Feeding with raw shrimp

[megadon]

I accidently cooked the shrimp I was trying to thaw in the microwave, why is it that it should be raw, is that a law? What would happen if it was cooked a bit? Also what would be bothering my hermit crabs, I think I am slowly losing them, one had a missing leg and the Emerald was trying to get him, was this a postmordem snack or do you think he got him?

 

[lionpicasso]

The reason you don't want to cook the shrimp is because it will kill
the bacteria that is on it, so by killing the bacteria you slow down
the cycle. If you cooked the shrimp in plain water it shouldn't hurt anything but if you cooked it in spices thats another story.
Correct me anybody if I'm wrong

 

[steamboat1569]

Raw is the natural order of things. Cooking gets rid of a lot of the nutrients and there are vitamins that will be nullified under heat, besides, they don't sell cooked shrimp even as bait.
Reef inhabitants do not have a digestive system built to deal with cooked meat.

 

[megadon]

Hey Lionpicasso, I'm not cycling with it, I was feeding my crabs and thawed a bit too much. Makes sense about them not being able to digest a cooked one though, I was just curious, thanks.

 

[rockster]

I think when you cook the shrimp, you essentially are denaturing the protein in the meat. Like when you boil/fry an egg, it's basically what's happening in the shrimp meat. The digestive system of the reef inhabitants, especially fishes, are not equipped with enzymes that can degrade denatured proteins. They will, in all likelihood, end up with indigestion. Honestly, I haven't tried feeding my fishes cooked stuff, I'm afraid they will go like this

 

[njdiver]

Have you put any empty shells in the tank? About a month or so after adding hermits to my tank they started to mult and then went looking for bigger shells. At that time I didn't have any which lead to a few crabs getting evicted, etc. Now I have a bunch of empty shells in there which seems to help.
(But I know others have said that they are basically aggressive creatures as well which tend to fight, so...)
-Scott

 

[megadon]

There are plenty of empty shells, maybe there aren't that many deaths and they just keep switching shells and leaving the old ones around.

 

[sinner's girl]

i don't put the shrimp in the microwave, i just put some tank water into a little cup, then put the frozen shrimp in the cup. then i give it to the stars and hermits. they've never complained...

 

[megadon]

That was my intension, but I got a bit overzealous and tried to thaw it out beofre, now I knw what to do. How long do you leave it in, and do you tie a string to it, because one of my crabs pulled it under a rock and I had a hell of a time getting it back out. Thanks.

 

[sinner's girl]

nope, don't tie a string, the stars and crabs are hand fed, and the shrimp will steal a piece of shrimp from a hermit.
I take the shrimp out, put it in a cup of tank water, take out the brine, feed the clowns, do a count of all inhabitants. then cut the shrimp into three pieces, two go to the stars, the other gets cut up more for the hermits, then i feed. i'd say the shrimp is out b/w 5-10 min, depending on what else i'm doing, before being fed to the stars/hermits.
if you meant how long do i leave the shrimp in the tank, i don't take it out. there is never anything left to take out. one cocktail shrimp, cut in 3 pieces, 1 of the three cut in about 6 pieces...doesn't leave much left over, the stars eat thier piece, the hermits eat the rest, and if by chance a piece falls...the shrimp will eat it or other crabs will come out and eat it or the stars will find it.
btw, i hand the pieces of shrimp to the hermits (the shrimp is the only one who won't eat from my hand...he likes to steal it from a hermit or star).
don't put more shrimp then your clean up crew can eat...if you have to only feed half a shrimp.
hth