Where freshwater shrimp are found. Shrimp in nature. Do I need to consider the seasons

Freshwater aquarium shrimp have recently become very fashionable and popular pets. They have not yet adapted to life in artificial ecosystems as well as fish, which have been bred for hundreds of years. Keeping these unusual aquatic life is not particularly difficult, but may be beyond the capacity of newcomers to the hobby.

The reason for this is hidden in the crustaceans' demands on the quality of water and fluctuations in its composition. Shrimps in an aquarium with fish can live and feel good for a while, and after changing the water they suddenly start to hurt or die. Even experienced owners of a home reservoir sometimes find it very difficult to grow new representatives of the fauna for themselves.

Why do you need shrimp in an aquarium?

The function of exotic crustaceans in an aquarium is purely aesthetic. With a huge choice modern means algae control and filters that purify water from pollution, there is simply no need for animals feeding on detritus. Shrimp, like snails, can eat all kinds of organic debris, cleaning the bottom. Most do not disdain algae either. But the efforts of breeders are mainly aimed at the beauty and brightness of the colors of small crustaceans, which are secretive and invisible by nature.

As a result, aquaculture already has very beautiful, artificially bred shrimp breeds of white, blue, yellow, red and green colors. The number of shades and varieties of colors is even greater. Very rare and valuable species are fabulously expensive and rather capricious, and easily breeding species (neocaridines, for example) are quite accessible even to beginners.

It is very interesting to observe unusual animals. A lag of bright red cherry trees looks very picturesque against the background of greenery and makes you want to immediately settle the same beauties in your aquarium. But these creatures will have to be very carefully looked after.

Maintenance requirements for shrimp

Due to the fact that freshwater shrimp in the aquarium are mainly benthic, you have to monitor these factors constantly. There is little dissolved oxygen in the lower layers of stagnant water, but ammonia and other nitrates (organic decomposition products) are often found in large quantities. These substances are poisonous not only for crustaceans, but the inhabitants of flowing water bodies are more sensitive to them.

A partial water change, together with aeration and filtration, solves this problem.

To prevent this from happening, it is best to renew the water every 1-2 days: clean the aquarium and add about 10% fresh, just as it is done when caring for fish. During the replacement, you should try to pour the first portions of liquid a little, observing the condition and behavior of the crustaceans. If they begin to worry, it is better to interrupt the procedure for 10-15 minutes so that the pets will adapt slightly to the fresh water. Then you can gradually pour in new portions.

The homeland of most of the known breeds is Southeast Asia. This suggests that the animal prefers warmth. Optimum for keeping shrimps will be water with a temperature of about + 25 ° C. When it rises to 30 ° C, too little dissolved oxygen remains in it and the shrimp may die. In case of accidental overheating, increase the aeration and lower the temperature by placing a plastic bag with cold water in the aquarium.

Keeping and caring for shrimps also includes providing the necessary mineral composition water. Its reaction should be slightly alkaline (pH 6.5–8.5), and rigidity is only welcome. Calcium salts are essential for cancers to form shells. To maintain the amount of mineral dissolved in the water, you can put marble sand (crumbs of different fractions) into the aquarium, put coral twigs or pieces of limestone, marble, natural shells, etc.

When choosing a filter, it is best to choose models made of sponge (foam rubber).

Since crustaceans reproduce haphazardly and for as long as shrimp live (2-3 years), young animals may appear in the aquarium unexpectedly for the breeder and fall into filters with other water intakes. The sponge filter is the safest for newborn shrimp.

Knowing what aquarium shrimp eat, you can provide them with all the necessary substances that are needed for proper growth, life and reproduction. Like snails or catfish, these inhabitants of the bottom layers of water feed on detritus, that is, all kinds of organic matter that accumulates on the ground. It can be the remains of fish food, and dying parts of plants, and the corpses of fish or snails. Many species of aquarium shrimp can also eat filamentous algae.

