Bent Mysid Shrimp (Mysis spp.)

from $120.00
Quantity:

Live Bent Mysid Shrimp (Mysis spp.)
Please note this is a live marine specimen.

The Bent Mysid Shrimp (Mysis spp.) is a small, transparent crustacean commonly found in Maine’s shallow coastal waters and areas where ocean currents slow and deposit organic matter. These tiny, free-swimming shrimp-like organisms play an important ecological role as both scavengers and prey for many fish and invertebrate species. Because of their clarity and active swimming behavior, mysids are highly valued for marine biology studies, aquarium feeding, and ecological research. Each specimen is carefully collected by dip net from clean Gulf of Maine waters.

Key Facts:
Common name: Bent mysid shrimp
Scientific name: Mysis spp.
Locations: Shallow water, open ocean, where currents drop off
Seasonality: Available all year
Color: Transparent
Size: ¼”
Collected: By dip net
Quantity: By the each
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to:

Live Bent Mysid Shrimp (Mysis spp.)
Please note this is a live marine specimen.

The Bent Mysid Shrimp (Mysis spp.) is a small, transparent crustacean commonly found in Maine’s shallow coastal waters and areas where ocean currents slow and deposit organic matter. These tiny, free-swimming shrimp-like organisms play an important ecological role as both scavengers and prey for many fish and invertebrate species. Because of their clarity and active swimming behavior, mysids are highly valued for marine biology studies, aquarium feeding, and ecological research. Each specimen is carefully collected by dip net from clean Gulf of Maine waters.

Key Facts:
Common name: Bent mysid shrimp
Scientific name: Mysis spp.
Locations: Shallow water, open ocean, where currents drop off
Seasonality: Available all year
Color: Transparent
Size: ¼”
Collected: By dip net
Quantity: By the each
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to:

Bent mysids in a touch tank.

Bent mysids in a touch tank.

Tidepool Tim says, "Bent mysids are omnivorous filter feeders that eat organic detritus, phytoplankton, and their own species! They're easy to culture on a large scale in labs because they're highly adaptive and tolerant of mutant conditions in experiments. They also have a short reproductive cycle, so it's feasible to maintain a very large population. Bent mysids can be cultured in static and flow-through systems, although flow through will support a higher density of mysids. 

Since the adult mysids will eat their young, keep the juveniles in a holding tank if you want to maintain them. Usually mysids will be fed brine shrimp to sustain them in culture.

Cultured mysids are also great for feeding other marine creatures being kept by humans! They're an ideal food source for cephalopods, fish larvae, and farmed shrimp."