live brine shrimp question

[jtutton]

I will be keeping live brine shrimp for my blenny and want to know how everyone else does this.
How much can you put in at once? Does it foul the tank at all, I know lots of them die, but most are eaten? How often do you drop the netfull of shrimp in?
If you keep them in a bucket with aeration, how long do you keep them? Is it cheaper to buy eggs and raise them yourself?
I think this will be a long term thing for the blenny and others I may get.
Thanks, I'm still new to this hobby and so may have some basic questions.
Jane

 

[texasranchers]

Jane, I buy 1/4 pint of live brine shrimp every 2 weeks for my SHs. I put shrimp in a tank by themselves, add an airline with air stone, feed them about three times a week. They do great. If I have some left over when it is time to order more, I feed the left overs to my bigger tanks.
Clue, uneaten food can get trapped in your filtration. You can't always get it out by changing a filter pad. Live brine shrimp can settle into the filter and set up housekeeping.
I use the old turkey baster method, not the net. The net I believe holds too much. Just suck up a turkey baster and squirt near blenny's spot. Of course they will swim off but some will hide under rocks and blenny can get them later.
The cons I have with the egg hatching is trying to get them to adult size for a fish. Most BBS are too small for most fish.
This is just my views on this subject and I know you will get many more. Hope you have an exciting day.

 

[jtutton]

Texasranchers,
Thanks for the info. I have been doing much of what you suggest and knowing they will keep is helpful. I just have them in a clear jug with an airstone. Some of the aquaculture experts here said they need light, so they're in the window.
Jane

 

[texasranchers]

Jane, good for you. The next thing is the salinity. BS don't need it as high as our display tanks. They only need 19ppt. in the holding jar, tank, or container.
My first order was a large one, cut down s/h etc.
They died before I could use them. That is why now I am only ordering 1/4 pint every two weeks.
I failed to mention this and I should before I get jumped. LOL
Be sure to watch for an algae outbreak in you jar by the window. If it is just light, ok, if it is sun, watch out. Don't forget to feed them. You don't want them to starve before they get eaten.

 

[motameto]

:notsure: where do u order the brine from.

the store I buy them from may go out of business.

 

[texasranchers]

My LFS does a special order every two weeks for me. But I know there are some online to buy from. Have you checked SWF online store? Curiosity peeks.....I'm going to check now in case my lfs goes out of business.

 

[motameto]

I may have to check with pet smart.
Thanks

 

[jimnlee]

Hi Texas,
Can I ask, what do you feed your brine shrimp? Also, if I wanted to hatch them, what can you feed the bbs? Thanks!

 

[motameto]

I only buy enough for 7 days at a time, so I don't feed them.
I would guess maybe a food for fry, either liquid, or powder. raising brine to a good size is time consuming.