Are you giving your saltwater fish flake food, pellets, or frozen mysis? What about live brine shrimp or live fish foods in general? This article will talk about the pros and cons of giving your fish live food, especially brine shrimp (Artemia salina). These creatures can be extremely nutritious for your livestock and are applicable for all levels of marine aquarists.
Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) are small, filter-feeding crustaceans that live in saltwater habitats. They grow to around 8 mm and take about a week to mature depending on the conditions. After they mature, they can live for several months and produce as much as 75 eggs every day. They live in a large range of different saline habitats inland and on the coast. These creatures have a remarkable resistance to changes in temperature and salinity levels. Their gills allow them to survive these conditions by absorbing or extracting ions as needed. So, in most parts of the world, they can live in lakes, the ocean, or man-made bodies of water. To eat, they use structures on their legs to capture phytoplankton.
Brine shrimp, also known as sea monkeys or Artemia, are a fascinating creature that have captured the fascination of aquarists for decades. Their ability to hatch and grow in saltwater makes them an ideal live food source for fish and invertebrates But just how long do these tiny crustaceans live after hatching?
In this complete guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about the typical brine shrimp lifespan and what factors impact how long they survive.
The Average Brine Shrimp Lifespan
When kept in optimal tank conditions, newly hatched brine shrimp can live for:
- 8-10 weeks on average
- A maximum of 3-4 months with excellent care
However, their lifespan can be much shorter if water parameters and food availability are not ideal.
Brine shrimp are resilient creatures that can even survive up to 2 years in a dormant egg state when dried out. But once hatched, they are living organisms with a limited lifespan.
What Impacts How Long Brine Shrimp Live
Several key factors influence the length of time brine shrimp survive after hatching:
Water Temperature
- Ideal range is 68-86°F.
- Temperatures above 90°F will drastically shorten their lifespan.
- Colder temps below 60°F will slow growth and development.
Water Salinity
- Brine shrimp need a specific gravity of 1.005-1.080 to thrive.
- This equals a salt concentration of 25-35 ppt.
- Levels outside this range increase mortality.
Food Availability
- Brine shrimp eat microalgae, yeast, plankton, and shrimp foods.
- Starvation and malnutrition decreases lifespan.
- Overfeeding can foul the water.
Tank Space
- High densities above 300 shrimp per liter lead to cannibalism, poor water quality, and shorter lifespans.
- Keep populations below maximum capacity.
Water Quality
- Ammonia, nitrites, low oxygen, and pH extremes are harmful.
- Perform regular water changes and test water parameters.
Age and Health
- Older shrimp and those with diseases will die sooner.
- Remove dead brine shrimp immediately to prevent spreading illness.
Storing Brine Shrimp to Extend Lifespan
There are methods to store freshly hatched brine shrimp and extend their lifespan up to 1 week:
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Harvest into a fine net and rinse with freshwater.
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Chill brine shrimp in shallow containers filled with saltwater and refrigerate.
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The cold temperature of 35-40°F slows their metabolism and conserves nutrients.
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Rinse with fresh water and feed refrigerated brine shrimp within 2-3 days.
Storing brine shrimp is ideal for hatcheries or large scale aquariums wanting to preserve live foods. It saves time and labor. Refrigerated brine shrimp retain their nutritional value much better than frozen or dried shrimp.
Adult brine shrimp can also be stored for up to 1 week by using 1 quart of adults per 1 gallon of saltwater. Provide aeration and refrigerate.
Expected Lifespan at Each Growth Stage
Now that we’ve covered the factors that impact lifespan, let’s look at the typical age brine shrimp reach at each stage of development if cared for properly:
Egg Stage
- Eggs can remain viable and dormant for 2-3 years if stored dry.
Larval Stage
- Newly hatched brine shrimp are in the larval stage for 24-48 hours.
Juvenile Stage
- After 48 hours, brine shrimp enter the juvenile stage which lasts 1-2 weeks.
Adult Stage
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2-8 weeks is the typical lifespan of adult brine shrimp with ideal tank conditions.
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Some may live up to 12 weeks if water quality is pristine.
As you can see, brine shrimp grow and mature rapidly once they hatch. But their adult lifespan is still limited compared to other aquarium species. Maintaining optimal tank conditions gives them the best chance of reaching their maximum lifespan potential.
Troubleshooting if Your Brine Shrimp Die Sooner
If your brine shrimp population crashes well short of the expected 1-3 month lifespan, review the following areas:
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Water temperature – Ensure the tank stays between 68-86°F.