The question of what to feed the shrimp, breeders decide in their own way. You can also feed with tablets for catfish with spirulina, and dry flakes for fish. Feeding the shrimp should be varied, but not excessive. The remains of the meal must be removed after 1-2 hours so that they do not contribute to the accumulation of nitrates in the water.

Of the especially favorite foods, the tubifex can be distinguished. Shrimps eat these small worms with great pleasure. Pieces of meat (no fat) or fish can be used as a substitute for live food. But it is best to purchase special food for aquarium shrimp, in which all the substances they need are balanced.

If pets have to be left for a while, then their nutrition may be the last question to be solved.

A pet raised on commercial food will switch to its natural diet: it will eat algae, rotten leaves and other aquarium debris. The main thing to take care of is ensuring constant aeration.

How do I add shrimp to my aquarium?

When buying a new pet, there is the problem of transporting it. In the case of the purchase of shrimp, it is further complicated by the fact that the animal can easily be injured when shaking and moving the water in the container. Conveniently transport crustaceans to plastic bag, having previously lowered the branches of plants there.

Better to acquire young individuals. They more easily adapt to new conditions, and their color will appear as they grow up. But even in this case, before planting them in the aquarium, you need to adapt to the new water composition:

1. Place the imported shrimp in a large container. The volume of water with which they were transported should occupy about 20% of this container.
2. Collect water from the aquarium in a separate jar (80% of the volume of the container with shrimps), where you need to transplant new pets.
3. Through a medical dropper with a dispenser, you need to gradually add this water to the container with shrimp. Set the fluid delivery rate within 1–2 drops per 5 seconds.
4. Observe the behavior of animals. If they behave calmly, continue to top up the water until its volume increases by 2–2.5 times. If the shrimp rush or bend their backs, turn off the water supply for about 1 hour and ensure aeration. Resume at a rate of 1 drop every 15–20 seconds.
5. By increasing the volume of water, as indicated in point 4, carefully drain off some of the liquid and continue adding aquarium water. In the process of increasing its volume, you need to drain a part of it 1-2 times more.

When all the liquid intended for adaptation is over, leave the shrimps for 1 day in a new environment for them. If they feel fine, you can equalize the temperature and pour the contents of the container into the shared aquarium.

Population density and species compatibility

Before buying new pets, you should evaluate in advance your ability to keep a certain number of individuals. A medium-sized crustacean (about 5 cm long) requires 2-3 liters of water. Based on this, you need to calculate how much you can keep in one aquarium.

The compatibility of shrimp with fish deserves a separate mention. These crustaceans are peaceful and defenseless creatures, but they will not be able to get along with all fish. Any large or aggressive neighbors are undesirable for them.

Crustaceans get along well with small fish (guppies, mollies, neons, etc.) that live in the upper layers of the water.

These species simply will not interfere with each other and, accordingly, will not pay attention to the presence of neighbors. Among the bottom fish, with whom crustaceans get along, one can name peaceful catfish (corridors, speckled, thoracatums). But most often, aquarium shrimp, whose compatibility with fish is not particularly successful, is kept in separate bodies of water. This applies primarily to rare and valuable representatives.

In order for shrimps to feel calm at home, they need to provide good hiding places. Pets can hide in algae thickets, in decorative grottoes, under driftwood or in large shells. It is especially important for them to have a protected place during molting, when the old shell has been discarded, and the new one has not yet matured.

How are shrimp bred?

Breeding aquarium shrimp does not require any special intervention from the breeder. Animals are dioecious. The female can be distinguished by her larger size and wide tail, on which she will carry eggs.

Reproduction of shrimp occurs between molts. At this time, caviar sacs can be seen on the tail of the female. She bears offspring within 3-4 weeks.

By the time the young animals hatch, dark inclusions are clearly visible inside the eggs.

If the reproduction of aquarium shrimps is planned in order to increase their number or for breeding purposes, then the female with caviar must be carefully transplanted into a separate aquarium, pouring water into it from the general one. Newborn shrimps are very small and become food even for peaceful neighbors. But in a separate reservoir, thickets of plants are needed, among which the young will be able to hide and feed.

