Shimp are small, timid crustaceans, usually no bigger than a ping-pong ball. Though not explicitly social, they prefer to live in large groups for safety, and a lone shimp tends to hide out of stress. Originally, wild shimp were brown, but in captivity they've been bred to have a wide variety of colors. They are one of few invertipets with a "wild" morph that doesn't reflect their original coloration; instead, their wild morph is just one of the earliest morphs to be bred as pets! Interestingly, they also adjust their colors to their environment. The darker their tank, the more vivid the shimp!

Shimp thrive in a wide variety of water conditions, and their hardiness and docile nature make them common pets. They prefer an aquarium with lots of live plants for them to hide in, and they should be kept in groups of at least 5 to help them feel more secure. In a tank with plants or other animals, they'll happily feed on algae and detritus, but their diet can be supplemented with fish food, blanched vegetables, and special shimp pellets!