Culturing brine shrimp

[elviraveloz]

So, I try culturing brine shrimp with success, eggs hatched already after 24hrs but their so tiny I can't hardly see them. Should I wait another 24hrs for a bigger size? I cultured it in a 10 gallon tank, what should I use to catch this tiny organisms, the size is not even close to the one I was buying at the LFS.

 

[nivram]

Baby brine shrimp are tiny as you have found. The ones we typically buy at the lfs are about a month old or more. This is based off my own experience hatching them.

For feeding purposes I believe the baby brine shrimp when still bright orange are more nutritious due to still having their yolk sac attached. So if you feed after they become almost clear, you should feed them for enrichment purposes.

I haven't been able to successfully breed large quantities to adult size. Maybe someone with more experience will chime up.

 

[rovster]

How difficult is it to do this? Any thread links. More curious than anything. If its a full time job, than forget it, LOL!

 

[elviraveloz]

A while a go I bought at the LFS a kit some kind od a plastic cylinder with a cone shape inside of it and a plastic tubing at the bottom for an air pump, instruction were to be place the cylinder inside a tank. I thought it was a great idea to place cylinder on sump and cultivate brine shrimp but I tried without success due to salinity level, since I keep my tank at 35ppt. Now I tried in a 10gallon tank with salinity at 1.019,place cylinder inside with air pump attached, added some brine cyst and a LED plant bulb (that was yesterday) and today more than half already hatched, that easy. I don't know what should I use to catch them and place them in a container inside tank where Mandarins go and eat from there since their size are almost microscopic.

 

[necrio]

I've done some light research on this. Its actually quite easy. I personally haven't done it, yet!

But, from the research I found is that they will be fine in like a 2 liter bottle until they hatch. Then they can be put into a larger container and a basic light. They only need very little food and then a month later, just get a net and scoop them up! :wave:

 

[rovster]

I've done some light research on this. Its actually quite easy. I personally haven't done it, yet!

But, from the research I found is that they will be fine in like a 2 liter bottle until they hatch. Then they can be put into a larger container and a basic light. They only need very little food and then a month later, just get a net and scoop them up! :wave:

So in a month you start the process all over? What kind of maintenance of that tank for the month? Is it really worth all that when you can buy a bag for $2.00? I guess it would make for a fun science project, and great to have that stuff on hand, but realistically, what is the real benefit? I guess if you have certain livestock with special requirements?

 

[rps3]

So in a month you start the process all over? What kind of maintenance of that tank for the month? Is it really worth all that when you can buy a bag for $2.00? I guess it would make for a fun science project, and great to have that stuff on hand, but realistically, what is the real benefit? I guess if you have certain livestock with special requirements?

Finish your first project! It's easy to do Danny, I've got eggs if you want to try.

 

[rovster]

Finish your first project! It's easy to do Danny, I've got eggs if you want to try.

I've got like 10 projects going at once. What's another "easy one", LOL! Anyway, waiting for my threaded bulkhead so I can finish my plumbing:crazy1:

Vinegar dosing is working great too! Algae is almost all gone, including small patches of bryopsis.

Back to scheduled programing......:worried:

 

[S13<3]

Paulb a member on here uses a small rectangular box divided into two squares, one side is black the other white and theres a hole in the middle of the divider thats plugged, he hatches the shrimp in the black side then when theyre all done hatching he covers the black side and puts a light over the white side and opens the hole, the brine shrimp come over and thats it the eggs and gimpy ones are seperated from the strong healthy ones. he then uses a custom feeder he made with a electrical tape case some mesh and piece of rigid air tube. this way the brine shrimp dont just get lost in the aquarium. if anyone knows the thread post it up i cant find it anymore

 

[elviraveloz]

The case that you just mentioned is the one I created from his thread, it's fabulous. I guess I will ask him, which rectangular box is the one he uses to catch the brine shrimps.

 

[Paul B]

I have only been hatching them for about 50 years so I am still just a Noob at it.
I hatch them in this but you can use a spittoon, shampoo bottle, WW1 combat helmit,
Salad bowl or something like the dish Paris Hilton's dog drinks from. But I found the thing I made works better and seperates the egg shells from the shrimp.
I hatch them every day and honestly don't know how most of you people can keep many salt water fish without feeding live worms and live shrimp.
My mandarins are spawning every few weeks as are just about all my fish.
I would say my copperband is spawning but I don't think I could get away with that.
Brine shrimp are much healthier as soon as they hatch and their nutritional advantage fades with time. The next day they are hardly very good and a month later, I would throw them under my tires for traction in the ice.



Pregnant mandarin



Spawning



Eating new born shrimp from their feeder


Video of them eating from the feeder. There are threads of these devices already on here in many places.

 

[rovster]

Paul, would love it if you could link some of your posts on this. Also, How do you work this into your maintenance routine? Is something you tend to every day or every few days. Sounds like you have a round the clock operation going! Thanks in advance!

 

[Paul B]

There is nothing special I do every day except put some eggs in a container of salt water, then the next day I harvest the eggs that hatched and add the new batch.
I don't have much of a maintenance routine except clean the glass occasionally. I spend very little time on my tank except to feed. I don't test and only change some water 5 or 6 times a year.

This thread spans quite a few years but I am sure it is all in there someplace.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1711320

And this one.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2285741

Or here.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2172887

That's a lot of reading so if you have a specific question, that may be easier

 

[necrio]

So in a month you start the process all over? What kind of maintenance of that tank for the month? Is it really worth all that when you can buy a bag for $2.00? I guess it would make for a fun science project, and great to have that stuff on hand, but realistically, what is the real benefit? I guess if you have certain livestock with special requirements?

It really is better to get it for 2.00 in my opinion, unless you are feeding hungry fish like dem mandarins.

From what I read, brine shrimp were also pets back in the day.. Known as "Sea monkeys"

But yeah, its a fun little science project that is very easy. But the main benefit is if you have those fish that would perish without constant food supply of them:reading:

 

[nivram]

If you use a shallow dish like a jar top. You don't even need to aerate the eggs. Hydrating the first does.

 

[Paul B]

Adult brine shrimp that you get for $2.00 are a fairly useless food, only newborn brine shrimp have any benefit. They are the best thing to feed to tiny fish like mandarins or pipefish. It takes me about 2 minutes a day to hatch them.

 

[elviraveloz]

It's like you said Paul, it's very easy to culture. Do you use a netting to catch these tiny little babies to transfer to dish? The one I'm using it's not good enough; And always remember they're good parents and bad ones and this concept apply to his beautiful hobby too.

 

[Paul B]

I have a rotifer strainer that I use for the shrimp.

 

[nivram]

I have a rotifer strainer that I use for the shrimp.

Brine shrimp? Or shrimp in your display?

 

[elviraveloz]

Is for brine shrimp nivram, I saw something similar on Florida Aqua Farm, I will order one from them, the price is not bad at all. Thank you Paul.