What are shrimps?

Even inexperienced aquarists will be able to grow the most unpretentious types of shrimp at home. They belong to the genus Neocaridin. There are several breeds available, bred from the same wild ancestor. But there are also quite rare varieties of aquarium shrimp, the maintenance of which is difficult even for experienced breeders.

The most popular varieties are cherry prawns, or cherry prawns. They were named so for their beautiful deep red color. Breeding cherry shrimp is a pleasure. Small, only 2.5–3 cm long, these crustaceans like to live in large flocks (at least 10 pieces), enlivening the underwater landscape. They are easy to keep in large numbers due to their rapid reproduction: the female can bear about 30 eggs at once, giving offspring almost all year round.

For these babies, small-leaved plants are needed, such as Javanese and Christmas mosses, cladophorus. Lomariopsis and Indian ferns will help to decorate the landscape. You can complement the green decoration with floating plant species such as duckweed or riccia. The contrast of greenery and bright red crustaceans looks very sophisticated, and watching the shrimp in the aquarium is a real aesthetic pleasure. So that the shrimp do not start eating plants, you need to lower a piece of apple to them, bell pepper, squash, or other mild vegetable they can eat. It is not necessary to remove it, just change it once a week.

Other neocaridines - yellow and fiery - are the brothers of the red "cherries".

They are varieties descended from the same wild ancestor, so they can be housed and bred together. They cross easily, attempts to breed their offspring can be interesting practice for young aquarists.

There is also a blue variety of neocaridin. Unlike yellow and red, this color is not inherited. It is caused artificially: with the help of special feed. It is not worth counting on the appearance of offspring with a blue shell, even in isolated animals, but you can use them as genetic material when crossing red and yellow individuals.

Speaking of unpretentious varieties, first of all, it means their high resistance to fluctuations in water hardness, an extended temperature range (+ 18 ... + 29 ° С). But even these aquarium shrimps need good care, a variety of foods and optimal conditions for breeding. To imitate natural environment, you can add dry woody leaves, pieces of oak wood, walnut shells.

Other types of shrimp

Rare breeds are often not demanding, but simply more expensive. Among them there are very beautiful representatives whom professional breeders take to exhibitions and competitions. Some of the rare shrimp belong to the genus Caridin, and their content differs little from the care of yellow or cherry ones.

Among these varieties are the red and black bees. They are charming creatures white with 3-4 stripes of the corresponding color. The red bee is just a random mutation of the black variety, and breeding shrimp in the aquarium has made it possible to establish this trait.

Another form derived from bees is a red and black crystal. Unlike the striped progenitors, the crystals have an almost entirely white body with a single spot on the cephalothorax. Amateurs distinguish groups with different outlines of the spot.

The unusual red-nosed shrimp is not bred at home.

Transparent creatures with a long red outgrowth in the front of the body are marketed from the salt lakes of India and neighboring countries... Reproduction can only take place under natural conditions, but they can live in freshwater aquariums.

The snowflake, white pearl and blue pearl varieties belong to the same genus of neocaridin as simple "cherries". Their rarity is due to the fact that they are relatively new breeds. They reproduce as successfully as their counterparts, which means that soon they can be acquired more freely and they will get along in the same body of water. When crossing white and red varieties, you can get cute pink and striped offspring.

There are many beautiful breeds shrimp. When you start breeding these new pets for your aquarium, you can get a lot of positive emotions.

Oleg, it's easy to get lost in all the diversity of the shrimp world. How many types of shrimp are there and how are they different?
There are about 2000 species in nature shrimp... All of them can be divided into two groups - cold water and warm water. Outwardly, they differ in size - cold water ones are much smaller.

