Hey there fellow aquarium enthusiasts! I’ve been raising brine shrimp for years, and lemme tell you – it’s both rewarding and easier than you might think. Today, I’m gonna share my tried-and-tested method for growing these little swimmers from eggs to adults. Trust me your fish will thank you for the live food!
What You’ll Need
- 2-liter plastic bottle or similar container
- Air pump with airline tubing
- Non-iodized salt (aquarium salt works great!)
- Brine shrimp eggs
- LED light or sunny windowsill
- Liquid algae or powdered spirulina
- Turkey baster or pipette
- Fine mesh net
- Clean water (dechlorinated)
Setting Up Your Hatchery
First things first – we gotta create the perfect environment for our tiny friends:
- Clean your container thoroughly
- Fill it with dechlorinated water
- Add aquarium salt (about 2-3 tablespoons per liter)
- Install air tubing near bottom for gentle bubbling
- Place under constant light source
- Keep temperature around 77-82°F (25-28°C)
The Growing Process
Day 1-3: Hatching Phase
Pour your brine shrimp eggs into the saltwater, They’ll start hatching within 24-36 hours You’ll see tiny orange dots swimming around – those are your baby brine shrimp!
Days 4-7: Early Growth
- Feed tiny amounts of liquid algae or powdered spirulina 2x daily
- Keep water movement gentle but constant
- Remove any debris from bottom using turkey baster
Days 8-14: Middle Stage
During this time, your brine shrimp will start growing like crazy! I usually
- Increase feeding slightly
- Monitor water quality
- Remove dead shrimp if you spot any
Days 15-21: Final Stage
By now, you should see adult-sized brine shrimp swimming around. They’ll be about 1/2 inch long and have a more defined shape.
Pro Tips from My Experience
- Don’t overfeed! Better to feed less than too much
- Change 10-20% water every few days
- Keep salinity stable – around 25-35 ppt
- Separate adults from babies using different mesh sizes
- Consider starting multiple batches for continuous supply
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using table salt (it contains additives)
- Overcrowding the container
- Poor aeration
- Irregular feeding schedule
- Neglecting water changes
Harvesting Your Adult Brine Shrimp
When they reach adult size (usually after 2-3 weeks), you can harvest them using a fine mesh net. I like to rinse them in fresh water before feeding to my fish – it helps remove excess salt.
Why Grow Adults vs Just Hatching?
Growing adult brine shrimp has some sweet benefits:
- Higher nutritional value
- Bigger meal for larger fish
- Can breed them for continuous supply
- More cost-effective long-term
- Fun learning experience!
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your brine shrimp aren’t thriving, check these things:
- Water parameters (salinity, temperature)
- Aeration levels
- Feeding amounts
- Light exposure
- Container cleanliness
Time and Cost Investment
Let’s be real – here’s what you’re looking at:
- Initial setup: $30-50
- Time spent daily: 5-10 minutes
- Full growth cycle: 2-3 weeks
- Running costs: Minimal (electricity + food)
Final Thoughts
Growing brine shrimp to adults ain’t rocket science, but it does need some patience and attention to detail. I’ve found it super rewarding, and my fish absolutely go crazy for these protein-packed treats!
Remember, every setup might need tweaking based on your specific situation. Don’t be afraid to experiment a bit to find what works best for you. And if things don’t work out perfectly the first time – no worries! We’ve all been there.
Got questions about growing your brine shrimp? Drop ’em in the comments below! I’d love to help ya out and hear about your experiences too.
Happy shrimp raising!
Note: This guide is based on personal experience and research. Results may vary depending on your specific setup and conditions.
Would you like me to explain any part in more detail?
Harvesting Brine Shrimp
- 1 Begin harvesting the brine shrimp after 8 days. Of course, if you are raising brine shrimp purely for pleasure, you do not have to harvest them, but after 8 days, the adults are large enough to catch with a net and feed to other fish.
- 2 Turn off the circulation system. After about 10 minutes, the empty cysts shells will float to the surface, and unhatched cysts will sink to the bottom.[8] Now, you can more easily catch the live brine shrimp.
- 3 Shine a flashlight where you want them to herd. All of the brine shrimp will flock to the light, so they will be easy to catch with the fish net.
- 4 Use a fish net to catch the adult brine shrimp. The smaller brine shrimp will fall through the net, but larger ones won’t. Catch the amount you wish to feed to your other fish.
- 5 Feed the brine shrimp directly to other fish. Place them in the tank of the fish you want to feed. Your other fish will get to enjoy the nutritious brine shrimp.
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Things You’ll Need
- 10 gallon tank
- Sponge filter (that comes with a tube, a sponge, and a hookup for the air pump)
- Air pump
- Tank heater and thermometer
- A package of brine shrimp cysts (eggs)
- Aquarium salt mix (setting up a brand new aquarium means you will need about 13 pounds of salt per 50 gallons)
- 1 gallon container with a lid
- 10 gallons reverse osmosis water
- Refractometer or hydrometer for measuring salinity
- Gravel vacuum
- Flashlight
HOW TO RAISE BRINE SHRIMP TO ADULTS.
FAQ
How long does it take brine shrimp to become adults?
When the water is warm, food is plentiful, and oxygen levels are high, brine shrimp can develop to adulthood in as little as 8 days. The conditions in Great Salt Lake aren’t quite ideal, so it normally takes 3 to 6 weeks for brine shrimp to reach maturity.
Can I feed baby brine shrimp to adult fish?
Live baby brine shrimp are a great source of food for all freshwater fish. Even my plecos enjoy them #fish #aquarium #fishtank.
How do you keep adult brine shrimp alive?
Shallow, rectangular containers filled with 3 to 4 inches of water work well to hold adult brine shrimp. We also recommend an air stone and air pump to improve water quality.
Can you raise brine shrimp as pets?
baby brine shrimp are fine but as they get older they start to smell really bad. From my limited experience, it might be viable indoors if you have a very sparse population in a large tank, but generally you’d want to just raise small batches at a time, feed them to your pet, then start over with another batch after.