These very small crustaceans, commonly known as Artemia salina, are suitable for all types of fishes, even young fry. Baby Brine Shrimp is a common food source for fish that are available in adult-form (Artemia salina) as eggs or freeze-dried. During the past decade Artemia salina has become the most popular fodder for both salt-water and fresh-water fish bred in domestic aquariums or industrial ponds.

They can be utilized for many purposes but are quite expensive too. The main benefit of Artemia is that it can be bred at an aquarist’s desire year-round and can be used at any phase of its development. Brine shrimp is a source of protein (50%), carotene (color enhancer), fats (20%) and acts as a natural laxative in fish digestive systems. Brine shrimps can also supply the fish with vegetable matter due to their consumption of algae.

There are two different varieties of Brine Shrimp:

1. San Francisco brine shrimp – smaller in size and ideal for fry feeding during their early stages of development. Brine shrimp greatly increase their growth rates.
2. Great Salt lake brine shrimp.

Life Cycle

Artemia can be used as aquarium fodder during all three phases of its life cycle.

Artemia eggs without a shell are excellent fodder containing a high concentration of protein for fingerling and small fish.

Nauplias or larvae – is initial fodder for aquarium fish youth. The newly hatched nauplias also contain a large drop of oil which is highly nutritious. This is rapidly depleted as the shrimp grow, and their nutritional value declines rapidly a few hours after hatching.

An adult Artemia is excellent fodder for a majority of mature fish species, but no use for fry feeding since they are too big.

Brine shrimp eggs are metabolically inactive and can remain in total stasis for several years while in a dry, oxygen-free environment, even at temperatures below freezing. This characteristic is called cryptobiosis meaning “hidden life” (also called diapause). However, despite its strong survival quality, dry cysts should be stored in waterproof packages, otherwise embryos can die. Optimal incubation temperature is 28°C to 30°C. Hatching begins within 24 hours at a sustained temperature of 28°C, and a mass hatching of fodder fingerlings occurs within a period of 30–48 hours. At higher temperatures the process occurs more rapidly and fingerlings hatch simultaneously.

Brine shrimp can tolerate varying levels of salinity. These nutritional benefits are likely to be one reason that brine shrimp are found only in highly salinated waters with reasonable temperatures. This makes sense as these areas are uninhabitable for potential predators.