Brine Shrimp Hatchery

[Lollipop0912]

They are not expensive right? Unless I was to raise them and create my own eggs which probably won't do because I have no idea how to care for a salt water tank let alone have the money for those money stealers lol.

They are about 15 dollars for 25 grams. That’s for 90 percent hatch rate. They last me about a monthish but I have to hatch every day.

Sounds good. Hatch rate??

The percent of shrimp that hatch to the number of eggs. (For example if 9 shrimp hatch out of 10 eggs, It’s a 90 percent hatch rate.)

Welp, I live in the US. Know any websites? Recommend anything?

I used amazon. They have awesome product and prices (plus free shipping for prime members.)

How do make the water and maintain it in the 2 liter bottles? I know they need some salt.

There isn’t much you need to dI to maintain the tanks. They should be fed around the 24 hour mark. As for making the hatching solution:
2 liters of water
A pinch of Baking soda
2 tablespoons of Non iodized salt (any kind.)
2 teaspoons artema eggs
Add it all in the bottle and call it a day.
As for equipment:
2 Liter soda bottle
Airiation system
Light
That’s all you need. Feed once you see the shrimp wiggling when you turn off the aeration.

 

[FishWithTim]

They are about 15 dollars for 25 grams. That’s for 90 percent hatch rate. They last me about a monthish but I have to hatch every day.

The percent of shrimp that hatch to the number of eggs. (For example if 9 shrimp hatch out of 10 eggs, It’s a 90 percent hatch rate.)

I used amazon. They have awesome product and prices (plus free shipping for prime members.)

There isn’t much you need to dI to maintain the tanks. They should be fed around the 24 hour mark. As for making the hatching solution:
2 liters of water
A pinch of Baking soda
2 tablespoons of Non iodized salt (any kind.)
2 teaspoons artema eggs
Add it all in the bottle and call it a day.
As for equipment:
2 Liter soda bottle
Airiation system
Light
That’s all you need. Feed once you see the shrimp wiggling when you turn off the aeration.

They last a month refrigerated?

 

[Lollipop0912]

So far, yes.
Wait: I keep the eggs in the fridge and hatch live brine daily.

 

[FishWithTim]

So far, yes.
Wait: I keep the eggs in the fridge and hatch live brine daily.

So if bigger the amount of brine shrimp I purchase the longer they last? (10/10 grammar I know but I did not know any other way to explain it)

 

[MWR]

Salt creek???

Salt Creep - crusted salt on everything around the hatchery.

 

[Lollipop0912]

So if bigger the amount of brine shrimp I purchase the longer they last? (10/10 grammar I know but I did not know any other way to explain it)

No. The larger the amount, the more you have, so If you keep the portions the same, it will last longer because there is more.

 

[Pescado_Verde]

I hatch brine shrimp every day in 2 liter bottles .
No air stone and just enough bubbles to keep eggs from settling. Too much and the eggs will stick to side of bottle [dry/unhatched] .
I keep 3 bottles going and use about 1lb a year.
I buy my eggs from Brine shrimp direct.
Most people have issues hatching because they buy crappy eggs from their LFS or petstore.
Get your eggs from a company that specializes in them.

Thanks for the headsup on where to buy from, I almost pulled the trigger on some from Amazon but then thought I'd check here first and I'm glad I did. I ordered the Grade A eggs. I've never tried brine shrimp before but from what I've seen online it looks pretty simple and straightforward.

 

[coralbandit]

Mine last the whole year in the fridge. I buy 1 pound at a time . It comes in a coffee can with plastic lid . I place cellophane over can then the lid and a rubber band around the cellophane for giggles .

 

[Pescado_Verde]

Mine last the whole year in the fridge. I buy 1 pound at a time . It comes in a coffee can with plastic lid . I place cellophane over can then the lid and a rubber band around the cellophane for giggles .

Haha, well you've mentioned the CDO so I'm not surprised at the care given. Thanks again!

