Brine shrimp, also known as sea monkeys or artemia, are a unique species of crustacean that have fascinating abilities. These small animals have adapted to live in salty waters all over the world, from lakes to oceans One of their most incredible features is that their eggs can survive extreme conditions – even outer space!
However once hatched, brine shrimp do require specific care and conditions to thrive. One of the most important factors for their health is water temperature. So what is the ideal temperature range for brine shrimp to live in?
An Overview of Brine Shrimp and Their Temperature Needs
Brine shrimp are very small, ranging from 0.08 to 0.4 inches (2-10 mm) long as adults. They have a complex lifecycle, going through egg, larval, and adult stages. The larvae eat phytoplankton and algae, while adults also filter feed.
In the wild, brine shrimp are found in saline waters ranging from 50-180 g/L salt concentration. This includes salt lakes, ponds, and coastal marine environments. They float in the water column and do not have a strong swimming ability.
Water temperature is crucial for brine shrimp development and survival. Warmer temperatures speed up their metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Colder temperatures slow everything down. Extremes in either direction can be lethal.
So what is the ideal temperature window? Most sources recommend 65-86°F (18-30°C) for good brine shrimp health and reproduction. However, the optimal range appears to be 70-82°F (21-28°C). Let’s explore why in more detail.
Hatching Brine Shrimp Eggs Requires Warmth
Brine shrimp eggs, also called cysts, are in a dormant state. To hatch them, you need to “activate” the embryos inside by soaking the eggs for 24 hours and then drying them out. This process removes a protective shell.
Once the cysts are decapsulated, they can hatch easily. But hatching still requires adequate warmth. Brine shrimp embryos develop fastest between 70-82°F (21-28°C). At this temperature range, most will hatch within 18-36 hours.
- Below 70°F (21°C), hatching can take 48 hours or longer.
- At ideal 70-82°F, they hatch within 24-36 hours.
- Above 82°F (28°C) sees diminishing returns – hatch time won’t improve much more.
Temperatures above 86°F (30°C) can decrease hatch rates and cause deformities. So it’s best to keep hatching temperatures no higher than 82-84°F (28-29°C) for optimal results. You may need a dedicated heater to maintain this in cooler homes.
Larval Brine Shrimp Need Warmth to Grow Quickly
Newly hatched brine shrimp are in a larval stage. At this point they still need warmth to grow rapidly enough as a food source. Maintaining 70-82°F (21-28°C) allows brine shrimp larvae to be large enough to harvest in 24-48 hours.
Again, cooler temperatures below 70°F (21°C) will significantly slow their growth. They may take 4 or more days to reach an ideal size at lower temperatures. This slower growth makes them less suitable as a regular live food source.
You want the larvae to grow quickly both for production and nutrition reasons. Larvae allowed to grow large over several days start losing nutritional value from the yolk they initially absorb. So quicker growth results in optimal nutrition for fish or other predators.
Adult Brine Shrimp Also Prefer Warmer Water
After 48-72 hours feeding, brine shrimp larvae molt into juveniles/adults. These older brine shrimp can survive a wider temperature range, from the mid 60s up to 86°F (18-30°C). But they still do best from 70-82°F (21-28°C) like larvae.
Adult brine shrimp kept at cooler temperatures will survive but grow and reproduce slowly. They become mostly inactive below 55°F (13°C). Temperatures approaching 86°F (30°C) also reduce their activity and feeding.
So for optimal adult brine shrimp growth and breeding, maintaining 70-82°F (21-28°C) is ideal. This temperature range keeps their metabolism, life processes, and overall health optimal.
You may need aquarium heaters, heat lamps, or other equipment both for hatching brine shrimp and keeping adults. Room temperature alone is often too cool, especially in winter.
Colder Temperatures Are Useful for Storage
While cold temperatures hinder active brine shrimp, they help preserve and store brine shrimp cysts (eggs). Keeping brine shrimp eggs refrigerated at 40-50°F (4-10°C) can extend their viability from months up to years!
Once raised back to optimal hatching temperatures, properly stored eggs will still hatch out successfully. Refrigeration puts the embryos into stasis.
Lower temperatures also slow metabolism of active brine shrimp. Adults can be kept at 50-55°F (10-13°C) for up to 6 months. This “hibernation” lets you store live adults as an emergency food source. Return to warmer water reactivates them.
So while cold isn’t ideal for active brine shrimp, it serves an important role for storage. Refrigeration preserves eggs and live adults for future use as needed.
How to Maintain Ideal Brine Shrimp Temperatures
Keeping your brine shrimp within 70-82°F (21-28°C) optimizes results and health. But how do you maintain this consistent warmth? Here are some options:
- Aquarium heater: Submersible heaters are reliable for keeping tanks/containers in the ideal range.
- Heat lamp: A 40W incandescent bulb in a desk lamp can heat small hatcheries.
- Space heater: Helpful for warming a whole room that houses brine shrimp setups.
- Insulation: Styrofoam containers help regulate temperatures.
- Temperature controller: Use a thermostat to automatically control heating devices.
Monitor temperatures daily with a thermometer. Make adjustments as needed to maintain 70-82°F (21-28°C). Having a stable, warm environment will lead to your best brine shrimp results!
Brine shrimp are fascinating creatures that make excellent live fish food. But they require specific care, especially when it comes to water temperature.
For optimal hatching, growth, breeding, and overall health, maintaining 70-82°F (21-28°C) is ideal. This gives the fastest hatch times, growth rates, and keeps adults active. Temperatures consistently below 70°F (21°C) will hinder results.
Be sure to use heaters, lamps, or other warming methods to keep your brine shrimp within their ideal temperature range. Proper temperatures allow brine shrimp to thrive and support other aquatic life as an outstanding natural food source!
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.
How long can brine shrimp live in a tank?
Do brine shrimp need a hot water tank?
Brine shrimp live in warm water, so they need a heated tank with a water temperature of between 68 o F and 79 o F. The ideal water pH level for brine shrimp is in the range of 7.5 to 8.0, with optimal salinity at a specific gravity of 1.024 to 1.028.
What temperature should a brine shrimp tank be filled with?
The tank should be filled with fresh saltwater with a pH level of 7.2 to 8.0. Brine Shrimp do best in water around 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit, so a heater may be necessary if you live in a cooler climate. It is also essential to provide plenty of places for the Brine Shrimp to hide.
What is a good pH for brine shrimp?
Proper pH can be important in hatching brine shrimp. A starting pH of 8.0 or higher is recommended. In areas where the water pH is below 7, Epson salt or magnesium sulfate can be added at the rate of 1/2 teaspoon per quart of hatching solution. Optimum water temperature for a 24-hour complete hatch is 80-82°F (26-28°C).
Where do brine shrimp live?
Brine Shrimp (Artemia Salina) are relatively tiny organisms commonly found in isolated habitats, namely salt lakes and water bodies like the renowned Great Salt Lake (Utah), Rocky Coast south of San Francisco, and the Caspian sea. Other species can be equally found in many other water bodies with high or moderate salt content.