Artemia : An Introduction To The Primitive Crustacean, Artemia

Artemia is a primitive crustacean that has been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth. There are a variety of species within the genus artemia in the wild. Also known as brine shrimp, their use in the aquarium hobby is very widespread.

Newly hatched brine shrimp are viewed as a nutritious food for both fish and corals. They are particularly useful in the fish culture business where there are used as larval food for a wide variety of fishes ranging from freshwater to saltwater.

Adults are usually sold in frozen form as fish food as well. The most recognized brand dealing with artemia as fish food is San Francisco Bay. As eggs, they are sold in a wide variety of strains. Some are bigger or smaller during hatching depending on the strain purchased.

Artemia are found living in very salty inland bodies of water such as salt lakes and salt swamps but never the ocean.

There are very few things that can live in such salty conditions but artemia thrive in such conditions mainly because there is an abundance of food (Phytoplankton) and there are no predators.

Their eggs can survive dry conditions for years, securing the existence of future generations should the lake dry up.

Harvesting cysts from the wild is an easy affair since their eggs float. To the right i've added an interesting 4 minute video on two fishermen harvesting artemia from the Great Salt Lake in Utah.

They can survive in a wide range of salinities of up to 50% saltwater, which is the upper limit of the amount of salt that can be diluted in water. They can also survive in a wide temperature range, from 6 to 37 degrees celsius.

They are small creatures, reaching a maximum length of 15 millimeters.

To reproduce, the male clasps the female and fertilizes her eggs. The cysts are surrounded by a very thick shell that can survive for years in dry conditions.

Hatching occurs when temperatures warm up and there is water that isn't too salty.

At home, cysts can be hatched by putting them in saltwater and keeping them in suspension via an air pump.

They hatch within 24 to 48 hours.

Newly hatched brine shrimp do not require food for the first 24 ours or so as they carry with them a yolk sac. Once that is depleted they begin filtering the water for any microscopic algae or particles to feed upon.

Home cultures are fed a variety of foods ranging from live phytoplankton, dried phytoplankton as well as crushed flake or pellet food. Basically anything small and nutritious can be fed to newly hatched artemia.

With an abundant food source, baby artemia grow very rapidly. They can double their size in a mere 24 hours.

They undergo many molts on their journey to becoming adults, which can take about a week and a half or more if they are given enough food.

A short lived creature, artemia usually live for about 50 days but can live for as long as 90 days if conditions are good.

Read more :- Sea Monkeys, Brine Shrimp