Do Shrimp Eat Plants?

[killudead]

I have a betta bulb that is slowly being picked apart by my amano shrimp I think.
It could be some MTS but i cant be certain.
Will they eat the plants if they do not have anything else to eat?

 

[shroob]

I doubt they would eat plants, I'm not 100% sure but I don't think they do. After all amano shrimp got famous when Takashi (think thats his first name) Amano (hence the name) started using them in his famous planted tank set ups, so I don't think he would introduce a plant eating shrimp.

 

[Colin_T]

If the shrimp are hungry they will pick at he plants but it is more likely the snails. Snails do a lot more damage and MTS hide in the gravel during the day so you never really know how many are in the tank. There could literally be hundreds and they would strip the plants when they run out of food.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

Depends on the species.

Most will leave plants alone, but amanos have been known to eat moss-like plants when hungry.

 

[killudead]

good to know, I thought it might the MTS's.
I will have to monitor the situation.

 

[malakye]

I have 5 amano shrimp who systematically decide they are going to kill a plant. I was told originally it was because there wasn't enough food and they must be hungry but i have seen food laying almost ontop of them and them still going for the plant. Mine over the year have eaten every piece of wisteria I had in my tank. I even chased them off one plant and placed pellets down for them, moving the plant to the far end of the tank, they left the pellets and went straight to the plant and destroyed it.
They have also destoyed cabomba simply shredding it until I had only stems left. I dont know why they do it, they are not hungry, have grown huge, are berried quite often (sadly) so must be happy enough. I think its just something they like to do every now and again.