Raising Brine Shrimp

Phantomlink · Mar 21, 2013

I'm attempting BBS again but the last batch I believe the water was too cold so now I've added a heater. My question was when I turned off the airpump the shells sunk instead of float. Does this mean that either they werent hatched or not enough salt in the water?

Alkylhalide · Mar 21, 2013

Phantomlink said:
I'm attempting BBS again but the last batch I believe the water was too cold so now I've added a heater. My question was when I turned off the airpump the shells sunk instead of float. Does this mean that either they werent hatched or not enough salt in the water?

I think(i may be wrong) that the hatched shells float, the non hatched shells sink and the shrimp are in the middle. I need to use a flashlight to see the shrimp well to make sure i got enough hatched for the day. Then i leave the water/hatched/unhatched shells, add more water salt and eggs and start over. I wash out the pop bottle once a week once it starts to get really gross. I think the eggs will hatch in cold water it just takes longer. But i need eggs hatched every 24hours so i keep mine warm. Taste the water before you add it it should be as salty as a potatoe chip

Phantomlink · Mar 21, 2013

The water is pretty salty, I used a "heaping" teaspoon of API aquarium salt. I did see very few shrimp last night before I dumped the culture to start again, but 99% of it was unhatched eggs. I didnt know you could keep adding water/eggs to the mixture, because of the babies dont eat in a day or two they die off

Kaysie · Mar 21, 2013

I've had cultures take 36 hours to hatch, give or take. Definitely put a lamp or a light over them. It helps.

Phantomlink · Mar 21, 2013

Ya I added a light but I couldnt find an old fashioned incandescent bulb so I bought one I thought would work but the water was cold so I put a small 10 gallon heater in the 2l bottle last night and will check again in a few hours. The water now is around 25-27 and warm to the touch

jburns2422 · Mar 21, 2013

I am (by all means) not a professional! But usually the (hatched) brine shrimp egg shells float on top when bubbler is turned off, the live brine shrimp are on the bottom and the middle of the container consists of water! Hope this helps!:smile:

karipatra · Mar 21, 2013

I actually had to add Epsom Salt to my mix after they weren't hatching, but some prepackaged hatched well. The website said there was Epsom salt in the mix, so looked it up and added the appropriate amount to my mix and it did wonders for the hatch rate! Good luck!

Kaysie · Mar 21, 2013

If you plan on raising lots of larvae, it's worth ordering some fresh, decapsulated shrimp eggs. Fresh eggs hatch better, and decapsulated eggs have had the shell removed so they hatch better, and you don't have to worry about shells causing impaction.

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Raising Brine Shrimp

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