 

[bitseriously]

BettaFishKeeper4302 Am I right from reading right at the top this is for a betta? As in, one betta? Do you have other fish?
[Edit, just checked your profile page, and I see another larger community tank]
IMO, this is more work than necessary for feeding a couple of tanks. There are so many quality food options out there, including frozen bbs, it's a lot of work to go through if not necessary.
In most cases, you set it up, and most have hatched (that will hatch) within 24hrs. Without additional care, they start to die off quickly within about 12hrs after hatching, and it's also easier to collect them all than to collect some. So it's really a practice that works best for large volumes and high demand.
I do agree that it's not difficult to toss a tbsp of salt and a pinch of baking soda (for pH) into a 2L jug, stick in an airline, put it under a light, and collect after 24hrs. But why (given the other frozen/live food options out there)?
If you have fish babies, or fish that must have live (swimming) food, that's another story.
Just my 2c.

 

[Blackhawksfan4life]

Last Friday I tried for my first attempt to hatch brine shrimp and I failed the first time and going to try again this Friday. I want to have a checklist of everything I need to hatch brine shrimp for future references so I will have better luck. Last week I used

• 32 oz poweraide bottle I cleaned it out well just used water
• Airline tubing and airpump
• I was low of aquarium salt I used just a little under 2 tablespoons of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 gallon fish tank half full of water with a heater in it, it temp was at 77 first night and next day I moved it up to 81 degrees for next day
• Left tank light on whole time
• Brine shrimp eggs I put in 3 spoonfuls in. Is there anything I am missing and or anything I may have done wrong. Sorry for the long message and thank you in advance

This is what I bought

 

[saltwater60]

What’s your set up look like and what’s the baking soda for?
I hatched bribe shrimp all the time. I’d place a 2 liter pop bottle upside down and remove the bottom. I’d put an air line in with the appropriate amount of salt and they hatched 100% of the time. If you want to grow them out stop the air and put a light on the top to collect them and transfer them to the tank.
what’s the plan for the shrimp and why are you growing them out.
also what's three spoons worth. Teaspoons, tablespoons? We’re they in the tank or the bottle?

Brine shrimp direct has quality stuff.

 

[Blackhawksfan4life]

Tge set up is a 2 gallon tank half full of water so I can keep the water warm like 80 as I have read brine shrimp hatch in 80-82 degrees otherwise my water gets cold fast. I had them in a upside down poweraide bottle with the bottom cut off and have the bottle standing up in the tank.. I put 2-3 teaspoonfuls of brine shrimp eggs purpose is to feed my female Bettas and my guppies and my neons and if my corys

I was told baking soda will help buffer ph

 

[bizaliz3]

Tge set up is a 2 gallon tank half full of water so I can keep the water warm like 80 as I have read brine shrimp hatch in 80-82 degrees otherwise my water gets cold fast. I had them in a upside down poweraide bottle with the bottom cut off and have the bottle standing up in the tank.. I put 2-3 teaspoonfuls of brine shrimp eggs purpose is to feed my female Bettas and my guppies and my neons and if my corys

For what its worth....freshly hatched bbs is more for fry. My older fish don't even recognize them as food they are so small. Lol

All the fish you listed would probably more enjoy frozen adult brine shrimp. Not the crumb sized bbs.

I'd stop with the baking soda personally.

 

[Blackhawksfan4life]

Ok thank you

 

[saltwater60]

Did you have a bubbler in the pop bottle? They need constant agitation. Any settling and they won’t hatch. They need to be constantly suspended in water. A lot of times the airline sneaks up and the eggs settle and die.
I also agree with the other comment. Just buy them frozen foods. Daphnia, cyclops, regular sized brine shrimp and even BBS can all be bought frozen.

 

[Blackhawksfan4life]

If I decide not to hatch them could I feed these eggs to my fish or just toss them?

 

[LoganKarl]

I agree with the comments above. I will just add of your going to continue to hatch them out make sure the eggs you bought are not expired. I tried a few batches from some eggs that were only a few months past experation and it was a very low hatch rate. I have not tried the brand you have but As saltwater60 said, Brine Shrimp Direct has good quality eggs.

I wouldn't recommend feeding the unhatched eggs to your fish.

 

[Blackhawksfan4life]

Now would it be difficult to grow out the bbs to adulthood then feed them to my fish?

 

[saltwater60]

Now would it be difficult to grow out the bbs to adulthood then feed them to my fish?

It’s usually not worth the time and effort. Honestly just buy adult brine shrimp because they feed them good stuff usually so they have good nutrition.
Brine shrimp are like squash for humans. Basically tasteless and nutrition less. They are only carriers of the nutrition you feed them. The brine shrimp are frozen immediately so no loss of nutrition normally occurs.

