Complete Feeding & General Care Guide for Brine Shrimp
Growth Success: Proper feeding and care will grow nauplii to adults in 2-3 weeks with 80%+ survival rates.
Understanding Brine Shrimp Life Stages
Nauplii (0-3 days)
- Size: 0.4-0.5mm
- Feeding: Lives off yolk sac initially
- Duration: First 24-48 hours
- Activity: Constant swimming
Juvenile (3-14 days)
- Size: 1-6mm
- Feeding: Requires external food
- Growth: Rapid size increase
- Molting: 4-6 molts during this stage
Adult (14+ days)
- Size: 8-15mm
- Feeding: Filter feeding
- Reproduction: Sexual maturity
- Lifespan: 2-3 months
Feeding Requirements by Life Stage
Nauplii Feeding (0-3 days)
No feeding required! Newly hatched nauplii survive on their internal yolk sac for the first 24-48 hours.
What happens during this period:
- Nauplii consume their orange-colored yolk sac
- They develop their digestive system
- Swimming becomes more coordinated
- Ready to accept external food after 24-48 hours
Juvenile Feeding (3-14 days)
This is the critical feeding period that determines survival rates:
Primary Food Sources
Microalgae (Preferred)
- Chlorella: Excellent nutrition, easy to culture
- Spirulina: High protein content
- Nannochloropsis: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Dunaliella: Natural carotenoids for color
Alternative Foods
- Bakers Yeast: Convenient, nutrient-rich
- Egg Yolk: Emergency food source
- Spirulina Powder: Commercial supplement
- Fish Food (powdered): Finely ground flakes
Feeding Schedule for Juveniles
| Age | Frequency | Amount | Food Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-4 days | 2x daily | Light dusting | Microalgae or yeast |
| 4-7 days | 3x daily | Moderate amount | Mixed diet preferred |
| 7-14 days | 2x daily | Until slight cloudiness | Varied diet essential |
Adult Feeding (14+ days)
Adult brine shrimp are filter feeders and can process larger food particles:
Natural Diet
- Phytoplankton
- Bacteria
- Organic detritus
- Microalgae colonies
Captive Diet
- Spirulina powder
- Chlorella concentrate
- Rice bran
- Wheat flour (small amounts)
Feeding Techniques & Best Practices
Microalgae Feeding Method
- Prepare algae culture or use concentrated paste
- Add small amounts - water should have slight green tint
- Monitor consumption - algae should clear within 2-4 hours
- Adjust quantity based on clearance rate
Bakers Yeast Method
Caution: Overfeeding with yeast can cause water quality problems!
- Mix small amount (pinch) in dechlorinated water
- Let settle for 5 minutes to hydrate
- Add gradually until water becomes slightly cloudy
- Stop feeding if cloudiness persists after 4 hours
Water Quality Management
Critical Parameters
Essential Ranges
- Salinity: 30-35 ppt
- Temperature: 25-30°C (77-86°F)
- pH: 8.0-9.0
- Dissolved Oxygen: >5 mg/L
Danger Signs
- Ammonia: >0.5 mg/L
- Nitrite: >1.0 mg/L
- pH: <7.5 or >9.5
- Low O2: <3 mg/L
Water Maintenance Schedule
| Task | Frequency | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Aeration Check | Daily | Ensure continuous bubbling |
| Temperature Monitor | 2x daily | Check thermometer readings |
| Partial Water Change | Every 2-3 days | Replace 25-30% with fresh saltwater |
| Complete Water Change | Weekly | Transfer shrimp to fresh system |
Common Feeding Problems & Solutions
Common Causes & Solutions:
- Overfeeding: Reduce food quantity, increase water changes
- Poor water quality: Test ammonia/nitrite levels
- Wrong food size: Use smaller particles for young juveniles
- Starvation: Increase feeding frequency to 3x daily
- Temperature fluctuations: Stabilize at 26-28°C
Optimization Strategies:
- Improve diet quality: Add microalgae to feeding regime
- Increase temperature: Maintain 28-30°C for faster metabolism
- Feed more frequently: 3-4 small meals vs 1-2 large ones
- Reduce density: Move some shrimp to reduce competition
- Enhance aeration: Increase oxygen levels
Prevention & Recovery:
- Immediate action: Perform 50% water change
- Remove uneaten food: Siphon out excess within 4 hours
- Increase aeration: Add additional air stones
- Reduce feeding: Cut portions by 50% until recovery
- Test parameters: Monitor ammonia, nitrite daily
Advanced Care Topics
Breeding Adult Brine Shrimp
When conditions are optimal, adult brine shrimp will reproduce naturally:
- Sexual maturity: Reached at 2-3 weeks
- Mating behavior: Males use claspers to hold females
- Egg production: Females can produce 50-200 nauplii every 3-4 days
- Environmental cues: Stable conditions favor live birth over cyst production
Nutritional Enhancement
Biofortification for Fish Feeding
Enhance brine shrimp nutritional value 12-24 hours before feeding to fish:
- Omega-3 enrichment: Feed algae high in EPA/DHA
- Vitamin C boost: Add ascorbic acid to water
- Carotenoid loading: Use Dunaliella or astaxanthin supplements
- Protein enhancement: High-quality spirulina feeding
Harvesting and Storage
Harvesting Techniques
- Concentration method: Use light to gather shrimp in one area
- Sieving method: Use appropriate mesh size for target age group
- Siphon method: Carefully extract with turkey baster
- Gentle handling: Minimize stress during collection
Short-term Storage
- Refrigeration: 4°C for up to 24 hours in saltwater
- Aerated container: Keep oxygen levels high
- Rinse before use: Remove from culture water
Equipment Checklist
Essential Equipment
- ✓ Aeration system (pump + stones)
- ✓ Multiple containers (2-5L capacity)
- ✓ Thermometer (accurate to 0.5°C)
- ✓ Fine mesh nets (various sizes)
- ✓ Measuring spoons
- ✓ Turkey baster or siphon
Recommended Upgrades
- ✓ pH test kit
- ✓ Salinity refractometer
- ✓ Heater with thermostat
- ✓ LED grow lights
- ✓ Microscope (10x-40x)
- ✓ Water quality test kit
Success Metrics
Signs of Healthy Culture
- 80%+ survival to adulthood
- Active swimming behavior
- Clear water between feedings
- Regular molting in juveniles
- Steady population growth
- Natural reproduction in adults
- Good color (orange-pink)
- No unusual odors
Next Steps
With proper feeding and care, you can maintain thriving brine shrimp cultures for:
- Aquarium fish feeding: Continuous supply of live food
- Research purposes: Standardized test organisms
- Educational projects: Observing complete life cycles
- Commercial production: Scaling up for larger operations
Master Water Quality Management
Take your brine shrimp care to the next level with advanced water quality techniques and troubleshooting.
Water Quality Guide