do not get rid of old exoskeleton as shrimp feed on that as well.   

 

• True shrimp are swimming, decapoda  crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh water  and salt water.

 

• A shrimp is high in calcium and protein but low in food energy

 

• Even though shrimp have similar traits, the development of eggs to miniature adults differs. Some shrimp are of the Low Order and when their eggs hatch, they go through series of developmental stages until they are miniature adults. Those of the High Order have eggs that hatch into miniature adults.