 

[Gone]

Do you have a salinity meter? They're inexpensive and pretty easy to use. Different kinds of salt produce different salinity levels. With API aquarium salt two tablespoons will produce the salinity I'm looking for. Using Fritz salt, the grain is much finer and it takes three tablespoons.

Whether baking soda is helpful is 100% based on what the pH is. Brine shrimp like higher pH. Whether you should add baking soda depends on the pH of the water starting out. I have tap water of about 7.4 pH, and I add about a quarter teaspoon to 1.5 liters.

You can test all this stuff and determine the best solution for hatching BBS.

Two or three teaspoons sounds like a massive amount to try to hatch in a 32 ounce bottle. I have two hatchers going all the time so one is ready every day. I put in less than a teaspoon per 1.5 liter hatcher, and I feed 23 tanks twice a day. That's 46 tanks on a teaspoon.

I would suggest sticking with it until you dial it in. BBS is fantastic food for most fry, and your adult guppies, neons, and betta will snarf the stuff down. Not sure about the cories.

 

[saltwater60]

Do you have a salinity meter? They're inexpensive and pretty easy to use. Different kinds of salt produce different salinity levels. With API aquarium salt two tablespoons will produce the salinity I'm looking for. Using Fritz salt, the grain is much finer and it takes three tablespoons.

Whether baking soda is helpful is 100% based on what the pH is. Brine shrimp like higher pH. Whether you should add baking soda depends on the pH of the water starting out. I have tap water of about 7.4 pH, and I add about a quarter teaspoon to 1.5 liters.

You can test all this stuff and determine the best solution for hatching BBS.

Two or three teaspoons sounds like a massive amount to try to hatch in a 32 ounce bottle. I have two hatchers going all the time so one is ready every day. I put in less than a teaspoon per 1.5 liter hatcher, and I feed 23 tanks twice a day. That's 46 tanks on a teaspoon.

I would suggest sticking with it until you dial it in. BBS is fantastic food for most fry, and your adult guppies, neons, and betta will snarf the stuff down. Not sure about the cories.

I agree. That’s a lot of eggs in at once. I usually put in 1/2 or 1/4 teaspoon.

 

[Blackhawksfan4life]

Thank you, could that be a reason why it didn't hatch cause too many eggs

 

[Gone]

Thank you, could that be a reason why it didn't hatch cause too many eggs

I don't know to be honest.

I use a terrarium heat bulb for warmth and keep the hatching solution at around 75 degrees, which takes a probably around 36 hours to hatch. I want to give each hatchery plenty of time but still want to feed the BBS fairly soon after the hatch is complete.

 

[coralbandit]

I use a rigid airline like in old school undergravel tubes to keep my bubbles on bottom of eggs ..
You could hatch 1 teaspoon but that is a lot of BBS..About how many I hatch at time [60 tanks ] .
Keep your eggs in fridge and they last longer .Do not feed them to fish without hatching .They need to be decapsulated .
You can buy decapsulated eggs and feed them without hatching .
I hatch 3 batches a day and have for years now ,your fish will learn to eat BBS ,but I have never been able to grow them out .Harder then raising the little fish I feed them to!
Brine Shrimp Direct for the win ! Best eggs going ..
The brand you bought is from a garage fish sealesman ..I have bought food from him before , no more. It is nothing special and not really a deal either ..
He just buys bulk [cheap] whatever and puts his label on it ..That would imply the eggs could be old ?

 

[jmaldo]

Definitely, go with coralbandit advise. When I started I used these San-Francisco-Bay-Brand
Disappointing hatch rate.
Then went to the YFS brand. Better hatch rate but during research I found this article and starting adding some Epsom salt and added the light. Hatch rate improved quite a bit.
Brine Shrimp Hatching Instructions
Will be switching to Brine Shrimp Direct.
Thanks for the info "Tom"
Good Luck!