Are cold water shrimps our usual?
You could say that. Northern red shrimp are most common here, northern chillim and red comb shrimp are also common. By the way, they are red even when raw. These shrimps are boiled alive in sea ​​water and immediately frozen after cooking. You can distinguish boiled shrimp from raw one by the tail: boiled shrimp curls, and raw tail is straight. But here it is important to know that northern shrimp are supplied to Russia only boiled-frozen, and such a straight tail is a sign that the shrimp was already cooked dead.

An interesting point - Russian fishermen shrimp catch, but supply them to the USA, South Korea and Japan, and we buy shrimp caught by the Danes and Canadians, they say it is beneficial from an economic point of view.

Another caveat concerns the size or “ caliber»Shrimp. On the packaging you can find such numbers - 50/70 ( pieces per kilogram - approx. ed.), 70/90 and 90/120 Than more number, the smaller the shrimp. So, cold-water shrimps are small, and the size 70/90 is already a rarity for them. Therefore, I advise you to buy shrimp caliber 90/120, on all the rest more ice than meat.

That is, we have to be content with the smallest shrimp?
Small does not mean bad. On the contrary, the smaller the shrimp, the juicier their meat and brighter taste. For this reason, I like northern shrimps much more than tropical ones. Moreover, cold-water shrimps are caught in natural environment habitat, and warm water in industrial scale grown on farms.

Are you saying that warm water shrimp are worse?
I would say that they are not for everybody, besides, when choosing them, it is really easy to get confused. For instance, " royal»Shrimp does not exist in nature. All large warm-water shrimps, except perhaps brindle, so named because of the specific color of the shell.

V different countries own king prawns - there are white Pacific, Indian, Chinese, Japanese sweet shrimps, Atlantic red and even giant freshwater shrimps that live in South-East Asia... But in their natural habitat, only 20% of the total volume of king prawns is caught. The remaining 80% are from farms where shrimp are bred in special ponds.

Where do king prawns come from to Russia?
We mainly supply shrimp grown in China, India and Bangladesh. Farmed shrimp are always larger than wild shrimp, and the manufacturer's packaging must state that it is an aquaculture product. They sell boiled-frozen king prawns in three types - uncut, with a shell without a head, or completely peeled. By the way, despite the impressive size - 25-30 cm in length, meat in king prawn only 30% of total weight, the rest is the head.

Are tiger prawns also farmed?
To a lesser extent than royal ones, farmer tiger prawns are supplied to Russia. Black tiger prawns are brought from India and China, and ordinary ones from Indonesia and Thailand. They differ in color - in ordinary ones there are dark stripes on a light shell, and in black ones, on the contrary.
The size of tiger prawns is even larger than that of king prawns - 30-35 cm, and meat is 50% of the total weight. These shrimp are sold raw, headless or headless. They look very impressive with a head, and are often used to decorate dishes.

And why are farm shrimps scary?
Some people don't like the taste that gets shrimp grown on artificial feed. Someone is afraid that they are bred with the use of stimulants, dyes and antibiotics. I just like northern shrimp more - they are tastier and contain much more nutrients. But all this is true only if the shrimp is fresh.

What should be fresh shrimp?
Fresh shrimp must be properly frozen. The color should be even, the ice glaze should be thin, and the tail should be pressed against the belly. White spots on the carapace or snowflakes in the package means that shrimps defrost repeatedly. Pay attention to the shrimp head, if there is one. Pregnant shrimp have a brown head, their meat is the most delicious and healthy. The green head indicates that the shrimp ate algae and a special kind of plankton. But a black head speaks of a serious illness, it is dangerous to eat such a shrimp. Black spots on the carapace are also unacceptable.

Shrimp is an animal of the order of crustaceans. On the this moment it is a highly demanded product. Industrial capture allows many companies to generate income that are engaged in this work. The demand for the product is associated with excellent digestibility and the presence of many vitamins and microelements in it. And thanks to advanced technologies and infrastructure, the buyer receives a high quality product. Read more about catching shrimp in the article.

