Brineshrimp Cysts:

All our Premium Grade brine shrimp (Artemia salina) stocks are sourced from the Great Salt Lakes, Utah, U.S. Brineshrimp cysts are approximately 200 micron in diameter and newly hatched brine shrimp measure approximately 500 microns.

Our current stock is from the latest 2007 harvest with hatch rates from 250 - 260,000+ nauplii per gram and a best before date of May 2009. Our 500g (17.6oz) packs are 10+% larger than 15 and 16oz tins currently available and a discount is currently available on a case of 6 x 500g packs.

For many years Utah has been the principle source for brineshrimp cysts and the quality of the cysts, collection techniques, processing, and packaging procedures are well established.

Over the last ten years the market prices of brine shrimp cysts has fluctuated due to large demand and environmental factors such as excessive salinity affecting breeding. To protect future stocks from overfishing the twice-annual harvest is closely monitored and closed early if necessary.

Hatching and growing your own brineshrimp is very easy. Existing customers are using newly hatched brine shrimp alongside the ZM fry feeds to encourage an active feeding response and to provide a variety in diet.

Once you have the basic equipment you can order Premium Grade cysts and hatch your own brineshrimp whenever you need them. If you wish to grow larger shrimp we have both the food and equipment to do this; your fish will have food as fresh as possible and you'll save money on prepared alternatives.

With newly hatched brine shrimp it is critical to collect and feed them to the fish as soon as possible (within 6-8hrs) before too much of the yolk sac is used. Most fishkeepers can get away without 'enriching' of newly hatched brineshrimp but for marine species such as clownfish and seahorses HUFA enrichment (see FAQ's) is essential for healthy fry development.

For those requiring smaller livefeed we can now offer both freshwater and marine strains of rotifer cysts to start up cultures. For best results the rotifers should be fed with live algae that you have cultured in advance; alternatively use the algae/yeast based liquid invert feed also available through our online catalogue.

Live Rotifers & Cysts:

We have stocks of both freshwater rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus) and marine rotifer cysts (Brachionus plicatilis) to help you establish your own infusoria cultures. Live cultures of the marine rotifers are now available.

Mature marine rotifers are approximately 125-290 microns long and mature freshwater rotifers are 195-275 long; as the width of both species can be less than 120 microns smaller mesh strainers than the brineshrimp strainers are required.

Existing customers are hatching these first in petri dishes before transfer to our multiple 2 litre hatchers or 5 litre bottles for ongrowing.

Access to a microscope with 8x to 30x magnification is recommended to observe and manage these cultures.

Invert feeds and enrichments:

1. HUFA enrichment: (new formulation) This product provides nutritional enrichment for newly hatched brineshrimp and rotifers with HUFA (Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids); can be used for both marine and freshwater species.

2. Roti-rich invert Feed: is a specially formulated liquid invertebrate feed suitable for rearing brineshrimp, Paramecia, rotifers, and other infusoria.

3. Spirulina powder: this product is manufactured from the filamentous blue-green algae and can be used as feed supplement for brineshrimp, fish and shrimp larval stages.

Live Algae:

Live phytoplankton cultures (both freshwater and marine) are available for direct feeding or setting up new cultures.

Current stocks include Japanese Chlorella Nannochloropsis and Tetraselmis.

Existing customers are using this algae as feed to rotifers, brineshrimp, and Daphnia. Fresh stocks of our algae fertiliser Phyto Feed are now available.