 

[coralbandit]

Brine Shrimp Hatching Instructions

You would think after all this time I would have seen that ! Rigid tubing for the win ! No holes or leaking connections ..
I only use a pint of water in a 2l bottle to keep the mess in the bottle..That and very careful air control ..As low as possible to just keep eggs moving.. LOW ..
That is money info right down to getting new eggs off the side of hatcher in the beginning .I use a little kitten nursery bottle to rinse the eggs back into the salt mix a couple times if I can .It definitely increase the chance of hatching every egg..The addition of tap water for this has had no effect for me ..
Funny never reading that the only thing I did not know was freezing was ok..
Since I made it this far on common sense and experience I will skip freezing .When I started I only used a lb every 9-12 months and they always lasted to the last egg in the fridge .Now I blow through a lb in 1-3 months !

 

[hisfishroommyfish]

All the people I watch on youtube have brine shrimp hatcheries. Is it worth it? I've heard it's a lot to keep up with.
I am into breeding so I feel like I'm going to have to give in and get one eventually.

 

[Dunk2]

All the people I watch on youtube have brine shrimp hatcheries. Is it worth it? I've heard it's a lot to keep up with.

If you’re into or want to get into breeding fish, I’d say it’s worth it and maybe even necessary. They’re also a fair amount of work.

 

[aquachris]

I don't think its that hard once you get into the routine... Its pretty measured out/rotation process. I enjoy watching my fish eat the baby brine shrimp (especially my pea puffers), and I plan on raising angels, so I will have a use for it.

Since I also have salt tank, I always have premixed saltwater, so I get a really nice result even from the basic 80% SFB brand.

 

[dwarphshrimp]

Is it better for breeding fish than frozen?

 

[aquachris]

Is it better for breeding fish than frozen?

Some fish breed with the abundance of food knowing there is potentially food for their offspring

 

[RelaxingBettas]

I have a question re: hatching, harvesting, and cultivation, I hope this is the right place- maybe it's a stupid question, but has anyone taken an iced tea jar (you know, with the spigot) and tried that (with a light and aerated, of course)? Theoretically wouldn't the wretched floating husks (that aren't in the least magnetic, I tried lol) stay on top, and unhatched eggs and sediment remain on the bottom, as the spigot is usually a few inches off the bottom, if one drew them near with a light and proceeded very slowly to drip them out into either a net and cup for rinsing and feeding, or transferring to a clean(er) setup for culturing? With badis and guppy fry, I don't mind having some big fat gut-loaded scrimps handy. I wonder if there is an obvious reason no one is doing this I didn't consider, or if they are and I just didn't know, lol. Thoughts appreciated.

 

[aquachris]

I have a question re: hatching, harvesting, and cultivation, I hope this is the right place- maybe it's a stupid question, but has anyone taken an iced tea jar (you know, with the spigot) and tried that (with a light and aerated, of course)? Theoretically wouldn't the wretched floating husks (that aren't in the least magnetic, I tried lol) stay on top, and unhatched eggs and sediment remain on the bottom, as the spigot is usually a few inches off the bottom, if one drew them near with a light and proceeded very slowly to drip them out into either a net and cup for rinsing and feeding, or transferring to a clean(er) setup for culturing? With badis and guppy fry, I don't mind having some big fat gut-loaded scrimps handy. I wonder if there is an obvious reason no one is doing this I didn't consider, or if they are and I just didn't know, lol. Thoughts appreciated.

My lfs I go to had it in a thing like that for adult brine

 

[RelaxingBettas]

Thank you, I wondered if there was some obvious reason not to, for who would set up those Rube Goldberg contraptions with the soda bottles if they didn't have to?! I have been hatching ok the low tech way with tupperware in a tank, but would prefer an easier to harvest setup. I may try (but whether to use my existing one or buy a new dedicated one), eh, I just wondered before I made it nasty, lol- do they stink or what!

 

[aquachris]

Thank you, I wondered if there was some obvious reason not to, for who would set up those Rube Goldberg contraptions with the soda bottles if they didn't have to?! I have been hatching ok the low tech way with tupperware in a tank, but would prefer an easier to harvest setup. I may try (but whether to use my existing one or buy a new dedicated one), eh, I just wondered before I made it nasty, lol- do they stink or what!

I do the hatching I'm the bottle thing. I use a setup I found on YouTube using a specific brand of bottle and a cap to hook airline to. I harvest through the same way the air goes in. I have found the aquarium co-op eggs do amazing in my setup compared to the sfb

 

[coralbandit]

I use 2 liter bottles with NO HOLES OR HOSES attached to bottles..

