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How to Raise Brine Shrimp for Fish Food: Vet-Approved Guide

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By Lindsey Stanton

Vet approved

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Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Luqman Javed

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Brine shrimp is a great protein-rich supplement for nearly all species of fresh and saltwater fish alike. Most local fish stores will sell brine shrimp nauplii (baby brine shrimp)  or their small brown eggs. Although purchasing from your local fish store sounds more hassle-free, baby brine shrimp will not be able to fill up larger fish such as goldfish or cichlids .

Feeding live foods to fish has many benefits. Pet stores do not usually stock live brine shrimp, with the closest brine shrimp size suitable for a larger fish being frozen or freeze-dried.

In this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know when it comes to raising brine shrimp and feeding it to your larger fish.divider3 goldfish bowl

What Are Brine Shrimp?

brine shrimps in a tank
Image Credit: Napat, Shutterstock

Brine shrimp (Artemia) is a genus of minuscule crustaceans  at an average maximum size of around 10 mm (millimeters), or 0.39 inches. They readily eat algae particles in the water. Interestingly, brine shrimp breathe through their legs (their gills are on their feet) and swim upside down. Female brine shrimp can produce offspring with or without the presence of a male. Brine shrimp take a particular liking to water high in salt  content and naturally occur in salt-rich waters like salt lakes and the ocean.

To get brine shrimp to reproduce and be healthy for your fish, replicating their natural habitat will ensure they are growing and reproducing to the best of their ability.

Advantages of Brine Shrimp for Fish

  • Rich protein source
  • Offers enrichment when fed alive
  • A constant supply of food
  • Able to control the overall guaranteed analysis of the brine shrimp
  • Grow the brine shrimp to the size you wish to use as fish food

Brine Shrimp Nutritional Analysis

The overall nutritional composition of brine shrimp varies tremendously based on their environment and the age at which they are consumed.1

Nutritional Yield of Freeze Dried Baby Brine Shrimp
  • 37–71% protein
  • 12–30% fat
  • 11–23% carbohydrates
  • 4–21% ash

Brine Shrimp Maturation Conditions

If you provide the brine shrimp with appropriate maturing conditions, you can expect to have your brine shrimp reach adulthood.

To successfully grow brine shrimp, you will need to prepare the following-
  • Two large shallow containers or a 5–10-gallon aquarium (aerated lid is not required)
  • A source of fresh saltwater
  • An air pump and airstone on an exceptionally low setting
  • Algae wafers or sinking pellets

Brine shrimp are not able to grow in water lacking salinity; you will need to have a constant supply of saltwater for your brine shrimp.

If You Purchase Eggs

If you purchase brine shrimp eggs, you’ll have to preserve them properly while you set up their hatching tanks. To preserve the eggs, you’ll need the following:

Items You Need to Store Brine Shrimp Eggs
  • A tightly sealed container – this container should be free of moisture.
  • Low environmental temperature – eggs should be stored at or below 40°F (4.44 °C). This is best achieved by refrigerating the eggs

A refrigerator is the best way to store eggs for a period of about a month. For longer term storage of eggs, you’ll have to keep the eggs in a freezer at or below freezing temperature – 32 °F (4.44 °C).

Setting Up the Container or Aquarium

  • Fill the two shallow containers/aquarium with a fresh supply of saltwater. To achieve this, mix a solution of aquarium salt and dechlorinated freshwater to 25 ppt (parts per thousand) salinity.
  • The first setup will be for the eggs and hatchlings. The second setup is for the babies to be matured into fully grown adults.
  • Keep the set up close to an outlet source so you can plug in an air pump. Attach airline tubing to a small low-output air stone. It should be just enough to gently move the surface of the water.
  • Add in a small uncomplicated fake plant for a hiding place.
fresh hatched brine shrimp
Image Credit: Dan Olsen, Shutterstock

How Long Do Brine Shrimp Take to Develop?

Brine shrimp will take approximately 3 weeks to develop into their adult state fully. The growth rate can be increased or decreased depending on the hatch rate, conditions, and appropriate food intake.

How to Hatch Brine Shrimp

Hatching these fascinating creatures is simple. The shrimp eggs are called cysts and usually have an incubation period of 24 hours. The cysts will take longer to hatch if the temperature is on the lower side.

How to Hatch Brine Shrimp
  • Use a conical hatching container, such as an inverted soda bottle, a 2 liter standing cone, or an Imhoff cone.
  • Ensure the water in this container is at 25 ppt (parts of her thousand) salinity. When measured with a hydrometer, this equates to 1.018 specific gravity.
  • If you don’t have a hydrometer, this can be achieved by mixing 1 ⅔ tablespoons of non iodized salt in one liter of water.
  • Ensure the pH of the water is at 8.0 or higher.
  • Do not overstock the container. ½ a teaspoon (or approximately 1 gram) of cysts/eggs is sufficient for 1 liter of water.
  • Illumination is important for hatching brine shrimp; ensure there’s a light source near the water container.
  • A minimum of 3 (ppm) parts per million dissolved oxygen during the hatching period is necessary for a successful spawn. This is achieved with air stones.
  • Hatch the brine shrimp in warm temperatures between 80–82°F (26–28°C)

With the above conditions met, the brine shrimp should hatch in a period of 24 hours.

The Brine Shrimp Hatchery & Harvesting

A hatchery is a place for the eggs to incubate until the brine shrimp hatch and should be moved to the grow-out container or aquarium.

To set up the hatchery, the following conditions bring out the best results:
  • Mix saltwater with a pH above 8.0
  • Attach an air stone into the hatchery
  • Fill the container with 1 inch of fresh saltwater
  • Add a teaspoon of the dried brine shrimp eggs into the water
  • Soak the cysts for 20 minutes in the solution while moving them around to soak up moisture
  • Turn the output on the air stones pump to ensure the cysts move constantly in the water and do not standstill

With the above conditions met, the brine shrimp should hatch in a period of 24 hours.

brine shrimp artemia plankton
Image By: Napat, Shutterstock

How to Grow Out Brine Shrimp

  • Brine shrimp are non-selective filter feeders and will eat just about anything that is between 5 to 50 microns. Spirulina algae or powdered brewer’s yeast are the best food items for brine shrimp.
  • Keep the conditions clean and well-maintained
  • Ensure enough aeration is happening via surface movement
  • Keep the grow-out container or aquarium within an ideal temperature and light requirements (moderate lighting, tropical temperatures)

Keep the water clean by doing cautious water changes with a pantyhose over the entrance to the siphon. Adjusting the air stone to provide good surface movement will prevent the brine shrimp from suffocation.

Keep a thermometer in the grow-out set up to monitor the temperature. It is also a good idea to measure the salinity in the water using a hydrometer.

aquarium plant divider

Conclusion

Although a seemingly lengthy process, hatching and growing out brine shrimp for fish food has many advantages and benefits. With practice, the process definitely becomes extremely streamlined and efficient.

With brine shrimp at your disposal, carnivorous and omnivorous fish can have a constant supply of protein-rich live foods. Overall, hatching and growing your brine shrimp saves you money  in the long run. We hope this article has provided you with all the information you require to successfully start hatching your brine shrimp!

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Featured Image Credit: Napat, Shutterstock

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