Benefit

Animal meat contains a lot of protein, which is well absorbed and contains many essential amino acids. The latter cannot be produced in the body, they come only with food. This product contains much more iodine than beef, so it is in demand in regions with iodine deficiency.

A rich set of minerals and vitamins affects almost all organs and systems, including the skin, hair, nails. It is an indispensable tool for the prevention of heart and vascular diseases.

Habitat

Where is shrimp caught? There are several habitats for these creatures:

1. There is a tiger species in the Pacific Ocean. Closer to the equator, animals are larger and tastier. A wide variety of species can be found in warm waters. Closer to the poles, there are fewer of them.
2. These animals are found in Kenya, Brazil, Ecuador, Somalia. In these countries, the water usually has a temperature of +25 to +30 degrees, which is favorable for the development of these inhabitants. Their sizes can be 30 cm. South America takes place on farms, thanks to which a quality product is produced.
3. A decrease in temperature to +15 degrees becomes the cause of death marine life... Similarly, and warm water - +35.
4. In the Barents, Baltic, North Seas, there are small ones of 2.5-10 cm. Animals caught off the coast of Canada and Greenland are of great value.
5. There are many marine life in the Mediterranean, Black, Azov seas.
6. There are freshwater animals in the Amur and the cave reservoirs of the Transcaucasus.
7. There are crustaceans in fresh waters Of the Far East. The population is relict, because it has lost contact with the rest similar types due to geological changes in the land. They live at +15 degrees, but when the temperature drops to 10 degrees, the death of the larvae is observed. Adults cannot tolerate lowering to 0 degrees.

If animals live at temperatures that differ from optimal ones, then they grow more slowly and also stop reproducing. In such a climate, they exist for up to 3 months. Shrimp are not very sensitive to salt water, as even those that live in fresh water are of marine origin.

Industrial types

Although several thousand crustaceans live in nature, not all of them are of commercial interest. In Russia, the most popular is beer shrimp - cold water red. It is small in size and sweet in taste. She has subspecies - red comb and northern chilim. Game and king prawns are in demand.

The southern pink shrimp lives off the coast of Africa. The captain's is in the artificial reservoirs of China and Korea. In the Black and Mediterranean Seas, there is a sand shrimp that is fished in Germany. A herbaceous Black Sea shrimp is caught. US restaurants serve speckled deep sea dwellers as well as whites and pinks. There is a Chilean species common on the Chilean coast.

Where and when to fish?

When can you catch shrimp? To have a rich catch, you need to go for shrimp at night or in the evening. Many recommend fishing early in the morning, but it should be before dawn. The place should be chosen according to the type of inflow or where there is an intense narrowing of the channel. The catch can be on the channel that connects the sea and the estuary.

Inhabitants crowd around the walls and supports of the pier, concrete structures, breakwaters, rocks, and the side of the ship. There are also many of them in the thickets of algae. A bright lantern can serve as bait. In the dark period, they illuminate the water column. Lanterns with a sealed housing are sold especially for this. These products are suitable for underwater use. Crustaceans quickly run into the light. How to catch shrimp? For this, several proven methods are used.

If trawling is chosen, then chicken offal, fish, meat will be required. On this issue, the opinions of fishermen are different. Some people think that the bait should be somewhat damp, while others talk about the need to use fresh bait. Ebb tides are considered another subtlety. If you know about the time of their occurrence, then it will turn out to improve the result of fishing. How to catch shrimp in Primorye? For this, all proven methods are used. Let's consider them in detail.

Butterfly net

How to catch shrimp? By law, it is allowed to use a net with a diameter of up to 70 cm. It is necessary to choose a device with a long and strong handle. When illuminated with a lantern, they are led near walls, supports, structures, near algae and a ship.

In this way, the catch will not be large, but if the product is not for sale, then it will be enough. Along with shrimps, silt, algae, and sand penetrate into the net. If there is a boat, then fishing can be done from it. All the rules are the same, you just need to take a suitable net. How to catch shrimp in Any of the methods indicated in the article are suitable.

