Brine shrimp, also known as Artemia, are a popular live food source for feeding fish and invertebrates. Hatching and raising brine shrimp requires maintaining the proper salt concentration in the water But how much salt per gallon is actually needed? Below we’ll go over the ideal salinity levels for brine shrimp at each stage of their life cycle
Why Salt is Critical for Brine Shrimp
Brine shrimp are adapted to thrive in salty water. In fact, they are unable to survive in freshwater conditions. The salt allows them to balance and maintain the proper levels of water and salt in their bodies, a process known as osmoregulation.
The salinity of the water impacts:
- Hatch rates of brine shrimp eggs
- Growth and development of nauplii and adults
- Overall health and survival of the brine shrimp
That’s why monitoring and maintaining the ideal salt concentration is so important when working with brine shrimp,
Salt Concentration for Hatching Brine Shrimp Eggs
When hatching brine shrimp eggs, the recommended salt concentration is 1 tablespoon of salt per gallon of water. This equals a specific gravity of around 1.010 to 1.018.
Table salt, pickling salt, or other non-iodized salt can be used for hatching Iodine can prevent brine shrimp eggs from hatching properly
Some key tips for hatching:
- Mix the salt with 90°F water until fully dissolved
- Use an aquarium air pump for constant aeration
- Illuminate the hatching container with a light
- Hatch times range from 18-36 hours in optimal conditions
Maintaining this precise salt level provides the right salinity and osmotic pressure for the highest hatch rates of brine shrimp eggs.
Salinity Levels for Growing Brine Shrimp
After brine shrimp hatch, they are extremely small larvae called nauplii. To grow to maturity, the nauplii require slightly higher salinity levels than hatching.
The recommended salt concentration for growing brine shrimp is 1.020 to 1.025 specific gravity. This equates to roughly 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of salt per gallon of water.
Marine salt blends can be used for growing to provide essential minerals. But plain non-iodized salt also works well.
Some tips for optimal growing conditions:
- Culture brine shrimp in wide, shallow containers
- Use continuous aeration and filtration
- Feed them powdered spirulina, yeast, phytoplankton, etc.
- Cull dead nauplii and change 10% of water daily
- Harvest adults within 2-3 weeks
Meeting the salinity and nutritional requirements allows brine shrimp to grow to their maximum adult size.
Salinity Ranges for Adult Brine Shrimp
Once brine shrimp reach adulthood, they can tolerate a wider range of salinities. Adults thrive best at specific gravities of 1.008 to 1.030.
For long term culture, aim for 1.020 to 1.025 SG. Higher levels can help improve population growth rates. Monitor frequently and adjust if needed.
Sudden changes in salinity can shock adult brine shrimp. Acclimate them slowly if significantly altering the salt concentration.
Ideally, culture adults in 2-5 gallon tanks. Perform partial water changes twice a week and siphon waste from the bottom. Maintain excellent filtration and aeration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can table salt be used instead of marine salts?
Yes, plain table salt or canning salt works for brine shrimp hatching and culture. Iodized table salt should be avoided. Marine salt blends provide additional beneficial minerals but are not strictly necessary.
How can salinity be monitored precisely?
Use a hydrometer or refractometer to monitor the specific gravity and salinity levels. This allows much more precision than relying on measurements of cups or tablespoons of salt per gallon.
Why is aeration so important for brine shrimp?
Brine shrimp are filter feeders that require high levels of oxygen. Continuous aeration and water movement are critical. Air pumps with air stones work well to maintain dissolved oxygen.
How do you know when brine shrimp eggs have hatched?
Active nauplii swimming throughout the container indicate the eggs have successfully hatched. You may also see empty egg shells sitting at the bottom when most eggs have hatched out.
Can brine shrimp survive gradual salinity changes?
Yes, slow salinity adjustments are generally fine for brine shrimp. But drastic fluctuations in salt levels can shock them. Always acclimate adult brine shrimp before transferring to different salinity levels.
Recap: Salt Concentrations for Brine Shrimp
Here’s a quick recap of the ideal salt levels for brine shrimp:
- Hatching eggs: 1 tbsp salt per gallon (1.010 – 1.018 SG)
- Growing nauplii: 1.5-2 tbsp salt per gallon (1.020 – 1.025 SG)
- Adult culture: 1.020 – 1.030 SG
Test salinity frequently with a hydrometer or refractometer. Make adjustments incrementally. Provide constant aeration. Follow these salt guidelines and you’ll be rewarded with thriving brine shrimp populations!
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Instructions for Hatching Brine Shrimp
This page has the best and easiest-to-follow brine shrimp hatching instructions on the web. You can use a Hatchery Dish or a regular cone-shaped container (Imhoff cone or inverted bottle) to hatch the eggs.
Before we begin, you need to start with viable, properly stored eggs. All brine shrimp eggs need to be stored as follows:
- in a tightly sealed container;
- free from moisture; and
- in a cool environment at or below 40°F. (Refrigeration is ideal for short term storage, i. e. , less than three to four weeks. To store eggs for a long time, they should be kept at or below freezing. ) .
When you get your eggs, we suggest dividing them into two groups: one should be kept in the fridge in a container with a tight lid for three to four weeks, and the other should be kept in the freezer in the same container with a tight lid for longer. Keep in mind that freezing can lower metabolic activity and delay hatch-out. We suggest taking the egg out of the freezer one day before you want to use it so that the embryos have time to get used to the temperature.
