🫛Shrimp Cove’s Favourite Veggies for Happy, Healthy Shrimp 🥕
Here at Shrimp Cove, we love giving our little caped beauties a varied, nutritious diet — and veggies are a brilliant (and very affordable!) way to keep your colony thriving.
Below are our most trusted, shrimp-safe vegetables.
• Broccoli
• Carrot
• Cucumber
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Spinach- Shrimp Coves favourite!
• Sweet Potato
• Zucchini / Courgette
Try a little rotation now and then and watch them swarm in for a feast!
🌿 Broccoli – a Superfood
Broccoli is one of the absolute best veggies you can pop into a shrimp tank. Packed with goodness and always a crowd-pleaser.
Prep:
Give it a quick blanch/boil so it softens, raw broccoli is too tough for tiny shrimp mouths.
Why they love it:
Protein for strong shells
Carotenoids to brighten colours
Fibre to keep little tummies happy
🥕 Carrot – Colour Booster Treat
Carrot slices are a bright, nutritious snack and brilliant for enhancing shell colour. Two or three hours in the tank is perfect.
Prep:
Peel → slice thinly → quick blanch/boil.
Fully raw is too hard; fully cooked goes mushy fast.
A wooden skewer gives everyone more room to nibble.
Benefits:
Very high carotenoids for colour
Fibre for digestion
Protein for healthy molting
🥒 Cucumber – Soft, Gentle Nibbles
Cucumber is 99% water and 100% easy for shrimp to eat. Just remember it can turn mushy quickly, so keep an eye on it.
Prep:
Peel to avoid any pesticide residue, slice, and lightly blanch/boil.
Benefits:
Super soft and easy to graze
Gentle fibre support
A little protein for molting
🌱 Kale – Big Leaves, Big Nutrition
Kale is a Shrimp Cove favourite for group feeding — lots of leaf space and lots of nutrients.
Prep:
Wash → blanch/boil → drop it in.
You can freeze blanched portions for later, or skewer a leaf so the whole colony can gather round.
Benefits:
Lutein for colour pop
Tons of protein for shell strength
Nice calcium boost
🥬 Lettuce – Light & Easy Add-In
Lettuce doesn’t carry as much nutrition as kale or spinach, but it’s a simple, safe extra for a varied diet.
Prep:
Wash well and blanch/boil until softened.
Benefits:
Light protein support for molting
A touch of fibre for digestion
🟢 Peas – Tiny Powerhouses
Peas might be small but they are mighty when it comes to nutrition.
Prep:
Boil or blanch as normal, peel the outer skin if you can, and gently mash if feeding larger groups (use a feeding dish for easy cleanup!).
Benefits:
Great protein level for strong shells
High fibre for good gut health
🌿 Spinach – Soft, Nutritious, Shrimp-Approved
Spinach is loaded with goodness and sinks beautifully once blanched.
Prep:
Wash well, blanch until soft, and drop it straight in. Frozen blanched portions work wonderfully for quick feeding.
Benefits:
Protein for building strong exoskeletons
More fibre than kale for smooth digestion
🍠 Sweet Potato – Colour & Health Boost
Sweet potato is a winner, especially for enhancing reds. Many shrimp keepers love using it for colour and nutrition.
Prep:
Peel → slice into small chunks → boil until soft → cool completely.
You can freeze cooked chunks for future feeds.
Benefits:
Excellent fibre for digestion
Protein for healthy growth
Contains astaxanthin — brilliant for red colour enhancement
🥒 Zucchini / Courgette – Soft & Nutritious
Zucchini is soft, mild, and easy for shrimp to clear before it affects water quality.
Prep:
Peel, slice or chunk, then blanch. Slices skewer beautifully; chunks suit a feeding dish.
Benefits:
Protein for safe molting
Fibre for improved digestion
A lovely spread of vitamins for overall health
✨ Final Shrimp Cove Tips
Feeding veggies is a fantastic way to give your shrimp a balanced, natural diet. Mix things up now and then, watch which ones your colony rushes to first, and remove leftovers before they break down.
If you’re new to veggie feeding, spinach is a perfect starting point — Shrimp Cove Crew swears by it, definitely our number one go to, and our shrimps cant get enough, safe easy and nutritional!
Little cautious tip: we personally keep clear of fruits only due to being a bit risky and upsetting the tanks with high sugars... use with caution and always remove uneaten foods
If you ever need help, advice, or a little nudge on what to try next, just give us a shout. We’re always here for you and your little shrimplets. 💛🦐