Trawling

How else to catch shrimp? A trawl is called a device for catching not only crustaceans, but also fish. It is a metal circle or oval, to which a fine mesh, like a bag, is connected. Its length can be 4 meters.

After immersion in the water, the trawl must be pulled along the bottom, overgrown with algae. For this, ropes are fixed to the metal frame. Often the trawl is tied to the boat. It can be installed in a place where the shrimp lives, only the bait must be placed there in advance. The placement of the device in the area of ​​narrow ducts helps. Then you only need to control the flow and deploy it in a timely manner.

Net

It is usually used for fishing from a boat. How to catch shrimp with a net? It is lowered to the bottom with sinkers, and pulled out by a special rope. When choosing a fishing spot, it should be borne in mind that the depth should not be higher than the radius of the net.

There are other methods of catching crustaceans. For example, you need to tie the reeds into a medium-sized bundle, place them inside the bait and submerge them on the bottom. After a while, you need to pull out the trap with the contents. But this option is poaching, so there is a chance of getting into trouble with it. How to catch Azov shrimp? Hunting for marine life is carried out in any of the 3 ways indicated here.

Do the seasons need to be considered?

It is important to consider not only how to fish for shrimp at sea, but also the fishing periods:

1. In summer, animals have a spawning time. Fishing during this period is prohibited, and poaching is punishable by law.
2. The mass stroke usually occurs in spring and autumn when the water is warm. Therefore, hunting for marine life in May, September, October will bring great results.
3. In winter, crustaceans wander to a depth of 30 meters, so even if you use a landing net or it will not be effective.

Deep sea fishing method

The deep fishing method is considered complex process that can be used in industrial applications. The caught crustaceans are subjected to heat treatment on the ship, which increases their quality. Large trawls are usually used for industrial fishing. They are launched along the bottom, which allows you to collect everything in your path.

This method allows you to catch shrimp, fish, shellfish and other inhabitants. The trawl is able to plow the seabed, destroying everything around. He is lifted onto the deck with winches. When the extraction is sorted, the products are frozen and delivered to the mainland.

Preserving shrimp

Since these marine life deteriorate quickly (in about 2-3 hours), it is necessary to properly preserve them after fishing. Recreational anglers place the shrimp in a container filled with ice. If fishing is industrial, then seafood is frozen on the ship. You can also save the product like this: put it in a cut bottle, fill it with water, and then put it in the freezer.

Thus, shrimp fishing has its own characteristics. You need to know where, when and how it can be done. You also need to remember about the safety of the product. In this case, hunting for marine life will bring excellent results.

For anglers who prefer to go to the sea for their favorite hobby, it has long been no secret that in addition to huge trophy fish, crustaceans are also valuable prey. Shrimp fishing is an exciting and interesting process, and for the most adventurous anglers it is also a profitable business. It's hard to imagine without a delicious seafood delicacy festive table or the menu of a self-respecting restaurant. Even in the treatment of some oncological diseases, shrimps are used, which contain a lot of nutrients and vitamins. How to catch such a miracle of nature, and where is the valuable seafood delicacy?

Shrimps are invertebrates that are classified as decapod crustaceans. Their length can range from just a few centimeters to almost half a meter with a body weight of up to a kilogram. In almost all species, the females are much larger than the males. It is easy to distinguish them, because in addition to size, females have a wide tail and slightly swollen sides, while males are flatter.

The shrimp family is large - in nature you can find up to two thousand varieties. Usually they are divided into groups, taking into account main characteristic- habitat:

• warm water;
• cold water;
• freshwater;
• marine.

Photo 1. King prawns.

Warm water shrimp are better known as king prawns. This type of crustacean has always been one of the most expensive, because in addition to size (up to 30 cm), they are distinguished by high taste. Often they are bred on special farms, which allows the owners to receive a good income.

Cold-water members of the family prefer average temperature water and differ from their royal counterparts in size, because they rarely grow up to only 10 cm. Freshwater - a special type of shrimp. Due to geological changes in the land, they were isolated from relatives and are considered relict.

