Aeration needed to hatch shrimp?

[deb]

I have precious axolotl eggs a couple of days from hatching (they're already thrashing around in the jelly) so we've rigged up a shrimp hatchery. The problem is the pump connected to the hatchery - it seems to be churning up the water to an alarming degree. It is designed for a tank of 19 litres so is it just too strong? Should I just not aerate at all or get a smaller pump? Please help.

 

[joseph]

That is fine. The water should look like it is boiling to get the best hatch.

 

[jennifer]

I would say it should be a gentle boil. I think you probably do have too much air. You don't need a smaller pump, you just need some kind of air tubing splitter device, or a gang valve. Do a Google images search for "gang valve" and you will see what I'm talking about.

 

[deb]

I'm off to the pet shop on a hunt for gang valves - thanks very much.

 

[deb]

Joy of joys! What a wonderful thing a gang valve is Jennifer. Thank you. And now we have bronze coloured egg shells over the surface of the hatchery and little shimmery things toward the base (the shrimp I guess). Best technique for removing shells and retrieving shrimp?? And how long will they live in the freshwater will newly hatched axies?

 

[joseph]

Tons of different techniques. I use a medicine dropper to remove them but that is definetly NOT the best technique...it takes too long. Some people simply siphon them out using airline tubing but I haven't perfected that and tend to get salt water on the floor...not good.

They live for a few hours in FW so feed just enough to be eaten in maybe the span of hour or so