Brine Shrimp

Brine shrimps are aquatic animals and they are mainly cultured as marine food. The specie has barely evolved since the time of the Triassic age. This marine specie actually belongs to the group called crustaceans. But due to their appearance much alike of common shrimps having eleven pairs of limbs, this aquatic being has earned the name of brine shrimp.

Scientists take great interest in exploring the biological characteristics of the animal. The eggs of brine shrimp hatch within few hours when kept in water. But what amazes scientists is about the fact that the eggs of the animal have the capacity to remain dormant for several years under unsuitable environment of hatching. This characteristic is termed as cryptobiosis or hidden life. The egg can remain completely in a state of stasis in an environment entirely free from dry oxygen or even in conditions below the freezing point.

The eggs are in the form of minute cysts and when they hatch small larvae or nauplii of about 0.5 millimeters come out from the egg. The brine shrimps have a life cycle of just one year. The short life span in contrast to years of dormant stage inside the eggs is of great interest for scientists as well. Adult brine shrimps have the capacity to tolerate varying ranges of salinity of water.

The animal in natural aquatic conditions generally feeds upon microscopic planktons or algae. Cultured brine can be given wheat flour, soy bean, egg yolk, yeast and such. Brine shrimps are mainly cultured for marine food. These shrimps can stay in high saline waters and even can tolerate extremes of temperatures. As a result the crustacean is composed of healthy minerals suitable for including it in a balanced diet for your aquarium pets. They are rich in elements like lipids, unsaturated fatty acids.

Many individuals prepare shrimp hatcheries on their own. The following are the steps of creating a brine shrimp hatchery.

Steps to Make Your Own Brine Shrimp Hatchery

• Cut the bottom of a bottle. Carefully remove the bottom portion of the bottle.
• Then make a hole at the center of the bottle cap. The diameter of the hole must be of the size sufficient enough to allow the airline top to get in.
• Then insert the airline inside through the whole of the bottle cap.
• Seal the joining of the hairline and the hole and allow the seal to dry up. This will ensure a leak free bottle.
• Take another bottle and cut the top part of the bottle to make use of it as a stand.
• Make another whole at the bottom of the second bottle big enough to hold the rigid airline fit to it.
• Try to screw the mouth of the first bottle through the mouth of the second bottle.
• Then attach a flexible airline to that with the rigid airline. You may introduce a valve to towards the end of the flexible airline.
• The flexible air line can also be attached to an air pump or gang valve.
• Fill the three fourth part of the bottle with water.
• Then switch on the pump so that bubbles are created in the water.
• Then add around 4 table spoons of aquarium salt to the water.
• Introduce three fourth or half spoon full of brine shrimp eggs in the water.