I've read that there is a certain parasite which causes cannibalistic behavior in shrimp, but does it occur in other circumstances, such as dire lack of food, high stress levels, or scavenging? I was in a Chinese restaurant and I saw 2-3 shrimps eating from the body of another of its same species in an aquarium.
Cannibalism is common in crustaceans including shrimps. However, the extent of cannibalism varies in different species and stages of life cycle. This also depends on culture management. With adequate feeding and space you can reduce the rate of cannibalism. Providing shelter during molting phase can also help.
Srimps possess cannibalistic habit during non availability of sufficient food where they mostly predate upon newly moulted shrimps when their shell remain soft.
When kept in tanks and other unnatural conditions prawns and shrimps often display cannibalistic behaviour by attacking recently moulted individuals. I suspect that cannibalism also occurs in the wild when population densities are high, but is difficult to prove. However, I have found shrimp and prawn remains in the guts of both fresh and marine water species of shrimp and prawn.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Zoology
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Arthropods
- Crustacea