Breed Artemia or rather buy Artemia? We would like to answer this question in today's article, which is about the Feeding the ornamental fish take care to get to the bottom of it. Be it anything at all Artemia are and what they are best used for. Or how to Breed Artemia yourself can. This guide should answer all questions about Artemia.
What are Artemia?
The word Artemia will not mean something to everyone, especially beginners in aquaristics. Therefore we would first like to explain what artemia are. Basically, these are microorganisms that taste particularly good to many ornamental fish. The animals are often called saltwater crabs or saltwater crabs. They belong to the genus of the Artemiidae family. Of course, there are a lot of subspecies and orders here. In this article, however, we are concentrating on those that occur particularly often with us aquarists. Normally, these are brine shrimp, which are also known by the Latin name “Artemia Salina”.
In the wild, they are mostly found in salt water. Inland waters are particularly common here. However, Artemia are also increasingly found in other waters, because their eggs are not only extremely robust, but also adaptable, so that they can also be carried away and then hatch in another place. Their young either bring Artemia into the world alive or they lay eggs. Both are possible here. A very good facility of evolution, which also encourages the survival of microorganisms. There is also something special about the eggs of the animals, because they are so-called permanent eggs, which means that they can survive even in dry periods and thus survive.
Currently the following Types of genera in literature called:
- Artemia salina (which we have already mentioned above as the most common species among aquarists)
- Artemia urmiana
- Artemia tibetiana
- Artemia sinica
- Artemia persimilis
- Artemia monica
- Artemia franciscana
In the wild, artemia feed primarily on bacteria and algae. In the aquarium, however, they are by no means a remedy for algae.
The importance of Artima in aquaristics
But now we would like to make the connection to aquaristics. Here they have a very good reputation, especially when it comes to feeding our ornamental fish. Again and again we have reported on how important it is ornamental fish to feed varied. Be it with a wide variety of dry food or with live food.
Artemia or artemia is an important nutrient supplier for the ornamental fish. A distinction must be made as to how this is administered. They are available as dried Artemia or as frozen food. They are usually administered as dry food in conjunction with another species. This can be shrimp, for example. However, many aquarists also rely on the breeding of these creatures and then only buy the eggs of the artemia.
Artemia have a great added value, especially in the breeding of fish, because they are particularly popular with young fish. Almost all types can be named. Be it her viviparous guppies or else Platy's and also the gourami love to eat these Artemia. That is why many breeders recommend offering this food right from the start. By feeding live, it also stimulates the hunting behavior of the animals. Artemia should therefore not be missing from any diet of ornamental fish. They have very important functions such as strengthening the immune system of ornamental fish. But it also strengthens the vitality and the blaze of color.
Buy ready-made Artemia
The easiest way to feed Artemia is by simply buying it. This can be done either in dried form or in frozen form. In addition, Artemia is now also available alive in small bags. These can be stored in the sachet for up to 7 days. A very simple and not particularly expensive species. Anyone who does not need Artemia regularly should consider this route. Incidentally, you can now also buy other types of live food such as Daphnia, water fleas, nauplii and the like and keep them in the fridge for a few days.
We would rather advise against administration in the dry state, since important nutrients have already been lost there.
Ultimately, it is up to you whether you prefer to breed the animals or whether you decide to buy a ready-made mixture.
It can also be an alternative when you go on vacation and pre-portion it to the vacation replacement.
Breeding Artemia
As already written several times, animals can of course also be bred. Breeding is not really difficult and can be done without larger equipment. Basically you only need a few components which we want to list below:
- Vessel / container / bottle (special shops also have special ones)
- Artemia eggs (fresh if possible)
- Artemia feed salt / table salt / sea salt (without iodine)
- Air pump / diaphragm pump
- Artemia sieve
Of course, there are complete sets in specialist shops that already contain all the components. You can also buy these individually and build a system for Artemia breeding yourself.
We now explain what the individual components do and what they are for.
Buy Artemia eggs
Let's start with the Artemia eggs. Without these, it will probably not be possible to breed animals, unless you try this with already living specimens. As a rule, however, you buy eggs from Artemia, which are available in different sizes in specialist shops. These are often offered as a ready-made mix. It not only contains the eggs, but also the mixture as salt which Artemia need to survive. As already described above, the brine shrimp come from the salt water and therefore they also need salt for their livelihood.
