Need advice for BREEDING (Not hatching) Brine Shrimp.

[Nikita6711]

I have been hatching brine shrimp for quite some time now, and while I know that Brine Shrimp eggs are very easy to get and fairly inexpensive, I just recently made a deal with my local fish store where I am going to be trading various sizes of Brine Shrimp as well as Daphnia to them for store credit. (This is a dream come true considering I already have a huge set-up in my basement for both. However now that the demand in quantity has gone up, I am trying to make it worth my time, which means sustaining the cultures at minimal cost. So while I know how to hatch the brine shrimp, I have not been able to find too much out there on BREEDING them. i.e. best tank set-up, water parameters, foods to promote breeding etc. Does anyone have a good info source on this topic or have experience with it?

Thanks!

 

[shifty51008]

When i had a continous batch all i did was setup a 5 gal tank infront of a window, add phyto to the tank to tint it green and had a ridgid airline in the tank for movement. The window helped keep the phyto growing and i would change out half the water weekly to remove all the old molts. It ran this way for about 8 months till i tore it down to move but when i looked in the tank there were always shrimp from all diffrent sizes.

I forgot to add, i did also place a couple drops of liquid fert to the tank to feed the phyto every couple days.

 

[MistaOrange]

It's pretty simple. Take a bucket add an airline tubing with little air for movement & add the brine shrimp leftovers to the bucket after feeding the tank. Food wise can use phyto, Dan's feed or selco, we use to use chicken poop at the university in a huge container & hardly every added anything except the top-ups but that was NSW. We fed the fish daily & didn't add brine shrimp eggs after the first 4 months starting the culture...

 

[pscott99]

I am just looking at starting this for fun. So you are saying the shrimp are laying eggs. At what point ?

 

[shifty51008]

yes the shrimp lay eggs very often. after 3 days or so of hatching look at the bigger shrimp and you'll see eggs on their bodies.

 

[FishBo]

It's pretty much the same as breeding copepods. I use a 10g tank filled up half way, small pump with an airline tube about 1 bubble per second, & I feed phyto-feast & flake food. I seeded it with Tisbe copepods for my mandarin & harvest out about 1/3 once a week through an airline tube into a 53 micron sleeve. Dip the sleeve into my DT with the pumps off at night & off they go. I replace the water I take out with fresh saltwater & repeat. It's very easy!

 

[pscott99]

yes the shrimp lay eggs very often. after 3 days or so of hatching look at the bigger shrimp and you'll see eggs on their bodies.

All I can say is wow that's fast breeding.

 

[Paul B]

When I used to raise seahorses I needed shrimp of varying sizes. I used to raise the shrimp in a 10 gallon tank with an airstone, I fed them brewers yeast every day as they are filter feeders. Just enough yeast to slightly cloud the water. I doubt you could make any money selling them unless you invested in a large vat for them.

 

[GreshamH]

yes the shrimp lay eggs very often. after 3 days or so of hatching look at the bigger shrimp and you'll see eggs on their bodies.

There are two eggs, thinned shelled the hatch imminently and the hard shelled cysts. Cysts come from stressed cultures. You really shouldn't see eggs on them if the culture is happy.

 

[shifty51008]

There are two eggs, thinned shelled the hatch imminently and the hard shelled cysts. Cysts come from stressed cultures. You really shouldn't see eggs on them if the culture is happy.

wow, didn't know that. thanks for the info. why did I always see babies in the tank then?

Always looking to increase my knowledge

 

[GreshamH]

Babies are from the soft shelled eggs that hatch immediately

 

[Nikita6711]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I have had my BS setup going for a little over a month now and I see what you mean, don't have to do much. They are breeding like rabbits.

 

[pscott99]

What, how much and how often are you feeding ? Are you doing any water changes ? :bounce3:

 

[pscott99]

What, how much and how often are you feeding ? Are you doing any water changes ? :bounce3:

Bump for answers. My brine shrimp are doing well and big enough to see without a magnifying glass. I think I am going to harvest them soon. Would still like to know how often to feed them if anyone knows. Daily seems a bit much. I have been feeding flour, powdered clyclopese, and flake. I haven't done a water change but have had to add salted water due to evaporation in the 10 gal tank.

 

[polleke]

Hi all, I understood that spiriluna powder as sold in health stores is a good and cheap food. Not tried that myself yet so no guarantees. :twitch:

 

[Bielaz]

phyto and yeast is my best bet. I've bred brine shrimp before and they breed quickly. and placing the tank on a window or near a lot of light just makes it easier.