Freshwater Shrimp are colorless and have a thin, smooth outer shell that they shed periodically as they grow. They possess a prominent spine on the front of their head and a fan-shaped tail, which may be marked with blue or green spots. With 10 jointed legs (hence their name, decapods, meaning "ten legs") and well-developed swimmerets under their tail, Freshwater Shrimp have a flattened, sideways body. They typically reach sizes of up to 10cm and primarily consume decaying vegetation, bacteria, and algae particles. By using the first two pairs of legs to grab and transfer food to their mouths, these shrimp maintain their nourishment.