Regardless of where warm water or cold water shrimp live, temperature fluctuations can lead to mass death crustaceans. If the habitat is unfavorable, shrimp larvae also die, sometimes only 1-3% survive. Cold temperature regime is also reflected in the development of the gourmet sea inhabitants - they stop growing, become lethargic, lose activity.

The salinity of the water is equally important. Some shrimps living in the sea go to search for more comfortable places for breeding. Usually these are bodies of water where sea water is mixed with fresh water.

Regardless of where you live, the diet is almost the same:

• bloodworms;
• pipe makers;
• Correctors (mosquitoes sucking blood);
• daphnia;
• plants with fleshy leaves;
• the remains of dead fish, snails;
• polychaetes.

Interesting! Special attention deserves reproduction. In a sexually mature female (this happens in the third year of life), greenish mucus forms under the tail - these are the eggs. Sometimes they can account for a third of the total body weight. Males feel the pheromones emitted by the female, and engage in fierce fights, fighting for their chosen one. The outcome of the fight does not decide anything - sometimes several males climb onto the female to fertilize the eggs.

Shrimp - main habitats

Oceans and seas are the main element of shrimp, but they can often be found in salt lakes and even freshwater big rivers... It is no secret for professional anglers that their size and even taste depends on where these crustaceans live. The most valuable are those that are found near the equator itself.

The richest countries in shrimp, located near the equator:

• Brazil;
• Ecuador;
• Somalia;
• Kenya.

Photo 2. Catching shrimp from a boat.

Water temperature The Pacific(about 28 degrees) has a positive effect on growth and development, therefore, for residents warm countries growing and catching crustaceans is the main source of income.

Shrimp are also found in the Black Sea, although their number is not as large as in the equatorial strip. You will not find royal representatives here, but medium-sized crustaceans are also well-liked by gourmets. The Azov shrimp attracts hundreds of Russian fishermen with its excellent taste, so massive catches gradually reduce the number of crustaceans in these waters. With a little bit of luck, fishing ends up quite satisfactorily, especially if you choose the right tackle.

The cold waters of the North or Baltic Sea are home to cold-water shrimp. They easily tolerate temperatures of about 15 degrees, while managing to multiply and grow quickly. The most delicious are the representatives of the gourmet family, caught near the shores of Greenland and the Canadian coast.

The basin of the Amur River and the cave reservoirs of the Transcaucasus are the birthplace of freshwater representatives of the family. Shrimp is also found in fresh waters for Far East, withstands harsh temperature conditions with ease.

How to catch a shrimp - the main tricks of successful fishing

How to catch shrimp? You should go fishing in the evening or even at night - it is during these hours that crustaceans are most active. Some anglers pre-set net traps on the shrimp, which allows them to go in the morning for a delicious "harvest". Habitat - from 50 cm to one and a half meters, must have a large number aquatic plants, because it is here that crustaceans love to hide.

Photo 3. Good catch.

Fishing is carried out different ways but most often a landing net or a bottom trawl for shrimp is used. The mesh of such gear should be shallow, otherwise it will be difficult to catch small representatives of the crustacean family with a net, they will simply slip away through large cells. It is convenient to catch shrimp if the tackle has a long handle and a large circle diameter, this will allow the angler to make less effort and simplify the process.

Shrimp prefer to live in places with large quantity algae. The use of a trawl in such places and a little knowledge about the secrets of successful fishing will delight you with a considerable catch. You only need to pull the trawl against the current, if it changes - turn around and move on. During the daytime, the number of gourmet items may not please, but if you arm yourself with a powerful flashlight and go fishing at night, the result will certainly exceed all expectations.

The use of a net is simpler - armed with a simple tackle, you need to bypass pitfalls, leading around them with a homemade or purchased device. Here, too, you can use a flashlight, attracting bright light curious inhabitants of the sea.

