Which Fish Eat Dried Brine Shrimp?

Brine shrimp are rich in natural protein, fatty acids and pigments. Generally, they are irresistible to most freshwater and saltwater omnivores and carnivores -- but dried brine shrimp should not be a staple food source. When food is freeze-dried, it loses nutritional value. When offered as a part of a varied diet, brine food can still be a good source of nutrients and protein.

  1. Freshwater Fish

    • Just about any freshwater fish will eat brine shrimp, and all popular freshwater fish will consume dried brine shrimp as a part of their diet -- tetras, goldfish, cichlids, danieos, guppies, oscars, angel fish, mollies and platies. Larger specimens may ignore the tiny brine shrimp pieces, but just about all small- and medium-size fish will chow down on brine shrimp.

    Betta Fish

    • Betta fish are primarily carnivores, so brine shrimp are typically a big part of the betta fish's diet. In the aquarium hobby, some warn about feeding brine shrimp to betta fish, saying dried brine shrimp can cause bloat, constipation and swim bladder disorder. The Nippy Fish website says that's true only if the betta fish does not consume a well-rounded diet. A diet solely of dried brine shrimp is lacking necessary fibers and other nutrients and can cause those disorders.

    Saltwater Fish

    • Marine fish do not naturally eat brine shrimp in the wild, as brine shrimp are freshwater crustaceans; in captivity, though, saltwater fish will eat them. You'll find that live brine shrimp will die quickly when dropped into a saltwater tank, which is why dried brine shrimp can be a more popular alternative. By offering dried shrimp, you don't have to worry about them dying and fouling the tank. Popular saltwater carnivores who eat dried brine shrimp include anthias, basslets, blennies, cardinal fish, clownfish, damselfish, filefish, gobies and a few others.

    How to Feed Dried Brine Shrimp

    • If you drop in a chunk of dried brine shrimp into your aquarium, your fish may overload themselves, nibbling at the chunk. So when feeding your fish dried brine shrimp, soak the cube or chunk of brine shrimp in warm water to loosen it up and break it a part. Breaking the chunk apart separates the brine shrimp so they will float more naturally and will look like alive as they wriggle to the bottom. This will entice the natural feeding instincts of your fish.