How to Raise Fresh Water Shrimp Indoors in Containers

When you live near a coast, you get used to having fresh seafood readily available. Fish, crab, lobster and shrimp become part of a coastal society's way of life. But for people who live inland, these things are harder to come by. One answer is to grow your own. Freshwater shrimp are popular home crops for both household meals and sale, and are relatively straightforward to raise.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish tank (20 gallons)
  • Pump and filter
  • Light bulb (60 or 100 watts)
  • Heater
  • Rocks
  • Substrate
  • Plants
  • Thermometer
  • Fish or shrimp food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start your freshwater shrimp farm in spring to take advantage of the freshwater shrimp's summertime growing season.

    • 2

      Set up small 5-gallon containers for individual shrimp or 20-gallon containers for groups. Set up a pump and filter, and put a 1-inch layer of gravel along the bottom of the tank for freshwater shrimp, who like to dig. Put just enough rocks and plants in for the shrimp to live and hide in. Set up a heater and thermometer to monitor the temperature, and equip the tank with a light fixture and bulb.

    • 3

      Fill the tank with pure, distilled water. Pour the water down the inside of one of the walls to avoid displacing any of your decorations. Turn the pump, filter and heater on and make sure they're working right, without any leaks.

    • 4

      Order young freshwater shrimp from a specialty retailer. They are generally available for sale at 60 days of age. Order enough shrimp to stock the tanks you have set up.

    • 5

      Place the juvenile shrimp in the tank and adjust the heater to maintain a temperature of 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the light to supplement the heater and to give the shrimp six to eight hours of light a day.

    • 6

      Sprinkle commercial shrimp or fish food once a day over the water surface and allow it to drift to the bottom where the shrimp will find it. Monitor the shrimp to see they're all getting enough to eat. If you see one that is consistently hiding or getting picked on at feeding time, separate it from the rest.

    • 7

      Harvest shrimp in the fall after they have had three to four months to grow. Shrimp will continue to grow until you harvest them.