An enormous variety of shrimp species are to be found in fresh and marine waters throughout the world. Many of these make nutritious meals for a wide variety of other invertebrates and fish. Indeed, delicate captives such as seahorses do very well on a diet composed almost entirely of small marine shrimp.

Shrimp such as Peneus spp., Crago spp. and Palaemonetes spp. may be quite easily collected by seining through eelgrass or by searching stands of marine algae. Marine and freshwater shrimp species will also readily enter commercial traps baited with dead fish. Freshwater shrimp are not usually found in the dense populations that occur in marine species. In some habitats, however, adequate numbers may be obtained by seining along shorelines or with baited traps.

You should also check bait stores and commercial shrimp farms for suitably sized species. These sources may well carry types unavailable elsewhere, thereby providing nutrients that might otherwise be missing from your pets' diets.

You may find that local shrimp species are quite hardy and will even reproduce in captivity. The aquarium housing your shrimp colony should be filtered and well planted with marine algae or freshwater plants. Because some species are cannibalistic, be sure to provide numerous hiding places in the form of empty shells, rocks, or bits of crockery flowerpots.

Most shrimp have hearty appetites and will consume tropical fish food flakes, algae tablets, trout chow, and frozen foods. Many will also take bits of fish and most relish an occasional meal of black worms or brine shrimp.

Be sure to investigate the possibilities of breeding shrimp that are sold for use as aquarium animals. Tropical freshwater and marine species grow quite large and when given proper care will produce large numbers of young in captivity. Even if large-scale breeding of these animals proves unfeasible, you will no doubt enjoy the effort and learn quite a bit in the process.

Marine and freshwater shrimp and other crustaceans such as crabs travel well packed in wet marine algae without standing water, especially if they are kept cool. If water is used, be sure to aerate it with a battery powered air pump, lest the animals use up the available oxygen and perish.