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The Life Cycle of Brine Shrimp
Brine shrimp, or "Artemia salina," as they are called by scientists, have
an unusual and interesting life cycle. The eggs produced by the female
are hatched without ever being fertilized by a male shrimp. The shrimp
that hatch from these eggs are all females. In unusual circumstances,
e.g. when the marsh dries up, the male shrimp can hatch. These males
fertilize the eggs of the females and from this mating, special eggs come
about. These eggs, so-called "winter eggs," have a thick shell, which pro-
tects them. The winter eggs are very resistant and capable of survival if
the marsh or lake dries out, killing off the entire shrimp population. They
can persist for 5-10 years in a "sleep" status. The eggs hatch when the
proper environmental conditions are reproduced. These are the type of
eggs you have in your microscope set.
The Incubation of the Brine Shrimp
In order to incubate the shrimp, you first need to create a salt solution
that corresponds to the living conditions of the shrimp. For this, put a
half liter of rain or tap water in a container. Let the water sit for approx.
30 hours. Since the water evaporates over time, it is advisable to fill a
second container with water and let it sit for 36 hours. After the water has
sat stagnant for this period of time, add half of the included sea salt to the
container and stir it until all of the salt is dissolved. Now, put a few eggs in
the container and cover it with a dish. Place the glass container in a bright
location, but don't put it in direct sunlight. Since you have a hatchery, you
cal also add the salt solution along with a few eggs to each of the four
compartments of the tank. The temperature should be around 25º. At this
temperature, the shrimps will hatch in about 2-3 days. If the water in the
glass evaporates, add some water from the second container.
The Brine Shrimp under the Microscope
The animal that hatches from the egg is known by the name "nauplius
larva." With the help of a pipette, you can place a few of these larvae
on a glass slide and observe them.
The larvae will move around in the salt water by using their hair-like
appendages.
Take a few larvae from the container each day and observe them un-
der the microscope. In case you've hatched the larvae in a hatchery,
simply take off the cover of the tank and place the tank on the stage.
Depending on the room temperature, the larvae will be mature in 6-10
weeks. Soon, you will have had raised a whole generation of brine
shrimp, which will constantly grow in numbers.
Feeding your Brine Shrimp
In order to keep the brine shrimp alive, they must be fed from time to
time, of course. This must be done carefully, since overfeeding can
make the water become foul and poison our shrimp population. The
feeding is done with dry yeast in powdered form. A little bit of this yeast
every second day is enough. If the water in the compartments of the
hatchery or your container turns dark, that is a sign that it is gone bad.
Take the shrimp out of the water right away and place them in a fresh
salt solution.
Warning!
The shrimp eggs and the shrimp are not meant
to be eaten!
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