I use a rigid airline to get bubbles at bottom of bottle and then simply remove the line and let eggs float and shrimp settle and use another rigid airline to syphon the shrimp out .
You need to clean the hatcher pretty often so all the hoses and holes will make that difficult .
I have hatched brine shrimp [2-3 bottles a day] for the last 5 years or so ..
It takes no time or effort hardly once you are prepared .I have pre mixed salt water also as I have a 120g marine tank .

 

[aquachris]

Yeah having salt water handy make it so simple! I borrow from my setup all the time. I clean my bottles out each time and don't have an issue discoecting the hose as I'm using a really soft airline. The rigid method works well too, I thought about going to that so I can just use the cap end to harvest. I don't harvest all at once I generally do at 24 hours then at 36.

 

[RelaxingBettas]

I do the hatching I'm the bottle thing. I use a setup I found on YouTube using a specific brand of bottle and a cap to hook airline to. I harvest through the same way the air goes in. I have found the aquarium co-op eggs do amazing in my setup compared to the sfb

Really, I keep meaning to get an order out to them, I need some of those big coarse sponge filter covers like six months ago. I will keep that in mind, thanks!

 

[aquachris]

Really, I keep meaning to get an order out to them, I need some of those big coarse sponge filter covers like six months ago. I will keep that in mind, thanks!

No problem. I was skeptical watching all the big youtubers rave about them lol. But their price is pretty good and the quality surprised me. But that could be because they fit my water parameters better.

 

[PNWBettas]

Just throwing in an option. I've been running hatcheries for months for my betta fry (for them feeding frozen is not an option, I need to do live) and I have found it kinda sucks but as long as you run more then one at a time and remember to re-start them its not that bad.

This is something I'm going to be trying: Amazon.com : Brine Shrimp Hatchery Dish (Eggs Sold Separately.) : Pet Supplies

Its a bit pricy but I've seen many betta breeders use this and it looks like it simplifies the process a little bit. I can let you know if I end up liking it. It comes near the end of January (it restocks on the 18th). I also use co-op eggs. Good hatch rate and good price for the quantity.

 

[coralbandit]

I get my eggs from Brine Shrimp Direct .
1lb will last well over a year in the fridge and is reasonably priced ..They sell smaller amounts .
They do charge for delivery but 1 lb with shipping is only 3X what you are paying for 3 ounces from Cory ??
9 ounces or 16 ? it is your money ..For me it is my fishes money and they deserve the best even if it cost less!
Brine shrimp direct has the best eggs I have used ..
They sell 8 ounces for about what coop sells 3 ounces for .. and it is their specialty ...

 

[PNWBettas]

I get my eggs from Brine Shrimp Direct .
1lb will last well over a year in the fridge and is reasonably priced ..They sell smaller amounts .
They do charge for delivery but 1 lb with shipping is only 3X what you are paying for 3 ounces from Cory ??
9 ounces or 16 ? it is your money ..For me it is my fishes money and they deserve the best even if it cost less!
Brine shrimp direct has the best eggs I have used ..
They sell 8 ounces for about what coop sells 3 ounces for .. and it is their specialty ...

Hey man that’s fine. Everyone has what they like, I’m sure they are great.

 

[aquachris]

I get my eggs from Brine Shrimp Direct .
1lb will last well over a year in the fridge and is reasonably priced ..They sell smaller amounts .
They do charge for delivery but 1 lb with shipping is only 3X what you are paying for 3 ounces from Cory ??
9 ounces or 16 ? it is your money ..For me it is my fishes money and they deserve the best even if it cost less!
Brine shrimp direct has the best eggs I have used ..
They sell 8 ounces for about what coop sells 3 ounces for .. and it is their specialty ...

I have yet to try the brine shrimp direct. I just have recently tried aquarium coop. I had other stuff to order so with free shipping seemed good. I can tell I'm getting massively better hatch rate than san Francisco Bay and the egg separation is super good for me. I will probably try brine shrimp direct next because I'm trying to figure out what works best for me, but for me it's about quality then price. That is how I make the decision on what is best for my fish.

 

[dwarphshrimp]

You guys have so many good ideas and pointers! Thanks!