[Soothing Shrimp]

What is YOUR opinion on a seller using foods to help color up shrimp before being sold, as opposed to relying on natural coloration for selling?

I have my own opinion, but would like to know yours.

 

[bostoneric]

I dont see this as a problem because more than likely these are the same foods I'll be feeding the same shrimp.

I also see this as being the same as washing/waxing a car before you try to sell it. You wouldnt want to buy a dirty car would you?

 

[shrimpo]

Naturally colored shrimp for me.

 

[sbarbee54]

I could go either way I would buy both

 

[oblongshrimp]

As long as they disclose what they are feeding their shrimp and that it improves their color I don't see it as a big problem

 

[agro]

Would be a shame to spend a few $$$ on purple shrimps only to have their color fade if you stop feeding a certain food.

 

[orhunterfisher]

I dont see this as a problem because more than likely these are the same foods I'll be feeding the same shrimp.

I also see this as being the same as washing/waxing a car before you try to sell it. You wouldnt want to buy a dirty car would you?

+1
I agree with Eric on this one. There is a huge difference between food with natural color enhancers and hormonal and chemical enhancers common in many aquarium areas (discus come to mind). Anytime someone asks what I feed my shrimp I tell them exactly what I use...a list which includes, but is not limited to blanched veggies such as spinach, squash, pumpkin etc (all natural color enhancers) along with commercial foods like spirulina flakes (natural color enhancer), tetra color crisps/granules, Ken's earthworm and veggie sticks (natural color enhancer) etc.
Saying someone is being deceptive because they feed their animals a diet divers and rich in carotenes, essential amino acids etc is BS. You can buy great quality(colored) shrimp and screw them up because you don't feed them a good diet. THIS IS NOT to mention that there actually certain aquatic techniques to naturally enhance the richness of color of your shrimp...I have referenced one brief article here as an example http://www.silaneshrimp.com/Crystal Red Shrimp Blog/145-how-to-make-a-crs-with-better-color.html

 

[Soothing Shrimp]

For me, as a selective breeder, I'd rather buy bred color.

 

[wicca27]

im 50/50 on this if it was like pfr fed something to bring out the red more ok, but if its like the yellows you have that are green it would tick me off when babies were born unless i knew ahead of time. if its done to fully change color and make $$$ on it i dont think its right.

 

[Soothing Shrimp]

" the yellows you have that are green"

Ah, my famous astaxanthin experiment.

 

[orhunterfisher]

For me, as a selective breeder, I'd rather buy bred color.

How do you really know what "bred color" means if you are feeding your stock a proper diet????

This is a slippery slope topic which I personally believe is misinformation. I am not offended in anyway, just trying to educate. If you bought the nicest PRL and fed only crap food the color would suffer. Granted, they would not turn into low grade CRS but you would see a difference...if they even survived.
You are inferring a negative connotation to a situation that in my opinion is just outright good animal husbandry.

 

[Soothing Shrimp]

There are certain shrimp foods that are made for increasing colors. That is their number one intent.

This, in my opinion, is quite different than just well balanced nutrition. However each person is welcome to have their own opinion.

 

[wicca27]

if its a color enhancer its one thing if its a changer and you are passing them off as something they are not its different. i use color food in my fish tanks to help bring out the reds in fins in my tetras but its not the main diet. but it does not change the color of the body. but then again i do weird things with some of my keeping of aquatic life as well that most wouldnt lol

 

[Soothing Shrimp]

Wicca, if you do not continue to use the color enhancers, do the colors become less vibrant?

 

[bostoneric]

This is a slippery slope topic which I personally believe is misinformation. I am not offended in anyway, just trying to educate. If you bought the nicest PRL and fed only crap food the color would suffer. Granted, they would not turn into low grade CRS but you would see a difference...if they even survived.
You are inferring a negative connotation to a situation that in my opinion is just outright good animal husbandry.

roud:

pandoras box for sure. if you buy nice shrimp you should be feeding them quality foods and have quality water for them. otherwise as we all know stressed shrimp wont show their true possible colors.

 

[wicca27]

in the flake food with my columbians i didnt notice they did changed any if i stopped that food. but it was a good quality food in general not just general flake from walmart. their fins were more red than orange after eating though and i had them for a couple years. i did the same thing with the iguanas i had. i fed them kabocha squash that helped bring out their blue color so they were more aqua/blue on the head instead of dull green. would it fade a bit if they stopped eating yes but it never went fully away in the off season for the squash. i think the food i fed the columbian tetra was for red prob the same that you feed the shrimp to see what it would do

 

[wicca27]

roud:

pandoras box for sure. if you buy nice shrimp you should be feeding them quality foods and have quality water for them. otherwise as we all know stressed shrimp wont show their true possible colors.

+1 i fully agree.