Feed them whole, if any fish has shrimp as food source in the wild , they will be able to eat them whole(if you are concerned ,just snap the spike off on the head . I don't think there is a shell peeling service in the Amazon.
well the dont seem to mind either way, even if i cut them in half and just feed them the head they down it like they got rent to pay.I dont see them trying to spit out the shells either.