Hikari Shrimp Cuisine Review
A tiny sinking wafer made for freshwater shrimp — seaweed, algae and copper-inclusive nutrition for caridina and neocaridina colonies.
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👍 Pros
- Formulated specifically for shrimp, with seaweed and algae they naturally graze
- Includes the trace copper shrimp need for healthy moulting, at a safe level
- Small sinking wafers the whole colony can swarm and share
- Holds together, so you can pull out the remainder after grazing
👎 Cons
- Colonies eat slowly — remove the wafer after a couple of hours to protect water quality
- Not a fish food; larger fish will ignore it or outcompete the shrimp
Made for shrimp, not fish
Dwarf shrimp have different needs from community fish: they graze constantly on biofilm and algae, and they rely on trace minerals — notably a small, safe amount of copper — to moult properly. Shrimp Cuisine is built around that, leaning on seaweed, spirulina and algae rather than the high-protein recipes aimed at fish. The small wafers sink and let the whole colony gather round a single feeding spot.
Feed little, and clear the remains
The trap with shrimp is overfeeding. In a mature planted tank they already have plenty to graze, so a wafer every two or three days is usually enough. Let the colony work at it for an hour or two, then remove whatever is left — shrimp eat slowly, and a dissolving wafer is a real ammonia risk in a small, sensitive shrimp tank.
How it fits with our other picks
If you also keep plecos or corydoras, the Hikari Algae Wafers cover the larger bottom feeders. For the full food range see our fish food hub. Shrimp are unforgiving of unstable water, so a reliable liquid test kit to watch ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is the most useful thing you can pair with them.
A purpose-made staple for dwarf shrimp: algae-rich, copper-inclusive and easy to portion. Feed sparingly every few days and always remove the remainder.
Hikari Shrimp Cuisine — frequently asked questions
How often should I feed a shrimp colony?
Only every two or three days for an established colony — a well-planted tank already offers biofilm and algae to graze. Drop one small wafer, let them swarm it for an hour or two, then remove any remainder.
Why remove the wafer afterwards?
Shrimp graze slowly, so food sits longer than with fish. A wafer left to dissolve fouls the water and can spike ammonia, which shrimp are especially sensitive to. Pulling the remnant keeps parameters stable.
Do shrimp need special food at all?
In a mature planted tank they mostly live on biofilm and algae. A dedicated shrimp food adds variety and the trace minerals — especially copper for moulting — that support colour and healthy breeding.
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