two ounces of 90% hatch rate brine shrimp eggs.
| Hatching
Brine Shrimp Many folks have asked for help in hatching brine shrimp
eggs. Here's a good guide to get you started.
Hatching Brine Shrimp CystsInstructions and
GuidelinesStoring Brine Shrimp EggsBrine shrimp eggs should
to be stored as follows: Hatching EnvironmentFollow these guidelines for the best results: Salinity:
Approximately 11/2 tablespoons of salt per quart (or liter) of water. This equates to about 1.018 specific
gravity as measured with a hydrometer. Aquarium, sea or non-iodized table salt can be used.
pH:
Proper pH is important in hatching brine shrimp. A starting pH of 8.0 or higher is recommended. If the pH
of your water is below 7, Epson salt or baking soda can be added at the rate of 1/2 teaspoon
per quart.
Temperature:
Optimum water temperature for
a 24-hour complete hatch is 80-82°F. Lower temperature will result in a longer hatching time, but do not exceed 86°F.
Light:
Illumination can be added to get the
best hatching rate, but is not absolutely critical.
Aeration:
Constant aeration is necessary
to keep cysts in suspension and to provide sufficient oxygen levels for the cysts to hatch. A nice steady stream of aeration
that tumbles the eggs with pushing them above the water surface and onto the side of the hatching cone.
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Hatching ProcedureThe following steps will achieve optimum brine shrimp hatch
rates. Set
Up:
Place hatching cone or similarly shaped vessel in well-lit area. Cone should be semi-translucent for ease of harvesting
and light transmission.
Add Water:
Fill cone with one liter of
water and add 11/2 tablespoons of salt. Optimum hatching temperature is 82°F (28°C).
Add
Cysts:
Add cysts at the rate of 1 gram per liter.
Aerate:
Provide adequate aeration to
keep cysts in suspension.
Hatch:
Depending upon water temperature, cysts
should hatch in approximately 18-36 hours.
Harvest:
After hatching brine shrimp,
turn off or remove aeration and wait several minutes for the shells and and baby brine shrimp (or nauplii) to separate. Newly
hatched nauplii will settle to the bottom of the cone or move towards a light source; the shells will float to the surface.
The egg shells are brown in color and the baby brine shrimp are more orange. Once separated, the nauplii can be siphoned from
the bottom with a length of air tubing or gently drained through the bottom of the cone through a valve, if so equipped.
Rinse:
The warm incubation temperatures and metabolites from the hatching
medium create ideal conditions for a bacteria bloom. Rinsing of the baby brine shrimp in a fine mesh net or sieve using clean
fresh or salt water is important before feeding them to your fish.
Clean Equipment:
Tanks and brine shrimp hatching
equipment should be cleaned and disinfected routinely.
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Item #BSeggs
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