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Salinity – Use a hydrometer to check specific gravity is in the ideal range of 1.005-1.080.
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Overcrowding – Hatch shrimp in separate containers, then combine into a tank. Never exceed 300 shrimp per liter density.
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Filtration – Use gentle aeration and sponge filters only – brine shrimp are easily sucked into standard filters.
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Water changes – Change 10-30% of water twice a week to replenish minerals and reduce waste buildup.
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Food – Feed newly hatched shrimp 2-3 times daily with a variety of microalgae, yeast, shrimp foods, and plankton.
With some adjustments to their habitat and care, you can maximize the lifespan of your brine shrimp. They are sensitive creatures but fairly easy to keep healthy once their needs are met.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brine Shrimp Lifespans
How long can brine shrimp eggs stay viable before hatching?
Dry brine shrimp eggs can remain dormant yet viable for over 2 years if stored properly. Once placed in saltwater to hatch, they usually hatch within 24-48 hours.
Do brine shrimp sleep or rest?
Brine shrimp do not sleep or have periods of inactive rest like some animals. They are constantly filtering and grazing on microorganisms in their environment.
What temperature kills brine shrimp?
Temperatures above 90°F start to become lethal to brine shrimp. Ideal temperature is 68-86°F. Chilling brine shrimp to 35-40°F can be used to temporarily inactivate them.
How many times can brine shrimp reproduce before dying?
Each adult female brine shrimp can produce 20-30 broods in her 2-3 month lifespan. After reproducing repeatedly, the female will die of old age.
Can brine shrimp survive in freshwater?
No, brine shrimp require brackish saltwater to survive. They cannot tolerate freshwater environments. Even brief exposure to tap water without salts will rapidly kill them.
Do brine shrimp eat each other or their own eggs?
Yes, brine shrimp will cannibalize each other and eat their own cysts if severely overcrowded or starving. Proper feeding and density prevents this.
How long can brine shrimp survive without food?
Brine shrimp can survive without food for approximately 7 days before dying provided the water quality remains high. Feeding them regularly is crucial to maintaining health.
Can refrigerated brine shrimp come back to life?
Yes, live brine shrimp can be chilled to temporarily inactivate them while retaining nutrients. Stored brine shrimp will become active again after slowly warming back up.
Understanding the brine shrimp lifespan and how to maximize it will help you succeed at hatching and culturing these amazing creatures!
Live or Frozen Food?
Why is live brine better than frozen brine? It’s because most frozen foods are low in nutrients. It may have less than dry food. Some aquarist fix this by soaking the food in food enhancers and dietary supplements. The problem with this is that it is even more unnatural. It could also be more expensive and involve more work. It seems live food is the way to go.
Benefits to Your Tank
It is easier to feed your saltwater fish flakes or pellets than live brine shrimp, copepods, amphipods, or even frozen food, most people agree. While dry food has its advantages, it is beneficial to feed your fish a varied diet. Imagine eating only potatoes to get you through each day. While you would survive, you would not be entirely healthy for long. Just like the fish in your aquarium, they can live on dry food, but it’s not as good for them as it could be. Most of the time, hobbyists don’t feed live food because it’s harder to use than dry food, costs more, or they don’t believe it will really help their tank. If you’ve been into this hobby for a while, you’ve probably heard the saying “you get what you put in.” ” This applies to feeding, too.
If you feed your fish well, they will live long with amazing vibrant colors. Otherwise, they will just survive until their shortened lives end. Feeding your fish different varieties of food will promote better coloration and a longer life. For people who keep saltwater aquariums, the main goal is to make the reef tanks as much like the ocean as possible. In natural reefs, fish do not get fed flake food or frozen food. They hunt and eat live organism enriched by nutrients from the natural environments. Why wouldn’t we try to do the same thing in our aquariums? By giving them live food, you’re making the environment more like the ocean, where they normally live. Another popular reason for feeding live brine is to meet the needs of finicky fish. For example, dragonets, butterflies, and anthias are all fish that are known to be hard to keep because they need special food. You can teach these fish to eat a certain type of food (like frozen) by giving them live food. You could also regularly feed live food which would be best for the fish but not required. While most people feed copepods, brine shrimp are also a great option. They are just as useful as rotifers and copepods for food. The bad thing is that they can’t have babies and can only live for an hour in a fully stocked reef tank.
Copepods are not big enough to feed many aquarium fishes. But most or all of the fish in your reef tank will eat brine shrimp.