Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Setting up the aquarium
• Part 2 of 4: Feeding the brine shrimp
• Part 3 of 4: Maintaining the aquarium
• Part 4 of 4: Making sure your brine shrimp are happy and healthy

Sea-monkeys are not sea monkeys and they do not live in the sea. It is a hybrid type of brine shrimp that was created in the 1950's and has quickly become a popular and easy to care for pet. Brine shrimp are born in non-chlorinated salt water and usually appear within 24 hours. They then develop into small, transparent shrimp with tails that look a bit like monkey tails. Brine shrimp are easy pets, but you should always keep the water clean and aerated.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Setting up the aquarium

1. Use a clean plastic container. Many sea monkey kits come with a small plastic tank that you can use to hatch and house your shrimp. If the kit comes without a container, you can use a clean, plastic container that holds at least 2 liters of water. Look for a container with a deep base, as the brine shrimp usually enjoy swimming around the bottom of their habitat.
2. Fill the container with 2 liters of distilled water. You can use bottled water, distilled water, or any other type of non-chlorinated water. Avoid using water with carbon and tap water, as they often contain fluoride and other minerals that may be harmful to your brine shrimp.
   • Once you have filled the tank with water, place it somewhere indoors so that the water can reach room temperature. This ensures that the water is warm enough for the eggs.
   • You should also aerate the aquarium water at least twice a day with an air pump or large pipette.
3. Add water cleaner to the water. A pack of water cleaner or salt should be included with the kit when you buy it in a store or online. The water cleaner contains salt, which is important for your brine shrimp as it ensures that the eggs can hatch and they have a good living environment.
   • Once you put the packet of salt in the water, give it a stir and then let the water sit at room temperature for another day, or up to 36 hours, before adding the brine shrimp to your tank.
4. Put the brine shrimp eggs in the water and wait for them to hatch. Once you've put the eggs in the water, stir the water with a clean plastic spoon. The brine shrimp eggs will appear as tiny dots in the water. Don't worry, they will hatch after about 5 days and will then start swimming around in the water on their own.
   • Aerate the water while you wait for the brine shrimp to hatch, at least once or twice a day. This ensures that there is enough oxygen in the water for your brine shrimp as they develop and hatch.

Part 2 of 4: Feeding the brine shrimp

1. Start feeding your brine shrimp 5 days after they hatch. Instead of feeding them immediately after hatching, wait 5 days. On the 5th day after your brine shrimp hatch, you can start feeding brine shrimp food. This food should be supplied with the kit.
   • Use the small end of a feed spoon to sprinkle a small spoonful of food into their tank. Give them a small spoonful of food every 2 days. Do not give them fish food or any other food that is not intended for brine shrimp.
2. Then give them brine shrimp food every 5 days. Feed your brine shrimp every 5 days to keep them healthy and happy. Do not overfeed them, this will usually kill them.
   • Brine shrimp are see-through, which means you can see their digestive system if you look closely. When their digestive system is full of food, there will be a black stripe in the center of their body. Once they have defecated the food, the digestive system will be transparent again.
3. Give your brine shrimp less food if algae appear in the tank. Over time, green algae will develop in the aquarium. The aquarium may also smell like grass, like a freshly mowed lawn. These are good signs, because the algae is actually food for the brine shrimp and helps them to stay healthy. Once algae appear in the tank, you can limit feeding brine shrimp food to once a week.
   • You also don't have to worry about cleaning the tank once algae have started to form. The aquarium may look green and dirty, but that is actually very healthy and good for your brine shrimp.

Part 3 of 4: Maintaining the aquarium

1. Aerate the water twice a day. Your brine shrimp need oxygen to live happily in the tank. If they don't get enough oxygen, they can turn a pinkish color and you can see them swimming slower or appear tired. To ensure that the water contains enough oxygen, you should aerate the aquarium twice a day. 1 time in the morning and 1 time in the evening. You can use an air pump to aerate the water, such as an air pump used in small aquariums. Place the air pump in the water and let it aerate the water for at least 1 minute, at least twice a day.
   • Another option is to use a pipette to aerate the aquarium. You can squeeze the pipette in the air, then place it in the water and then release the oxygen to add more oxygen to the water. Place the pipette in and out of the water 2 times a day for 1 minute.
   • To make your own aerator: get a pipette that you are not going to use for anything else. Poke a hole in the top and poke many small holes in the nozzle. Use a pin or a stapler to punch holes from different angles, then remove the staples.
   • If you have trouble remembering to aerate the water twice a day, you can place a small, live plant in the tank to add oxygen to the water. Use an aquarium plant that is known to release a lot of oxygen underwater.
2. Place the aquarium in a warm place. Brine shrimp do not like living in very cold or very hot environments. So place the aquarium in a place in your house where there is direct sunlight and the temperature reaches at least 22 degrees Celsius. This will ensure that the tank gets enough heat and is not too cold for your brine shrimp.
   • An aquarium that is too cold will cause the brine shrimp to become immobile and / or stop growing. If you notice that your brine shrimp are not moving or growing, it may be because the tank is too cold and should be moved to a warmer area in the house. Place it in a spot with direct sunlight so that it gets enough heat, but doesn't get too hot.
3. Do not change the water unless it smells very bad or looks cloudy. Green algae in the aquarium is good, because the algae provide food and oxygen. However, if you notice that the tank smells really bad and the water looks dark and cloudy, then you should clean the tank and water.
   • You need a coffee filter and a clean glass with non-chlorinated salt water. Use a net to remove the brine shrimp from the tank and place them in the clean glass of water.
   • Place the coffee filter over a clean aquarium and let the water run through the coffee filter several times. Try to filter as much dirt out of the water as possible.
   • You can use a paper towel to wipe the bottom and sides of the tank. You can also use a cotton swab to clean the corners of the aquarium.
   • Smell the aquarium water to make sure it doesn't smell so bad. Then put the water back into the tank and then the brine shrimp as well. Top up the aquarium water with clean water at room temperature. Feed your brine shrimp and aerate the water several times that day. Then feed them again for 5 days and then according to their normal feeding schedule.

Part 4 of 4: Making sure your brine shrimp are happy and healthy

1. Watch for and remove white spots in the tank. If you notice white spots that look a bit like cotton balls, you should try to remove them as soon as possible. It's a type of bacteria that can kill your brine shrimp. Use a small spoon to scoop them out of the tank and throw them away.
   • You can also add Sea Medic to the tank, this will help kill any bacteria that may be left behind. If they reappear after 1 or 2 days, you should thoroughly clean the tank and replace the water. You may lose baby brine shrimp and brine shrimp eggs when you discard the water, but this may be the only way to get rid of the bacteria.
2. Use a small flashlight to make the brine shrimp dance and swim. You can play with your brine shrimp with a small flashlight or a laser light. Move the light around the tank and see how your brine shrimp will chase the light as you move it. They will also draw towards the light if you keep it still against the aquarium.
   • You can enjoy playing by drawing figures and patterns with the lamp, which will follow your brine shrimp.
3. Notice when your brine shrimp mate. Males have whiskers under their chin and females often bear eggs when swimming. Brine shrimp often mate, so don't be surprised if two shrimp are stuck together while swimming. This is an indication of mating and that there will be more brine shrimp soon.
   • Most brine shrimp live an average of 2 years, but due to the high reproductive cycle, you will likely have a continuous stream of brine shrimp in the tank, as long as you take good care of the tank and your brine shrimp.