Brine shrimp are a widely distributed aquatic animal that are commercially important in saltwater environments. The species Artemia salina occurs in vast numbers in the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the spawned young are often sold as aquarium food. Another endemic brine shrimp is Artemia monica, which occurs in Mono Lake in California. These species are valuable not only for their commercial importance, but as food for migratory birds, which may be unaware of their existence.
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Infusoria
If you haven’t yet heard, infusoria are microscopic aquatic organisms, smaller than the nauplii of brine shrimp. They provide a vital source of nutrition for newly hatched fry, preventing them from starvation. In fact, they were first discovered in 1763, and there are currently over 2,000 species. Fortunately, they are remarkably easy to cultivate.
To cultivate them, you simply scoop some water from an indoor or outdoor pond and place it in a glass bowl. You should see specks of infusoria zooming about. After you observe them, you can draw a small sample and examine it under a microscope. If you’ve got an abundance of infusoria, you can harvest them from the water regularly, or you can keep the culture going for a long time.
Since infusoria prefer bacteria, you should be sure to keep an aeration stone next to the jar. This will keep out anaerobic bacteria, which create toxic wastes that inhibit the growth of other organisms and smell unpleasant. While infusoria can grow in aquariums, they are rarely enough to feed the fry. The Infusoria are a valuable resource, but if you’re lucky, you can catch a healthy colony.
Yeast
Brewers yeast is a convenient food for brine shrimp in aquariums. Simply prepare a solution with the same salinity as your tank water and stir in some brewer’s yeast. Then, store the mixture in the refrigerator. Re-stir it every day and feed the brine shrimp. It can last for a few days if you provide it once or twice a week.
Wild brine shrimp are so small that they look like miniature birds, and they glide through the water as if they had two wings. They have 11 pairs of appendages, which act like paddles and help them swim and feed. While they’re in the wild, they feed exclusively on planktonic algae. These algae form the foundation of aquatic ecosystems, contributing to the chemistry of water, and provide a source of energy for smaller creatures.
In aquariums, brine shrimp can tolerate crowding, but you may need to add extra containers to accommodate their growth. Yeast is a good food for brine shrimp, but you can overfeed them if they end up milky white in the water. Using colored feed is another way to identify the amount of food you’re giving your shrimp. Mix some colored yeast with the salt water in the brine shrimp containers, and then place the food into the shrimp’s gut.
Fish food
If you’re a reef keeper, brine shrimp make a great live food for tropical fish. Brine shrimp are filter feeders and can eat anything they’re offered. Fry foods, yeast, whey, wheat flour, soy meal, and even the yolk of an egg can be offered to brine shrimp. They’re non-selective, but can handle most foods, so be sure to always have a supply of food available.
Brine shrimp are a natural food source for tropical fish, and can be found at any stage of development. Even baby fish can be fed brine shrimp to get the nutrients they need. You can feed brine shrimp to baby tropical fish as a treat. A few brine shrimp can also feed a tank of baby fish. Brine shrimp are available in many stores and can be fed to both young and old fish.
Cyanobacteria
Brine shrimp are filter feeders and will feed on anything smaller than 50 microns. They don’t require any special feeding, as long as microscopic plants and algae grow in their aquarium. Powdered brewers yeast is a good first choice, but you can also use frozen concentrated microalgae, which can be bought at a local pet store. However, do not overfeed brine shrimp, as this will result in water fouling. A once or twice weekly feeding should be sufficient.
The simplest method of introducing brine shrimp is to buy a frozen cyst from a store. These cysts contain the bacteria that make them grow. Once you’ve spawned the cysts, you’ll need to add a liter of fresh water. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to wait an hour before adding them to your aquarium.
