How to Hatch And Harvest Brine Shrimp

Brine shrimp make a high-protein live food for aquarium fish and invertebrates. They are also a suitable food for aquatic amphibians. If you own such pets, it is more cost effective to raise your own supply of brine shrimp from eggs rather than regularly buying fully grown brine shrimp. Unlike most saltwater animals, they are undemanding to raise, requiring only relatively basic equipment.

Things You'll Need

  • Quart mason jar or small fish tank
  • Aquarium salt mix
  • Air pump
  • Heat lamp or aquarium heater
  • Thermometer
  • Phytoplankton
  • Fine-mesh aquarium net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mix dechlorinated water with salt mix in a bucket to achieve a salinity of about 25 parts per thousand (i.e. approximately 25 grams or 1 and ½ tablespoons of salt per quart of water). This is a little less than seawater strength because brine shrimp are adapted to brackish, not marine, environments.

    • 2

      Position the tank or jar in a brightly lit room, although not in direct sunlight. Alternatively, use a tank with a light. Light triggers the hatching process.

    • 3

      Fill the container with the water mix to a few inches from the top. Connect the air pump and position the end of the plastic tubing on the bottom of the container.

    • 4

      Adjust the heat lamp or the aquarium heater until the water temperature is about 80 to 85 degrees F.

    • 5

      Add the brine shrimp eggs. Don't add more than about ½ teaspoonful of eggs per quart of water.

    • 6

      Feed the brine shrimp phytoplankton (green water) when they hatch. This is widely available from aquarium supply stores or you can culture your own.

    • 7

      Harvest the brine shrimp with the net once they reach the desired size. Rinse them in fresh, dechlorinated water before feeding them to your animals