My RCS don't seem to eat what I give them

[wendyjo]

I've put some tropical flakes and some algea wafers in there but it doesn't look like they even touch it. Should I not worry about it?

[ShrimpFan]

If the shrimp are not eating there might be something wrong with your water. You might want to do a water change and then try again. Also, how much and how often are you feeding them? Maybe it is too much and they just can't eat it all. Hope this helps!

[wendyjo]

The water should be fine - I tested this evening and it's 0, 0, 5 with a Ph of 7.2-ish. I've only had the shrimp a week. There's only 5 of them so maybe they just eat so little that I don't see it. But I've never seen them go after the food - they'll pass right over it and I do still see it the next day. The few ghost shrimp I had were such piggys - racing after the food the minute it touched the water and shoving it in their mouths - one even grabbed a chunk of a pea off the stick it was impaled on. Is that how the RCS should be acting? I thought maybe they just don't have the same eating habits as a ghostie. If they do then there is a problem for sure.

[Newjohn]

wendyjo

I have to agree with Shrimpfan.

I only feed my RCS a pinch of finely groun flake food a day.
And once in awhile put a couple of pellets in.

I have over 100 RCS in a 30gal breeder.

The RCS eat alot of micro-organism and algae.
The algae they eat, can be very small, small enough that you can not see it.

If the Shrimp, do not eat what you put in , with in 20 minutes.
You are feeding them to much.

The left over food will polute your water.

I would take out any un-eaten food. and do a water change.

Start feeding them alot less. And see how it goes.

John

[Neonshrimp]

I agree with ShrimpFan and NewJohn about the amount of food your shrimp will eat. You will soon know how much to feed them after having left over/uneaten food. As long as your shrimp are still active and healthy you know they are finding other sources of food as stated above.