How To Hatch Brine Shrimp PDF

How To Hatch Brine Shrimp

INTRODUCTION
Freshly hatched brine shrimp eggs are one of the best foods available for fish fry, reef tanks and small aquatic organisms because
they provide proteins and fatty acids which accelerate growth and increase survival. As you will soon discover, nothing stimulates the
appetite of baby fish like baby brine shrimp!

USE A CONE!
A cone or funnel shaped container is by far the best design for a brine shrimp hatchery. Glass juice
containers and other household containers may work, but they aren’t nearly as convenient or as effective
as the hatcheries available at your local pet shop or aquarium. For best results use an inverted one liter
or larger soft drink plastic container. Although this is not exactly funnel shaped it does taper towards
the bottom and provides many of the benefits of a funnel shape. Just make sure that the material that
the container was made of is totally inert so as not to affect the hatching process. If the bottom of your
hatchery is funnel shaped, the hatching process itself is enhanced and it will be easier to collect the
nauplii once they hatch.

KEEP IT CLEAN!
The cleaner you keep your hatchery the more likely your hatch will be successful, time and again. After each use, scrub your hatchery
with a soft, soapy nylon sponge and rinse afterwards; then wash the cone with diluted household bleach. Don’t forget to rinse it with
plenty of tap water. You should periodically replace your hatchery container as it will scratch providing a place for bacteria to grow.
DON’T OVER HATCH

Avoid the temptation to over hatch. In fact, you should never hatch more than 2.5 grams of eggs per liter of water. By using fewer
eggs, a greater percentage of the eggs will hatch which means you get more baby brine shrimp for your dollar.
WATCH THE TEMPERATURE!

The hatching rate of brine shrimp cysts is very sensitive to temperature. Most of your eggs should hatch in 24 hours if the temperature is
roughly 82°F (28°C). If the temperature is only 70°F (21°C), you might have to wait up to 36 hours to get a good hatch. By increasing
the temperature, you increase the rate of hatching. But be careful. As the temperature exceeds 86°F (30°C), you become more likely
to loose some of your hatch. Be safe- hatch between 82°-86°F (28°-30°C)!
SALINITY AND PH
The rate of hatching also depends on salinity and pH: the less salt in the water, the easier it is for brine shrimp to absorb enough
water to burst through their protective shell. But, specific gravity should be at least 1.011 (15ppt) and can be as high as 1.030 (40ppt).
This means that if you’re hatching in 1 quart, or 1 liter, of ordinary tap water you should add somewhere between 1/2 and 2 level
tablespoons of salt. The pH of the water should also be between 8.0 and 8.5. If your pH is below 8.0 hatch rate will drop dramatically.
AIR AND LIGHTING

A continual source of aeration and good illumination increases the rate of hatching. Fluorescent lamps are best for the light source,
but any 60-100 watt bulb placed a few inches from your hatch cone will work fine. Be cautious of a light source which might overheat
your hatchery!
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4 EASY STEPS TO HATCHING
Parts list: hatch cone, brine shrimp eggs, aquarium rock salt, small air pump, baking soda, shrimp net, Epsom Salt, 60-100 watt lamp
Step 1: HYDRATE
››Set up your hatchery in a room that is between 70-86° F (21-30°C).
››Position your source of light about 8 inches from your hatch cone.
››Fill the hatchery with 1 liter (about 1 quart) of tap water.
››Place an airline inside the cone so that the opening nearly touches the bottom.
››Connect the other end to a small aquarium air pump. Adjust the airflow until you get a steady stream of bubbles that start at the
very bottom and rise to the top. Place your air pump higher than the hatchery to prevent back siphoning.
››Add 1 teaspoon of eggs.

››Allow the eggs to soak up water (hydrate) for one hour before proceeding.
Step 2: INCUBATE
››Continue to aerate and illuminate the hatchery.
››Use your finger or a spoon to push the ring of eggs (which tend to collect at the surface) back into the water. You can use one
of those empty yellow bottles of mustard or cheap squirting bottle.
››Add salts: 2 tablespoons of rock salt (non iodized salt) and ¼ teaspoon of Epsom Salt or, add 2 tablespoons of any commercially
available artificial seawater mix.
››Add ¼ teaspoon baking soda, unless you are sure the pH is greater than 8.0.
››Allow the eggs to incubate for 24 to 36 hours.
Step 3: HARVEST AND FEED YOUR FISH
››Disconnect the airline at the end connected to the pump and move your light to the bottom of the cone. Brine shrimp nauplii are
positively phototactic (they will move towards the light source).
››Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the baby brine shrimp to swim to the bottom.
››Using the airline, siphon only the orange colored baby brine shrimp from the bottom of the cone into your shrimp net, which you
should suspend in a glass of water to prevent damaging the nauplii). Do not siphon the hatched shells which float at the surface.
››Quickly and gently rinse the baby brine shrimp with tap water at your sink.
››Feed each aquarium on as much as your fish can consume in a couple hours.
Step 4: CLEAN-UP
››Scrub the cone with a sponge and diluted household bleach
››Rinse it well!
››Tightly seal the opened egg container to prevent moist air from coming in contact with the eggs and store in your refrigerator.
If you have questions about hatching brine shrimp please contact us by e-mail at [email protected].
© 2016 Ocean Nutrition Americas 2

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How To Hatch Brine Shrimp

DON’T OVER HATCH

WATCH THE TEMPERATURE!

AIR AND LIGHTING

››Add 1 teaspoon of eggs.

© 2016 Ocean Nutrition Americas 2

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