Hatching Baby Brine Shrimp(BBS) is often required as a first food for many tropical and marine fish and are very easy to hatch at home with minimal cost and effort. Brine shrimp are most useful and nutritious in the first 12 hours after hatching.
What is needed-
- Dechlorinator
- Cone shaped Hatching Vessel or Bottle
- Airline Valve
- Air Pump
- Airline tubing
- Salt
- Brine Shrimp Eggs
- Fine Seive
HATCHING PROCESS
Attach the airline tubing and valve to the bottom of the hatching vessel as shown in the picture (a 2L soft drink bottle works well).
Connect the airline valve to a suitable air pump with the airline tubing.
Firstly, fill the Hatching Vessel with 1.5L of dechlorinated tap water and add 1tbsp of salt, allowing it to dissolve, turn on the air to the salt solution to create a gentle bubble and add 1/2tsp brine shrimp eggs. Secondly, adjust the amount of air to the hatching vessel to keep the eggs in a constant suspension. Thirdly, after approx 18hrs at 27 degrees celcius the eggs will have hatched, apparent from the slight orange tinge to the water.
HARVESTING
Turn off the air at the valve in preparation to harvest. Shine a light towards the bottom of the hatching vessel to attract the baby brine shrimp. Using a small piece of airline, siphon the brine shrimp out into a sieve. It is at this point they are ready to be fed to baby fish.
Generally all fish will take BBS as a first food without hassle. At times i have found myself with no hatched brine shrimp but freezing some brine shrimp in ice cube trays is a good way around this in a pinch or alternatively Ocean Nutrition have a product called Instant baby brine which i have also found a great product to keep on hand for those ‘just in case’ times.
Any questions please shoot us an email or call the store, myself or my staff are always happy to help.
For more information about the life cycle of Artemia Brine Shrimp CLICK HERE
Heres a quick video of the process