Brine Shrimp Farm

[ADEPT]

Was wondering if anyone out there had any experience in breeding brine shrimp for their livestock. Was thinking: Is it feasable to breed it yourself or is it just best to buy it at your LFS? If someone does the DIY route please tell me your techniques, setup, and opinions about the process.

[RustyNut]

Well it is feasible and very simple!

However you need to buy or make a hatchery. Then pour in salt water, and the eggs and add airation and poof you got baby brine shrimp (sea monkeys) which can be raised to adult size.

A cheap DIY method of hatchery building is using two 2-liter soda bottles. One bottle you cut in half and then make a small hole in the side near the bottom for an airline. - set aside. The other bottle you need the cap, you drill a hole through the center just ehough to fit a piece of airline tubing through and silicone it in place. Attach an airstone to the cap-side that will be INSIDE the bottle and the rest should be threaded through the first bottle you cut in half, which is your "stand"... screw the cap on the s-liter bottle and place upside-down in the "stand" bottle... now cut a 1" hole in the bottom to fill it - the airline tubing should be snaked out the hole you made in the "stand" and connected to and air pump.... The upside down bottle will contain the saltwater and brine shrimp eggs and the airstonefor water movement. keep them dark and warm and in a matter of a week or less (depending on temp) you will have baby shrimp swiimming around.

I don't have this built anymore but its an easy contraption to build.

[ADEPT]

Thanks alot!!! My next question is how often do you feed your fish live brine shrimp? Is it for a treat of for nutritional value?

[k19smith]

I also have a question on this topic, how do you raise brine shrimp larger? I have no problem hatching them.

ADEPT what kind of fish are u feeding? That will have an impact on how often you feed. The problem I have feeding a 3" carnivore the brine shrimp aren't big enough.

[RustyNut]

Baby brine shrimp are mostly used to either feed fry or as a "breeding" treat. I haven't been using any brine shrimp on my current tanks...

They have almost NO nutritional value, but like candy to us, they can be a treat that enhances our moods.

[Solace]

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