The above storage guidelines apply to all brine shrimp eggs, whether in opened or unopened tins.
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If you want to get the best results from conical hatching containers like our 2-Liter standing cone, an Imhoff cone, or an upside-down soda bottle, follow these steps:
- For most situations, a 25 parts per thousand (ppt) salt solution is best when making your hatching solution. This equates to around 1. 018 specific gravity as measured with a hydrometer. If you don’t have a hydrometer, you can get this salinity by mixing about 1 and a half tablespoons of salt with one quart (about a liter) of water. Be sure to use non iodized salt.
- pH: Proper pH can be important in hatching brine shrimp. A starting pH of 8. 0 or higher is recommended. Some places have water with a pH below 7. To those places, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of Epson salt or magnesium sulfate per quart of hatching solution.
- Temperature: The best water temperature for a full hatch that lasts 24 hours is between 26 and 28°C (80 to 82°F). Lower temperatures will cause hatching to take longer and not work as well. Do not exceed 86° (30°C). Do not put an immersion heater right into the container where the eggs are hatching! An immersion bath is better for keeping the temperatures stable. If the conditions are right, an incandescent bulb placed above the hatching cone can also provide enough heat.
- Light: During the first few hours of incubation, the embryo needs to be lit up in order to start the hatching process. Keeping a light on during the whole incubation period is suggested for the best hatch results and, as we already said, to keep the temperature stable.
- Continuous aeration is needed to keep cysts in suspension and make sure there is enough oxygen for the cysts to hatch. During the incubation, there should be at least 3 parts per million of dissolved oxygen. Strong air flow shouldn’t hurt or damage the cysts or nauplii of brine shrimp. A rigid air tube is the best way to get air to the bottom of the cone and keep eggs that haven’t hatched from falling to the bottom. We do not recommend an airstone.
- For the best hatching rates, stocking density should be 1 gram per liter or quart, which is about 1/2 teaspoon of cysts per quart (or liter). A higher stocking density will lower the number of eggs that hatch and make it harder to tell the difference between hatched nauplii and eggs that haven’t hatched yet.
- Hatching Cone: Flat-bottom hatching vessels should be avoided. Containers with cone or “V” bottoms work best to keep the cysts floating while they hatch. When not in use, make sure to wash the hatching cone well with a mild chlorine solution, rinse it, and let it dry naturally. Avoid soap. Soap will leave a thin film that will foam when the eggs hatch and leave the cysts floating above the water.
- Incubation Period: Generally, the optimum incubation time is 24 hours. If an egg has been stored properly for more than two to three months, it may need more time to hatch—up to thirty to sixty hours. Oftentimes, eggs will hatch in as few as 18 hours. If you want smaller nauplii (Instar I), you should wait 18 hours before harvesting them. After that time, you can get Instar I (first stage) nauplii before they change into Instar II.
Brine shrimp egg is sometimes very buoyant. To get the most eggs to hatch, it can help to swirl the water in the hatching container with your finger a few times during the first four to six hours of incubation. This will knock down any eggs that are sitting on the side of the container above the water line. After about 6 hours, the eggs are usually well-hydrated and will stay in the water column.
The following steps will achieve optimum brine shrimp hatch rates.
- Set up: Put a hatching cone or other similar-shaped container in a well-lit area. The cone should be partly see-through so that it is easy to harvest and let light through.
- To add water, fill the cone with water and set the salinity to 25 ppt. Optimum hatching temperature is 82°F (28°C).
- Add Cysts: Put in 1 gram of cysts per liter.
- Aerate: Provide adequate aeration to keep cysts in suspension.
- Hatch: Eggs should hatch in 18 to 36 hours, depending on the temperature of the water.
- Harvest: Once the brine shrimp have hatched, turn off the oxygen and wait a few minutes for the shells and baby brine shrimp (called nauplii) to separate. New nauplii will either fall to the bottom of the cone or move toward a light source. The shells will float to the top. If there is a valve on the bottom of the cone, the nauplii can be gently drained through it or sucked out of the bottom with a length of air tubing.
- To sum up, the warm temperatures during incubation and the chemicals in the hatching medium make it perfect for a bacteria bloom. Before you feed the baby brine shrimp to your fish, you should rinse them in clean fresh or salt water through a fine mesh net or sieve.
- Clean Equipment: Tanks and equipment used to hatch brine shrimp should be cleaned and sanitized regularly.
Flat-bottom hatching vessels should be avoided. Cone or “V” bottomed containers are best to insure that the cysts remain in suspension during hatching. When not in use, make sure to wash the hatching cone well with a mild chlorine solution, rinse it, and let it dry naturally. Avoid soap. Soap will leave a thin film that will foam when the eggs hatch and leave the cysts floating above the water.
Generally, the optimum incubation time is 24 hours. If an egg has been stored properly for more than two to three months, it may need more time to hatch—up to thirty to sixty hours. Oftentimes, eggs will hatch in as few as 18 hours. If you want smaller nauplii (Instar I), you should wait 18 hours before harvesting them. After that time, you can get Instar I (first stage) nauplii before they change into Instar II.