How to Hatch Decapsulated Brine Shrimp Eggs

Brine shrimp, when fed a nutrient-rich food, are readily accepted live prey for your marine or freshwater fish. "Decapsulated" simply means that the outer shell of the egg has been chemically removed. This reduces the amount of decaying organic debris in your grow-out tank. Small fish or fry can be harmed by swallowing the empty shells or unhatched eggs, but decapsulating removes the danger factor in feeding nauplii (newly hatched brine).

Things You'll Need

  • Clean 2 liter soda bottle
  • Scissors
  • Flowerpot, mason jar or hanging apparatus
  • Saltwater
  • Lamp
  • Aerator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the bottom off of a clean, large (2 liter) soda bottle with a pair of scissors. Screw the cap on tightly.

    • 2

      Place the inverted soda bottle in medium-sized flowerpot, large mason jar, or make your own stand by drilling a large hole in a small wooden table. Alternatively, you can cut two holes on opposite sides of the "top" of the inverted soda bottle and hang the bottle. The inverted bottle needs to sit or hang straight up and be well supported.

    • 3

      Fill the inverted soda bottle with saltwater and reverse osmosis or distilled water. Aim for a salinity of about 1.018, or 25 parts per thousand. The water should be close to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH of 8.0 or slightly higher.

    • 4

      Affix a light over the soda bottle; a simple halogen work lamp or desk lamp is fine. Leave the light on throughout incubation.

    • 5

      Add an aerator. The cysts need to be in constant motion.

    • 6

      Add 2 g of decapsulated brine shrimp eggs per 2 liter bottle.

    • 7

      Wait 18 to 36 hours to harvest, depending on the size of the nauplii you want and the amount of eggs that have hatched. Hatching time can depend on water temperature, lighting and for how long the eggs were stored.