Some are banded with contrasting colours. Seed shrimps that live in mats of algae are often bright green. Hidden inside the shell, the seed shrimp has seven pair of legs. The seed shrimp moves, by rapidly moving its antennae and legs, in wave-like motions in the water. It glides or jerks its way among plant leaves and can climb stems easily using its many legs.
Seed shrimps are scavengers that feed on plant and animal debris.
They especially like to eat partially decayed plants. In turn, seed shrimp are eaten by small fish. Sometimes there are so many seed shrimp just above the bottom of the pond, they appear to form clouds. Most seed shrimp lay their eggs on stems and bottom debris where males fertilize them. There are no males for many species of seed shrimp.