Artemia vessel
Of course, the salt water with the eggs has to be stored somewhere. Special vessels which usually look like funnels are suitable for this. The reason is explained quite simply here. The animals usually settle on the ground and if you want to remove them, it makes sense to have a pointed container, which preferably has a tap or a drain device at the bottom. This is the only way to simply let the animals go and then put them into the actual aquarium for feeding. As you can see in the picture, there are already corresponding sets available from JBL but also from others.
Of course, other vessels are also possible, although the removal is somewhat more difficult there. A PET bottle has also proven to be quite good for breeding. These can also be used several times and you always have fresh animals. The ventilation hose then simply comes into the cover.
Artemia sieve
An Artemia sieve is also very important, because this serves to separate the animals from the remaining substances such as salt water but also eggs and shells. These artemia sieves are available in different designs and sizes. Usually the prices here are low and many even have them with you in sets.
Air pump / diaphragm pump
If you want to breed artemia, you need a good supply of oxygen in the appropriate vessel, which we have already described above. This can be achieved quite easily with a membrane pump. Basically, only enough air has to be fed into the salt water. It doesn't need much more than that. Again, we have added some models that can be considered.
Artemia feed
If you want to feed Artemia to young fish, you can do without feeding the Artemia. Up to a fish size of 4 – 6 cm, Artemia can be fed immediately after hatching. However, if you want to let Artemia grow larger in order to then offer it to larger fish as appropriate food, you will have to feed the animals. The specialist trade also offers corresponding special feed mixtures. Usually the Artemia are then placed in a larger vessel or small aquarium and raised accordingly. Oxygen is also necessary there.
Buy a complete set for Artemia breeding
If you want to make it easy for yourself, you can of course also buy a complete set for breeding. There, all important things are usually included and coordinated. However, these are usually smaller systems. If you want to breed Artemia on a large scale, you will assemble your own system. We have also added corresponding videos below.
- Homemade Artemia nauplii in 24-48 hours: Cultivation device with stand and air pump
- Easy to use: fill the incubator with special salt and Artemia eggs (not included), close the container, connect the air pump, after 24-48 hours open the incubator and separate the nauplii from the water
- Effective: Maximum hatching rate through constant movement of the nauplii and funnel shape, separation of the nauplii from the rearing water using an Artemia sieve (0,15 mm mesh size), removal of the nauplii with a collecting container
- Expandable by coupling further breeding containers, time-shifted attachment of several containers: complete supply of sensitive young fish
- Scope of delivery: 1 x JBL ArtemioSet, rearing set for live food, 61060, incl. 1 x funnel-shaped incubator with dome lid, 1 x stand with screws, 1 x ventilation pump, 1 x collecting container, 1 x Artemia sieve, 1,8 m air hose, 1 x check valve
So how does the breeding of Artemia work?
If you have all the components together as described above, then you can start. Basically, water (this should be lukewarm and keep the temperature, around 20-25 degrees is optimal) is put into the container and then either salt or the ready-made mixture is added. The eggs of the animals are also included there. Then the membrane pump is connected and it starts and it means waiting first.
After about 36 - 48 hours the animals hatch. These usually settle down and the eggs that have not yet hatched or the empty shells of the eggs are on top. Now you can drain the animals through the sieve described above and feed them straight away. The animals are red in color and if you hold the container up to the light or shine a flashlight you should be able to see the still very small animals. If you don't want to feed them right away, you can of course raise them and feed them accordingly, as mentioned above.
If you breed Artemia, it is best to have two to three bottles, because the animals should always be fed fresh and not kept for long. Once you have finished one approach, you can start the next one.
Let's summarize the main steps again:
- Fill bottle or container with lukewarm water
- Add salt or ready mix and shake well
- Add Artemia eggs and shake
- Activate ventilation
- Wait 36-48 hours
- Sieve off Artemia and feed or
- Raise Artemia further and let it grow
As you can see, it is quite easy to breed this valuable additional food for young fish. Definitely worth it. As promised, here are two videos showing the breeding and the animals.
References:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemia