Cherry shrimp, with their bright red coloration, are a popular freshwater shrimp species kept by aquarium hobbyists. But these small crustaceans, like all shrimp, are adapted to live in water. So a common question asked by cherry shrimp owners is how long can they survive out of water if they accidentally jump out or need to be moved. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at cherry shrimp’s ability to live outside of water and the factors that impact their survival time.
Do Cherry Shrimp Breathe Air?
Cherry shrimp whose scientific name is Neocaridina davidi are a species of freshwater shrimp native to Taiwan. As aquatic creatures, they have gills that allow them to extract oxygen from the water. Without water, the gills would quickly dry out and the shrimp would be unable to breathe.
However, cherry shrimp do have some capability for aerial respiration. Their thin exoskeleton allows for diffusion of oxygen from the air into their tissues, a process known as cutaneous gas exchange. This gives them the ability to survive for a limited time out of water by breathing air.
How Long Can Cherry Shrimp Stay Alive Without Water?
A healthy cherry shrimp can usually stay alive for 15 to 20 minutes without water before it dies of lack of oxygen. However, their survival time is heavily dependent on environmental conditions. Some cherry shrimp can go up to an hour without water if the temperature and humidity are just right.
Based on what aquarium owners have said, here are some general rules for how long cherry shrimp can survive without water:
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15-20 minutes – Average survival time under normal conditions
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Up to 1 hour – Maximum survival time in a cool, moist environment
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5-10 minutes – Survival time if conditions are hot and dry
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1-2 minutes – Minimum survival time if severely stressed
What Factors Impact Cherry Shrimp’s Survival Out of Water?
Several key environmental factors determine how long a cherry shrimp can survive when removed from water:
Temperature
Temperature directly affects their metabolism. Warmer temperatures speed up their respiration rate which uses up oxygen faster. Cooler temperature of 60-75°F slows their breathing and extends survival time.
Humidity
Higher humidity in the air allows cherry shrimp to retain body moisture. In low humidity, they quickly desiccate and die faster. Ideal humidity is above 70%.
Surface Moisture
Keeping the shrimp’s body surface moist with a damp towel prolongs survival compared to letting it dry out. This maintains moisture levels in their tissues.
Oxygen Availability
Rich oxygen environments allow more cutaneous respiration. Stagnant air or containers limit oxygen exchange and decrease survival time.
Health Condition
Cherry shrimp weakened by disease or stress have a shorter survival span out of water than healthy robust shrimp.
Exposure to Pollutants
Toxic fumes, chemicals or cigarette smoke can be absorbed through their skin and reduces how long they live without water.
By optimizing these conditions, cherry shrimp’s survival time can be extended. But water is critical for their health and they should be returned as soon as possible.
Tips for Safely Moving Cherry Shrimp Out of Water
Sometimes it becomes necessary to temporarily move a cherry shrimp out of water, for example when transporting them to a new tank. Here are some tips for safely moving them:
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Use a container filled with old tank water to hold the cherry shrimp when out of the tank. This maintains moisture and oxygen.
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Limit air exposure to the absolute minimum time needed.
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Keep the temperature cool and use an insulated container if possible.
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Place a damp paper towel in the container to keep their skin moist.
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Transport larger groups of shrimp together as they release metabolites that can help sustain oxygen levels for each other.
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Have the new tank fully set up and ready to receive the shrimp.
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Acclimate the shrimp slowly to the new tank’s water parameters.
When handled properly, most healthy cherry shrimp can tolerate brief periods out of water for transport. But their survival fully depends on water, so strive to minimize the time they spend in open air.
Can Cherry Shrimp Live on Land Permanently?
While cherry shrimp can temporarily survive out of water, they cannot live permanently on land. Their anatomy and physiology is specifically adapted for aquatic life:
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Gills designed to extract oxygen from water, not air.
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Exoskeleton and tissues prone to desiccation.
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Organs reliant on water’s buoyancy, not gravity.
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Inability to process nutrients without water.
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Lack of structures for terrestrial mobility.
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Leg and mouthparts designed for filter feeding from water.
Without water, all of cherry shrimp’s essential body systems would eventually fail. Given their highly specialized adaptations, cherry shrimp could not survive more than a few hours at most outside of an aquatic habitat.
Authors explored both marine shrimp and freshwater prawns
To help shrimp aquaculture keep growing in places that can’t compete with cheap imports, a niche market that will pay more for shrimp raised in water needs to be used. The live market represents a very promising niche for these types of markets.
Importers find it hard and expensive to ship live shrimp over long distances. Live markets give shrimp-producing countries that aren’t very well developed a chance to sell live seafood products in their own countries that can fetch a higher price.
For example, Americans eat an average of 1 shrimp per person per year, making it the most popular seafood dish in the country. 8 kg. Over 90 percent of the shrimp consumed in the U. S. is imported, and the majority of imported shrimp is from farmed, not wild-caught sources.
The U. S. has significant interest in further developing its shrimp aquaculture industry. Technically, it is possible to grow marine shrimp and freshwater prawns in both ponds and recirculating aquaculture systems. Businesses already use both types of systems. However, production costs for U. S. growers exceed those of foreign competitors. The U. S. market value of commodity shrimp is depressed due to the high volume of foreign product available.
Since it is challenging for importers to ship live shrimp to the U. S, the live market presents a promising niche for U. S. -grown shrimp.
Temperature and levels of ammonia, oxygen, and carbon dioxide can be controlled so that live shrimp can be shipped in water. However, the weight of water can be cost prohibitive when product is transported over long distances.
If shrimp can be shipped live without water weight, significant savings would be realized. Accordingly, studies have been conducted to develop handling and packing methods for waterless shipment of live shrimp.
After shrimp are harvested, they must be prepared for shipping. This involves the following steps:
- Lower the temperature of the water where the shrimp are to put them to sleep by adding ice. Move the shrimp and culture water to a smaller tank that has air flow. Slowly add ice and monitor the change in temperature. Make sure the dissolved-oxygen concentration remains greater than 5 mg/L.
- Put the boxes in the same water as the shrimp to soak them. Take out the cold packing and put it in a layer on the bottom of a clear fish bag. Place shrimp in a single layer on the wet packing material.
- Put oxygen from a cylinder into a bag and tie it up so that air can’t get in. The authors used temperature control chambers to keep the holding temperatures for their experiments stable for up to 72 hours.
- To see if the shrimp are still alive, take them out of the package and check to see if their gills move or if they react to being poked. On the other end, process the shrimp or put them in tanks with shrimp farming water.
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FAQ
How long do shrimp survive out of water?
How long can shrimp stay alive without water?
Can shrimp breathe on land?
Do cherry shrimp escape tanks?
What temperature does a cherry shrimp live in?
Cherry shrimp can live in temperatures between 57-86℉ (14-30℃). They can tolerate pH levels between 6.5-7.8 and the total dissolved salts (TDS) in the tank’s water should be around 100-250. Additionally, the carbonate levels in the water affect the water’s alkalinity.
How long do cherry shrimp live in a fishbowl?
The average lifespan of cherry shrimp is around 1 to 2 years. Under optimal conditions, you can keep your cherry shrimp alive for up to 3 years. The length of your cherry shrimp’s life will depend on multiple factors such as water conditions, diet, tank mates, and tank location.
How long do cherry shrimp live in a tank?
As mentioned above, the lifespan of your pet cherry shrimp depends on various factors. In captivity, you need to keep an eye on all the parameters and requirements to ensure an optimal environment. Generally speaking, cherry shrimp can live for 1 to 2 years in a tank if all the proper conditions are present.
How do cherry shrimp survive?
Maintaining steady parameters is necessary for cherry shrimp survival, growth, and reproduction. Below are a few key factors to keep in mind: Cherry shrimp require water that’s slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH of 6.5–8.0. Extreme pH levels might lead to stress and poor health.