Hi there! Imagine having $10,000. You could buy 10 brand new laptops, get a Netflix subscription for almost 800 years, purchase a 2018 sedan, or… buy one single freshwater shrimp. Sounds surprising, right? Let me explain why this shrimp is so expensive.
I’m Julián from MinuteEarth, and I love freshwater shrimp. I have some in my aquarium, but mine only cost a few dollars each. They are small and live for about 18 months, just like the pricier ones. So, why do some shrimp cost as much as a car?
The high price of these shrimp is all about human behavior and scarcity. People often like rare things. The price of an aquarium shrimp depends on how rare it is, which is determined by how hard it is to breed shrimp with specific colors and patterns.
In the wild, shrimp usually have a plain black and brown shell. But sometimes, small genetic changes can create unique colors and patterns. Breeders take advantage of these changes by selectively breeding shrimp to create new and striking varieties.
Breeders spend years looking through tanks filled with baby shrimp to find the best ones for breeding. People are willing to pay more for rare shrimp. Why? It could be because rare items are seen as status symbols, or simply because their limited availability makes them more desirable. Some people think that if something is hard to find, it must be valuable.
Even though it might seem crazy to spend $10,000 on a tiny shrimp, many people are tempted to pay a lot for things that don’t have obvious value. For example, a white painted shrimp might not look very special, but because it’s rare, it can sell for a whopping $10,000!
Spending so much on a small, short-lived shrimp might seem illogical. But what is logic, anyway? If you’re curious about logic, you might want to check out Brilliant’s logic course. It has fun quiz questions that can help you learn more about logical thinking. You can visit brilliant.org/MinuteEarth to sign up for free. Plus, the first 200 people to use that link get 20% off an annual Premium subscription. Give it a try!
Lastly, congratulations to the winner of our latest caption contest! If you want to join in, head over to Patreon.com/MinuteEarth and submit your caption suggestions. Have fun learning!
Imagine you are a shrimp breeder. Design your own unique shrimp with special colors and patterns. Draw your shrimp and explain why it would be considered rare and valuable. Share your creation with the class and discuss what makes certain traits desirable.
Participate in a class debate about the value of rare shrimp. Split into two groups: one arguing that spending $10,000 on a shrimp is justified, and the other arguing against it. Use examples from the article to support your points and practice your persuasive speaking skills.
Engage in a simulation where you act as shrimp breeders. Use colored beads to represent different genetic traits. Try to “breed” shrimp with specific patterns by selecting and combining different beads. Discuss how genetic variations can lead to rare and valuable traits.
Test your logical thinking skills with a series of puzzles inspired by the article. Work in pairs to solve problems that require you to think critically about value and scarcity. Reflect on how logic plays a role in determining the worth of rare items.
Research other rare and expensive collectibles, such as rare coins or art pieces. Create a presentation that explains why these items are valuable and compare them to the rare shrimp discussed in the article. Present your findings to the class and explore the concept of value across different items.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, this is Julián from MinuteEarth. For $10,000, you could buy 10 brand new laptops, a subscription to Netflix for nearly 800 years, a 2018 sedan, or… this single freshwater shrimp. I know this because I’m a big fan of freshwater shrimp and keep several in my aquarium, but not the expensive ones! I only spent a few dollars each for mine, which seems reasonable since they’re relatively small and only live for about 18 months, just like the more expensive ones!
So, what’s with the high price tag of that shrimp, or the various other multi-thousand-dollar freshwater shrimp? It turns out that aquarium shrimp prices are driven by human behavior and scarcity. People tend to like rare things, and what determines whether an aquarium shrimp is common or rare (and therefore whether it can sell for $10 or $10,000) is how difficult it is to breed for its specific layout of pigment cells, which give the shrimp their color and pattern.
In the wild, the top layer of the shrimp’s shell is mostly black and brown, giving them a rather plain appearance. However, in rare cases, slight genetic mutations can change the order of these cells, altering the shell’s color and the pattern across the shrimp’s shell. Shrimp breeders take advantage of the wide range of colors and patterns that can result from these mutations by selectively breeding the shrimp to produce striking new varieties.
Breeders spend years searching through tanks with hundreds of baby shrimp to select the best ones for breeding. People will pay a premium for rarity. The reasons people value rarity can vary; it might be seen as a status symbol, or the limited quantity of an item can create a desire for it. Additionally, people may assume that if an in-demand item is scarce, it must be valuable.
Regardless of the reason, many of us have been tempted to pay a seemingly irrational amount for something that doesn’t have intrinsic value. You probably haven’t bought a white painted shrimp, which isn’t very appealing compared to some relatively inexpensive shrimp, but due to its rarity, it sells for a staggering $10,000.
Spending $10,000 for a tiny, short-lived crustacean may seem illogical, but what is logic anyway? That’s a question our sponsor Brilliant can help you with: check out their popular logic course. It contains some intriguing quiz questions. When you challenge yourself a little each day, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish—just go to brilliant.org/MinuteEarth and sign up for free. As a bonus for MinuteEarth viewers, the first 200 people to visit that link will receive 20% off an annual Premium subscription. Click on the link in the description and try Brilliant now.
Also, congratulations to our latest caption contest winner! The next image is ready for caption suggestions from all levels of Patrons at Patreon.com/MinuteEarth.
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This version maintains the original content while removing any informal language or phrases that may be considered inappropriate.
Shrimp – A small marine crustacean with a long body and legs, often used as food. – Scientists study shrimp to understand how they adapt to different ocean environments.
Behavior – The way in which an organism acts or conducts itself, especially in response to stimuli. – The behavior of animals in the wild can teach us a lot about their survival strategies.
Scarcity – The state of being in short supply; a situation in which something is not easy to find. – The scarcity of water in certain regions affects the local wildlife and plant life.
Breeding – The process by which animals produce offspring. – Scientists are studying the breeding habits of endangered species to help increase their populations.
Colors – The property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light. – The vibrant colors of a peacock’s feathers are used to attract mates during the breeding season.
Patterns – Repeated decorative designs or sequences that can be observed in nature. – The patterns on a butterfly’s wings can help it camouflage in its environment.
Rare – Not occurring very often; uncommon. – The discovery of a rare species of frog in the rainforest excited the team of biologists.
Value – The importance, worth, or usefulness of something. – Understanding the value of biodiversity is crucial for conservation efforts.
Logic – A systematic way of thinking that helps in reasoning and problem-solving. – Using logic, scientists can form hypotheses and conduct experiments to test their ideas.
Genetics – The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. – Genetics helps us understand how traits are passed from parents to offspring.