Important! Black Sea fishermen came up with interesting way catching. In the morning they arm themselves with several nets, each of which contains a piece of meat (always with a "smell"). It is enough to use a boat and put a landing net into the water near the rocky shores in order to retrieve it in half an hour with an overflowing gourmet product.

We should not forget about the restrictions on the catch of delicious crustaceans. During spawning, which lasts from the first summer day to the last, it is better not to tempt fate and refuse fun activity... Before you go fishing, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the restrictions, because in some bodies of water it is forbidden to catch more than 2-5 kg ​​of shrimp.

Regardless of professionalism, shrimp fishing is an enjoyable and unforgettable experience, because what could be better than Fresh air, gentle sunbeams and warm water? Even if the catch is not pleasing, let's just enjoy the process itself, because this is the beauty of fishing.

Fresh shrimp must be properly frozen. The color should be even, the ice glaze should be thin, and the tail should be pressed against the belly. White spots on the shell or snow flakes in the package mean that the shrimp has been thawed repeatedly. Pay attention to the shrimp head, if there is one. Pregnant shrimp have a brown head, their meat is the most delicious and healthy. The green head indicates that the shrimp ate algae and a special kind of plankton. But a black head speaks of a serious illness, it is dangerous to eat such a shrimp. Black spots on the carapace are also unacceptable.

What shrimps most often end up in Russia?

According to the data, northern red shrimps are most often imported to Russia, followed by northern chillim and red comb shrimp.

By the way, they are red even when raw. These shrimps are boiled alive in sea water and immediately frozen after boiling. You can distinguish boiled shrimp from raw one by the tail: boiled shrimp curls, and raw tail is straight. Market research showed that northern shrimp are supplied to Russia only boiled-frozen, and such a straight tail is a sign that the shrimp was already cooked dead.

Analysis of the frozen shrimp market in Russia highlighted the following point: Russian fishermen catch shrimp, but send them to the USA, South Korea and Japan, and Russia buys shrimp caught by the Danes and Canadians. This is justified by economic benefits.

Another caveat concerns the size or "caliber" of the shrimp. On the package you can find such numbers - 50/70 (pieces per kilogram), or 70/90 and 90/120 The larger the number, the smaller the shrimp. So, cold-water shrimps are small, and the size 70/90 is already a rarity for them. Better to buy shrimp caliber 90/120, all others have more ice than meat.

Small shrimps don't mean bad

The smaller the shrimp, the juicier its meat and brighter taste. One should also take into account the data of the shrimp market survey: cold-blooded ones are caught in their natural habitat, and warm-water ones are grown on farms on an industrial scale.

Interesting fact. The so-called "king" shrimp do not exist in nature. All large warm-water shrimps are united under this name, except for tiger shrimps, so named because of the specific color of the shell.

Different countries have their own king prawns - there are white Pacific, Indian, Chinese, Japanese sweet shrimps, Atlantic red and even giant freshwater shrimps that live in Southeast Asia. But in their natural habitat, only 20% of the total volume of king prawns is caught. The remaining 80% are from farms where shrimp are bred in special ponds.

Where are the "king prawns" imported from to Russia?

Research of the frozen shrimp market has shown that large shrimps are brought to Russia from China, India and Bangladesh. Farmed shrimp are always larger than wild shrimp, and the manufacturer's packaging must state that it is an aquaculture product. They sell boiled-frozen king prawns in three types - uncut, with a shell without a head, or completely peeled. By the way, despite the impressive size - 25-30 cm in length, the meat in the king prawn is only 30% of the total weight, the rest is the head.

Tiger prawns - where are they from?

Mainly, farmed tiger prawns are supplied to Russia. Black tiger prawns are brought from India and China, and ordinary ones from Indonesia and Thailand. They differ in color - in ordinary ones there are dark stripes on a light shell, and in black ones, on the contrary. The size of tiger prawns is even larger than that of king prawns - 30-35 cm, and meat is 50% of the total weight