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Brine Shrimp:
This page contains all you want to know about Brine
shrimp. Rather than compile and re-write a whole dissertation on a
food that you are going to just toss in your tank regardless, go
HERE for Artemia (Brine Shrimp) FAQ 1.1
At the bottom of this page are
some commercial links for those seeking to purchase Brine Shrimp in
bulk |
Quick-links for eggs, frozen or Live shrimp
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Step-by-Step Brine Shrimp Hatchery
This isn't an attempt to make a
simple thing complicated, as I'm sure some hobbyist is reading this
and thinking their simpler setup has worked fine for years...There
are easily 100 links on the web for shrimp hatchery designs some
simple, some complex (and
commercial versions also). This Step-By-Step is just one mans
variation of a tried and true D.I.Y shrimp hatchery using cheap and
readily available parts. The mundane details are given just to
demonstrate some of the tweaks that were applied to make things
faster/more convenient (and I doubt if it is 100% perfect either).
Continued |
A quick word about Frozen Brine Shrimp
Shown to the right are the two
widely distributed brands you might encounter at your local pet
shop. Which one you choose or which one is available depends on
preference and the retail supply chain. There are substantial
differences between brands and your fish will show you which one to
purchase. The most common difference between the two shown here is
the actual size of the larvae. The 2nd clear cut difference is the
packaging (one is opaque the other clear). Whether light protection
matters or not, this difference also highlights one the the main
issues with a highly perishable frozen food. |
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Both packages were photographed within seconds
after removal from a deep freezer. Notice the liquid contents
seeping etween the plastic. |
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...so, I just buy Live
Adult shrimp from the pet at $1.25 per portion...
...and
probably those same adult shrimp probably haven't been fed in days,
or in any event could be a more nutritious item if fed or "gut
loaded"...
Also...what do you do if you are late collecting those newly hatched
BBS? (4hrs after the 1st molt) OR you want to grow them out for a
day or so rather than flush them. See the section below for more
info
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The point here is: regardless of brand choice, this
product degrades quickly when thawed and is extremely
sensitive to poor handling. It is arguable whether "as
packaged" one brand is superior to another. What is clear is that
the cumulative effects of poor handling during the supply chain
can have a direct effect on the quality at purchase. How
this translates into a quality difference between brands is hard to
say. BUT if you consistently get poor feeding response from your
fish when feeding frozen product . Try these things in this order:
1) See if there is a difference in the feeding
response if you simply place chunks of frozen product in the
tank directly vs. unthawing prior to feeding. While this may
compromise water quality somewhat, it mat help with the product
integrity by allowing the fish to feed on the shrimp before the
contents leak out, or the husk break down leaving empty husk.
2) Buy the same product from a different store or
try buying in bulk from a online retailer (you may have less
middle-men between you and the manufacturer
3) And finally: switch brands. There indeed might
be a difference in brand quality, OR for whatever reason, one
supplier may have a different wholesaler or quality handling
standards.
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More on Green water and raising
aquatic larvae
or a good book is
Plankton Culture Manual,
6th Edition
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Keeping Your Shrimp Alive
there are a number of links on the web for raising brine shrimp
to adults, but rather than re-write that info, Here is a quick
overview |
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For short term
nutritional enhancement prior to feeding use any one of the
vitamin supplements sold for that purpose. Two of the more widely
distributed brands are shown above. (click on either for more info)
To maintain adults,
gut load or for longer term rearing after the Brine Shrimp are able
to feed, you might feed a solution of yeast and water, sweet
potatoes or concentrated phytoplankton ...HERE
is one of several articles on raising shrimp to adulthood |
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External links
Commercial Resources & sources
for Live Brine Shrimp or Eggs
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References
Brine shrimp. (2007, December 24). In
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:07, December
29, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brine_shrimp&oldid=179896256
Artemia
FAQ 2.0 by Kai Schumann
Angelfish Micro
Hatchery's introduction to Baby Brine Shrimp |
