Comparison
Freeze-dried shrimp or scallops: how the bags differ
Updated
Shrimp vs scallops for dogs is a choice between two raw shellfish bags. Each is freeze dried raw, each listing names cats and adult dogs of every size, and each scores 4 of 5 for crunch. Shrimp is a crustacean and scallops are mollusks. The scallop listing says shelf stable; the shrimp listing does not use the word.
How are shrimp and scallops different shellfish?
Shrimp is a crustacean. A scallop is a mollusk. Both are shellfish. Neither listing spells that out, so the category comes from the animal, not from the packaging.
In the bag the difference is easy to see. A shrimp comes whole, one to a piece. A scallop comes whole too, and the scallop listing says no two look alike, since each one differs in shape, color and size.
Each bag has a single ingredient and a short description. Whole raw shrimp with no seasoning in one, scallops with no butter, garlic or additives in the other. Our product pages are shrimp for dogs and scallops for dogs.
Both bags are raw: what does that ask of you?
The same thing in both cases, though only one of the two listings says it out loud. The shrimp listing tells you to wash your hands after handling the shrimp. The scallop listing has no washing line.
We treat scallops the same way we treat shrimp under the federal raw food guidance; that is our practice, and the scallop listing does not say it. The FDA, raw pet food diets page (opened 2026-10-16) puts it in two steps: wash your hands, then clean and disinfect what the raw food came into contact with.
How do the shrimp and scallop labels line up?
The analysis rows are what each package label prints. The raw, shelf stable and washing rows are from the listings, and the crunch score is from our scorecard.
| Shrimp | Scallops | |
|---|---|---|
| Crude protein (min) | 71% | 68% |
| Crude fat (min) | 3% | 3% |
| Crude fiber (max) | 8% | 4% |
| Moisture (max) | 10% | 16% |
| Energy as printed | 2,831 kcal ME/kg (approx. 80.2 kcal/oz) | 2,690 kcal ME/kg (approx. 76.2 kcal/oz) |
| Crunch score from us | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| How the listing words raw | Whole raw shrimp | Freeze-dried raw |
| Listing uses "shelf stable" | No | Yes |
| Washing line on the listing | Yes | No |
The two labels share a 3% fat minimum. Everything else in the analysis differs, and neither label says why. For a comparison that puts the scallops next to a mollusk, our mussels vs scallops for dogs page has the other side by side.
Which listing says shelf stable, and which stays quiet?
The scallop listing does. It calls the scallops light and shelf stable and says a bag can go on a show weekend with no cooler. After opening, it wants the bag sealed again and kept cool, dry and out of sunlight.
The shrimp listing does not use the words shelf stable. It gives a storage instruction instead: once opened, close the bag and keep it cool and dry. We give no reason for the difference, because we do not have one.
How do the pieces compare for size and texture?
Shrimp pieces are small and light. The scallops run small too, though the listing says each is a whole scallop, so size varies, along with shape and color. On our scorecard both bags score a crunch of 4 of 5.
That is as far as the comparison goes. We do not have a per piece weight or count for either bag. Treats are a side item and not a full meal, and the listings for both say so. A dog on a veterinarian's plan should get that vet's word before either bag shows up.
Questions
Which of the two is in the Exotic Collection Box?
The scallops are. The box holds frog legs, baby octopus, scallops and quail eggs, and there is no shrimp in it. If you want shrimp alongside the scallops, those are two separate bags.
Is there shrimp or scallop in Captain's Catch?
There is shrimp, and no scallop. Captain's Catch is a medley of five ingredients: squid, octopus, shrimp, clam and mussel. It is not a single ingredient bag, and it has its own label separate from the shrimp bag.
Which label prints more protein?
The shrimp label prints a 71% minimum and the scallop label prints 68%. Those are the numbers as printed, and a bigger minimum is a bigger number rather than a recommendation. Your veterinarian is the one to ask about your own dog's diet.
Can a cat have both?
Both listings name cats. The shrimp listing says to hand one over as a treat or crumble one over dinner. For cats the scallop listing suggests a small piece, or one crumbled onto a meal. Neither gives a cat portion, so ask your veterinarian.
Is anything added to either bag?
No. The shrimp listing says there is no seasoning and nothing else in the bag. The scallop listing says there is no butter, no garlic and no additives. Each bag is the one ingredient and nothing around it.
Should scallops stay out of the sun?
Yes, by its own listing: an opened bag goes somewhere cool and dry, out of the sun. The shrimp listing says cool and dry and does not mention sunlight. Reseal either bag when you are done with it.