Natural grazing is part of the diet
A mature aquarium offers biofilm and other edible material throughout the day. Moss and sheltered surfaces also give smaller shrimp places to feed without competing at one large food pile. A newly filled aquarium does not provide the same food supply simply because it contains water and plants.
Keep the tank clean enough to protect water quality, but avoid scrubbing every surface bare at the same time. Natural grazing complements feeding; it is not a reason to assume every colony can live indefinitely without supplements.
Build a varied, manageable feeding routine
You can offer suitable sinking foods, gel foods and frozen foods. If you’re just getting started, I suggest beginning with a suitable prepared shrimp food and getting comfortable with the portions. Look for clear ingredient and feeding information, and vary the diet sensibly rather than adding several products at every meal.
I use gel food and frozen bloodworms in my colonies, but the amount I feed depends on the number of shrimp and the tank. If you have a small beginner setup, don’t copy the portion sizes or feeding intervals from a large breeding colony.
Frozen food can still pollute water if it decomposes uneaten. Offer a modest portion and remove leftovers. For gel foods, follow the manufacturer’s preparation and storage directions.
How often should you feed?
For an established planted aquarium, I suggest starting with two or three supplementary feeds a week, then adjusting to your colony. A dense colony may need more; a lightly stocked mature tank may need less.
You’ll find more detail in my article How Often Should You Feed Your Shrimp? on ShrimpKeeper. Watch grazing and leftovers between meals. Shrimp gathering at food is useful to observe, but it is not an exact measurement of nutritional need.
Watch my video
In this short video, I talk about how often to feed your cherry shrimp.
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How much is enough?
Begin with a small portion you can observe. For ordinary sinking food, I’d aim for a portion your shrimp can finish within roughly one to three hours. Food types behave differently, so check the label and remove uneaten material before it deteriorates.
A feeding dish can help you see what remains. If food is repeatedly left over, reduce the next portion. If the colony grows, reassess the amount instead of continuing to feed for the original number of shrimp.
My companion article How Much Should You Feed Your Shrimp? explores adjusting portions. Neither a clock nor a pellet count replaces checking water quality.
Feeding babies and spotting trouble
Young shrimp benefit from food close to their hiding places. Established moss and biofilm help; very small quantities of an appropriate fine food can supplement grazing. Powder spreads widely, so it is easy to add more than you can see.
If food remains untouched alongside unusual inactivity, stop adding more and check the water, temperature and filter. Cloudiness or accumulating waste is a reason to review feeding and maintenance. Do not assume every refusal to feed is a need for a different brand.