Where to Buy High-Quality Brine Shrimp Eggs for Your Aquarium

Brine shrimp, also known as sea monkeys or artemia, are a popular live food source for feeding fish and invertebrates in home and commercial aquariums. Their tiny, nutrient-rich larvae (nauplii) are ideal for feeding small fish and invertebrate larvae But where can you find high-quality brine shrimp eggs to hatch at home?

In this article, we’ll look at

• What are brine shrimp and why are they good fish food?
• Types of brine shrimp eggs available
• Where to buy brine shrimp eggs online
• How to choose a reputable brine shrimp eggs supplier
• What to look for in high-quality brine shrimp eggs
• Prices for brine shrimp eggs

What are Brine Shrimp and Why Use Them As Fish Food?

Brine shrimp are small crustaceans that live in salty bodies of water like the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Their eggs (also called cysts) can remain dormant for years in dry conditions. When hydrated in salt water, the eggs hatch within 24 hours into tiny, nutritious brine shrimp larvae that make an excellent food source for fish fry, corals, and other aquarium animals.

Here are some key benefits of feeding brine shrimp to aquarium fish and invertebrates:

• High in protein, lipids, vitamins and minerals that promote growth and health
• Soft body is easy for fish fry and larvae to eat
• Swimming motion triggers feeding instinct
• Bright orange color stimulates appetite
• Fun to hatch at home with inexpensive kits

Brine shrimp are used by aquarists, aquaculture facilities, zoos, and research labs to provide excellent nutrition for raising fish and invertebrates. Their ease of hatching at home makes them a convenient live food to have on hand.

Types of Brine Shrimp Eggs Available

There are a few different varieties of brine shrimp eggs available for home hatching:

• Premium grade – Highest hatch rate of 90% or more. Best for aquarium use.
• Grade A – Standard grade with hatch rate of 80% or more. Good quality eggs.
• Economy grade – Lower cost eggs with hatch rate around 75%. More unpredictability in hatches.
• Grade C/65% hatch out – Lowest grade eggs for very high volume hatching. Hatch rate of only 65%, not recommended for home use.
• Decapsulated – Shells dissolved so eggs won’t hatch. Use as food for fish that can eat larger foods.
• E-Z Eggs – Special prepared eggs that hatch quickly without shells that could foul water. Good for home hatching.

For consistently successful home hatching, premium and grade A eggs from a reputable source are recommended. Lower grades can be hit or miss.

Where to Buy Brine Shrimp Eggs Online

The most convenient place to buy brine shrimp eggs for home delivery is online. Some good options include:

• Aquarium specialty stores – Most online fish stores sell brine shrimp eggs. Look for ones that focus on aquarium supplies.

• Brine shrimp specialists – Companies like Brine Shrimp Direct that specialize in artemia products. They offer the best selection and quality.

• eBay – You can find brine shrimp eggs sold by various suppliers on eBay. Prices may be cheaper but quality varies widely.

• Amazon – Again, many different sellers offer brine shrimp eggs but it can be hard to assess quality. Stick to reputable brands.

For the highest quality and hatch rates, it’s advisable to purchase from aquarium specialty websites or brine shrimp specialty suppliers. They depend on repeat business for their reputation so are motivated to deliver a good product.

Choosing a Reputable Brine Shrimp Eggs Supplier

To avoid disappointment from poor hatch rates, make sure to purchase brine shrimp eggs from a reputable supplier. Here are some things to look for:

• Specialization in brine shrimp products – Suppliers focused on artemia usually have the freshest, highest quality eggs.

• Good online reviews – Check feedback on independent aquarium forums and review sites. Look for consistently positive reviews.

• Money back guarantee – Many top suppliers will replace or refund if hatch rates are not as advertised. This ensures they stand behind their products.

• Proper storage and handling – Reputable suppliers store eggs frozen or refrigerated and ship in insulated containers with ice packs to preserve viability.

• Harvest date and expected shelf life – Look for providers that list harvest dates and expected shelf life so you know freshness.

• Customer service – The best suppliers have knowledgeable customer service to answer any questions on their brine shrimp eggs products.

Buying more established brands from specialty suppliers helps avoid duds and ensure you get viable, quality eggs for the best hatch rates at home. Check reviews and guarantees.

What to Look for in High Quality Brine Shrimp Eggs

Once you’ve found suppliers specializing in brine shrimp eggs, here are some indicators to look for with their products:

• Species – Most eggs sold are from Artemia franciscana species known for higher hatch rates. Avoid brands that don’t list the species.

• Harvest date & shelf life – Look for eggs harvested recently, ideally within the last 1-3 months before shipment with at least a 6 month shelf life from harvest. Fresher is better.

• Color – Brine shrimp cyst shells should have an orange-pink hue. Avoid darker brown eggs which may be old. Lighter colors are fine if recently harvested.

• Oil globules – Quality eggs have oil droplets inside that provide nourishment for hatching. More globules generally mean better hatch rates.

• Hatch rate – Top grades of brine shrimp eggs advertise hatch rates of 90% or higher. Grade A are 80% and above. Anything under 75% hatch rate may have issues.

• Decapsulated – Some eggs have shells dissolved for direct feeding. These won’t hatch but let you see the oil globules clearly.

Getting recently harvested eggs from a reputable supplier and inspecting color, oil droplets, and advertised hatch rate will give you the best odds for successful hatches at home. Check reviews to confirm others have achieved the advertised hatch rates.

What Are the Prices for Brine Shrimp Eggs?

As with most products, you tend to get what you pay for with brine shrimp eggs. Here are some average price ranges:

• Premium grade – Approximately $8 to $10 for 1.75 oz; $45 to $55 for 16 oz

• Grade A – Around $6 to $8 for 1.75 oz; $35 to $45 for 16 oz

• Economy grade – Can be as low as $5 for 1.75 oz; $30 to $40 for 16 oz

• Grade C/65% – May be $3 to $5 for 1.75 oz; $25 to $35 for 16 oz

• E-Z Eggs – Expect to pay a premium of about $15 to $20 for 100 ml

Buying in bulk 16 oz or larger sizes generally saves quite a bit per ounce compared to small hatching packets. Just be sure you will use them up within the shelf life from harvest date.

While premium grade are more expensive up front, their near guaranteed 90%+ hatch rate ends up being most cost effective compared to wasting products with lower success rates.

Where to Buy Brine Shrimp Eggs: Key Takeaways

• Look for brine shrimp eggs from aquarium specialty stores or brine shrimp specialists online for best quality and selection

• Only buy from reputable suppliers with good reviews, money back guarantees, proper handling, and recent harvest dates

• Inspect product details like species, harvest date, color, oil globules, and advertised hatch rate to ensure fresh, viable eggs

• Premium grades with 90%+ hatch rates give the best results for home hatching despite higher initial cost

• Buying brine shrimp eggs in bulk quantities can save substantially compared to small packages

With a little research, you can locate a reliable source of top-notch brine shrimp eggs online to start hatching this beneficial live food for your fish and invertebrates. Proper storage and handling on your end will also help maintain high hatch rates. Follow the tips in this article to end up with the healthiest brine shrimp nauplii to feed your aquarium animals.