What do river shrimp eat? They are omnivorous and can be fed a wide range of bait foods.
AbstractRiver shrimp have fairly omnivorous feeding habits. In natural waters they mainly feed on various small benthic invertebrates, carcasses of aquatic animals, organic debris and plant debris, etc. In artificial farming they are mainly fed animal-based bait such as tofu residue, distillers' grains, cooked rice, silkworm pupae, river snails and wheat flour, but to ensure balanced nutrition for the river shrimp, compound feed should also be given in combination.
What food do river shrimp eat
River shrimp are omnivorous animals and are not demanding about their bait. At the juvenile stage they mainly feed on plankton, while adult shrimp living in natural waters mainly feed on various small benthic invertebrates in the water, carcasses of aquatic animals, organic debris, plant fragments, etc.; in artificial river shrimp farming they can be fed animal-based bait such as distillers' grains, tofu residue, soybean cake, silkworm pupae, cooked rice, river snails, wheat flour, mussel meat and fish meal, and they should also be given compound feed to ensure adequate feed. If bait is scarce, they will even cannibalize one another.
Notes on river shrimp farming
1. Environmental conditions
The water used for farming river shrimp must meet the water quality standards for fishery waters. The dissolved oxygen content in the water must be sufficient, the water depth should be controlled at about 1.2-1.5 m, the silt at the bottom of the pond must not be too much, and the bottom substrate should preferably be somewhat hard. River shrimp are phototactic; during the day they like to hide in dark gravel or among aquatic plants, and come out at night to forage. Therefore, some aquatic plants should be planted appropriately around the pond to provide habitat and surfaces for the river shrimp to cling to.
2. Feed feeding
River shrimp are omnivorous animals. At the larval stage they feed on zooplankton, algae, copepods, organic debris, filamentous algae and attached algae, invertebrates and small aquatic insects, etc. In artificial farming they can be fed animal-based feed such as small trash fish, fly maggots and earthworms, and it is best to feed them together with some compound feed to ensure balanced and comprehensive nutrition for the river shrimp.
3. Spawning
River shrimp have two peak spawning periods, namely the late spring season and the early summer season each year. Old shrimp that have overwintered will begin to spawn, and in autumn some of the first-generation juvenile shrimp of that year will also begin to spawn. Therefore, during farming, the actual situation should be taken into account to decide whether to carry out autumn breeding, so as to increase yield and benefits.
4. Reasonable stocking
Generally, river shrimp are stocked for monoculture from mid-June to mid-July each year, with a stocking density controlled at 60,000-80,000 fry/mu. If the shrimp fry are larger in size, the stocking density should be appropriately reduced. If they are polycultured with fish, it is best to stock from mid-July to mid-August each year, with 2 cm shrimp fry stocked at a density controlled at 15,000 fry/mu. If egg-bearing shrimp are stocked, the amount is 25-30 jin/mu. The specific stocking amount should be judged according to the actual situation.
5. Daily management
After the shrimp fry are stocked, water quality must be monitored every day in the early stage, and water should be changed in time to ensure the water is clear and promote the growth of the river shrimp. According to the growth habits of river shrimp, feed should also be given in the evening to prevent the river shrimp from cannibalizing one another due to insufficient bait when they come out to forage at night. Quicklime should be used regularly to disinfect the pond, and disease prevention should be done well to ensure the healthy growth of the river shrimp.