[ksreefbuilder]

I was thinking of starting a feeder only tank with live brine shrimp to help feed my fish and other meat eating corals every now and then. I would still feed the seaweed, frozen foods, and flake foods, but it just seems like a neat natural idea. Once or twice a week just net out some live baby shrimp, and put them in the display tank. Best of all what ever did not get eaten at the time would still live until caught. I just dont like the idea of putting all the dead foods in my tank. From what I have read it is very easy to hatch and keep brine shrimp, not to mention cheap. What are everyones thoughts on this and does anyone do it currently? Thanks

[e_baer]

I got the continuous hatch and feed brine shrimp kit. It is the biggest waste of money lol. I never was able to hatch anything! Arent sea monkeys brine shrimp?

[ksreefbuilder]

I have no idea if they are the same as sea monkeys or not, they probably are when first hatched, but grow to ½ inch quickly. I was just searching for some live food that was: reasonably priced, lived in saltwater, and easy to get. From what I have read it seems like everyone would be doing this as simple as it is. Brine shrimp are closely related to zooplankton like Copepods and Daphnia, which are already used for live food in most any saltwater aquarium. One LFS sells feeder goldfish and ghost shrimp that I can buy in bulk of 500 or 1000 for a few cents each, but they will die as soon as I put them in the saltwater, and I always worry about over feeding. If I could just feed some live brine shrimp I would not have to worry about how much was fed and they are a good natural source of food for anything that would eat them. I have searched the net and ebay the past few days and the quality brine shrimp eggs guarantee 90+% hatching rate. That is over 260,000 shrimp per gram of eggs, and 50 grams of premium eggs can be bought for $5 shipped. I know its probably worth a shot, but I wanted to get feedback from everyone before wasting my time. I know the old saying though, if it seems too good to be true it probably is. Why would this be any different than you growing copepods at home?

[greyowl]

Brine shrimp are used by the freshwater community to feed fish fry. I have never ever had any problem hatching them. There are two types, one is from the Great Salt Lake which requires a higher salt concentration than what is in your aquarium. Good light and aeration is required. There is a second type from San Francisco that apparently can be hatched in sea water. I don't know a thing about these as I haven't hatched or raised brine shrimp in years.

Bob

[ksreefbuilder]

yes, the ones I was looking at hatch in regular saltwater at a salinity of 1.025 the same as my tank.

[e_baer]

I have a bunch of eggs and some food for them. Ill get a container with some saltwater and test it our for you all.

Ill let you know how it goes in a few days when I start it.

[ksreefbuilder]

yes, please do. After days of reading I dont know why every one dont do it. Is their a good reason, or have I just had a good idea? Who knows...

[e_baer]

I need to go to walmart to get a fish bowl and air stone first.

[ksreefbuilder]

ok, keep us up to date. Thanks

[Sage Hen]

Yes, please give us an update. I have been thinking along the same lines as you as to hatching my own.

[emccullough1]

You might find this interesting it is on raising brine shrimp

Growing Adult Brine Shrimp

[ksreefbuilder]

Yes, I had read this someplace else. It is all very interesting. Thanks

[emccullough1]

This guy seems to have it down to a science. Areal good read if you want to try to raising Brine Shrimp

Raising and Growing Large Brine Shrimp by PegasusNZ

[Sage Hen]

Very interesting reading, I learned a lot. Thanks for posting the links!

[Jeremy0322]

Good read. Does not seem like a bad idea to try out

[plecosword]

You guys cant raise brine shrimp? and still you guys have saltwater tanks lol, i use brine srimp a lot to feed my fish. i use a 1g tank and you have to keep and air pump in it until the eegs hatch. then umm, i dont know lol i only get them to that size for baby fish.

[ksreefbuilder]

Originally Posted by plecosword

You guys cant raise brine shrimp? and still you guys have saltwater tanks lol, i use brine srimp a lot to feed my fish. i use a 1g tank and you have to keep and air pump in it until the eegs hatch. then umm, i dont know lol i only get them to that size for baby fish.

Start a thread or post a few pointers, it seems no one does it. I really want to start though ASAP. I want to so it right the first time though. Thanks

[plecosword]

i dont know if i understud you, you whant to hatch brine shrimp? i feed my freshwater fish that.

[ksreefbuilder]

yes, their are a saltwater version as well that are close to #1 in the natural food chain in the ocean.

[e_baer]

Ill start this sunday, I am not doing anything and will have time!

Ill start a thread under the DIY section.

I will also include lots of pics.

[plecosword]

for brine shrimp? so are you going to raise them to adults? cant you do that in a refugium?

[ksreefbuilder]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Ill start this sunday, I am not doing anything and will have time!

Ill start a thread under the DIY section.

I will also include lots of pics.

Yes, please do. Also please post here when you make the new thread. Thanks

[e_baer]

well, ill go to walmart and get a little 1-2g fish bowl and ill throw an airstone. throw in a few eggs and hope for the best. I have some food for the babies. then when they get a little bigger, ill toss em in the fuge and then they will be on their own.



sure ill post here when i make the new thread.

[ksreefbuilder]

Originally Posted by plecosword

for brine shrimp? so are you going to raise them to adults? cant you do that in a refugium?

From what I have read I dont think a refugium would work, but thats why I posted these questions.

[plecosword]

you can keep adult brine srimp in it right?