What is a Triop?

Triops are fresh-water crustaceans with a long history. They date back more than 200 million years, making them even older than dinosaurs. Triops are considered living fossils, because their basic structure has remained nearly unchanged through time. Many people enjoy owning these prehistoric pets. Similar in appearance to horseshoe crabs, triops are easy to grow, but they have a short life span of two to three months.

  1. History

    • Scientists believe the first triops appeared during the Triassic period, some 220 million years ago. Triops are among the oldest living animals on earth. They earned the Greek-derived name "triops" because they appear to have three eyes.

    Types

    • Among the most common type is the "triops longicaudatus," also known as longtail tadpole shrimp. They are members of the crustacean class "Branchiopoda"--freshwater animals that breath through gill-like structures on their legs. Relatives of the triops include crabs, lobsters and brine shrimp.

    Geography

    • Triops are found in western North America, Central America, South America, Japan and several Pacific islands. They are usually found at the bottom of temporary ponds where the water temperature is around 70°F.

    Life Cycle

    • Triops have a short life cycle of 20 to 90 days. They develop from an egg to an adult in two to three weeks. During their development, they can double in size daily and reach an adult length of 1 to 3 inches. They shed their exoskeletons several times as they move through larval stages.

    Diet

    • Triops are omnivorous. In the wild, they eat organic matter, algae and insects. As pets, they will eat fish food, brine shrimp, even small bits of carrots or apples. If food becomes scarce, they will cannibalize other triops.

    Significance

    • Triops hatch from eggs. In nature, the adult female lays the eggs in the pond. When the pond dries out, the adults die but the eggs dry out and go into a state called diapause, a form of suspended animation. When rain or a flood form a new pond, the eggs are rehydrated and hatch.

    Considerations

    • Dried triops eggs are available for sale. They can be hatched at home in a tank filled with fresh (spring or distilled, not tap) water kept between 73 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The triops should have plenty of natural or artificial light as well as a good food supply.