How to Grow Brine Shrimp

Brine shrimp, also known as artemia, are a tasty food enjoyed by most cold- and freshwater fish. Buy them from a pet store or grow them at home for a constant supply of fresh, live food. Brine shrimp eggs are available from specialist pet stores, fish breeders and auction websites, such as eBay. Newly hatched brine shrimp are a nutritious first food for baby fry and small species of fish. There are many different methods of successfully hatching brine shrimp, but the most important part of the process is to obtain fresh eggs from a reputable source to produce the best hatching rate.

Things You'll Need

  • Lidded, tall, narrow plastic container or bottle
  • Dechlorinated water
  • Rock salt
  • Measuring spoons
  • Brine shrimp eggs
  • Air pump and tubing
  • Air stone (optional)
  • Small fish tank
  • Egg yolk
  • Powdered yeast, soybean powder or wheat flour
  • Flashlight
  • Coffee filter paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a hole large enough for the air pump tubing to pass through in the lid of a plastic container.

    • 2

      Fill the plastic container with dechlorinated water, leaving an inch or so at the top to allow for aeration. Stir in 1 tbsp. of salt for every half-gallon of water. Mix thoroughly until the salt is completely dissolved.

    • 3

      Add 1/4 tsp. of brine shrimp eggs to the water. Push the air pump tube through the hole in the lid and attach the air stone. Replace the lid and feed the tube to the bottom of the container.

    • 4

      Position the container near a window, lamp or other light source. A warm lamp accelerates the hatching process, and you may produce hatchling brine shrimp within the first 24 hours using this method. Normal room temperature provides adequate heating. Plug in the air pump and turn it on.

    • 5

      Check the eggs regularly for signs of hatching. Depending on the temperature, you should see results in one to three days.

    • 6

      Scoop out empty egg husks as they float to the water's surface. You will see newly hatched brine shrimp swimming around the container as soon as the husks appear.

    • 7

      Feed the baby brine shrimp to fish fry immediately after hatching when the egg sac is still attached, or transfer the brine shrimp to a small fish tank and allow them to grow if you require larger specimens.

    • 8

      Provide a food source for your brine shrimp. For the first 12 hours, the newly hatched shrimp, called nauplii, eat their egg sacs. After this, feed them a commercial microalgae formula designed for brine shrimp or make your own food.

    • 9

      Add a drop of egg yolk directly into the water or use a fingernail to scoop up a few grains of yeast, soybean powder or wheat flour and scatter on the water's surface. You need only a tiny amount at each feeding. Feed sparingly, once or twice a day.

    • 10

      Take care not to overfeed the brine shrimp and make the water murky. It will become cloudy from feeding but you should still be able to see the nauplii.

    • 11

      Change about a quarter of the water at least twice a week and replace with clean, dechlorinated saltwater.

    • 12

      Siphon dirt and uneaten food from the tank floor regularly. Place the tank in a dark room and ask someone to point a flashlight at the top of the tank. The brine shrimp will swim toward the light, leaving the bottom of the tank clear for you to safely siphon away waste and debris.

    • 13

      Pour the brine shrimp out of the container over a coffee filter paper when they reach the desired size. Submerge the filter paper in your fish tank and release the live food into the aquarium.