Lani Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 I'm first time trying to hatch bbs - first lot too cold. Does anyone have advice - shall I try putting them in hot water cupboard [in icecream container] - but they will have no aeration. Is aeration important? The bbs are for sunset minnow fry - about 10-15 days old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 Aeration and heat are not only important but necessary. I use the inverted coke bottle trick with a small element added and it works a treat. A local member might be able to show you---I don't think you will have a lot of success otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 We hatch ours in an upside down coke bottle. This sits in one of the tanks to keep it warm. Yes airation is necessary. You don't want it to bubble like mad, enough for a nice "current" in the bottle. Shrimp hatch in about 20-30 hours from our experience. Mr L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 What are you hatching them in? They need an airline and water around 22-24 degrees to hatch. Can you float the hatching container in the tank or otherwise sit it in another container of water with a heater in it? I found I couldn't hatch bbs in the black square hatcheries that the LFS sells in winter - try putting them in a drink bottle inside your tank with an airline otherwise (assuming your tanks heated) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 where do you live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lani Posted August 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 thanks everyone. I'm in Mt Roskill, Auckland. My tank is cold freshwater only 18 deg at present, so even too cold to float a plastic bottle. Oh well, I guess I have to visit the LFS for a small heater, I do have an airstone I was using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lani Posted August 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 Upside down bottle? what is the technique for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 Get atleast a 1.5L bottle. Fill with 1L of water. Put lid back on and turn upside down. Mark bottle atleast 50mm above water line. Cut along marked line (once drained water). Cut another bottle as the holder so it sits "correct way up" and hatchery bottle sits inside "lid down". Some people drill a small hole in the lid for the airline but we don't. Air stones clog easily so we have found it best to not use any OR get the plastic multi piece ones OR put airline through lid. Mr L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 If you are using a heater: When mix is pink rather than brown, turn off heater and and air then let stand about 10-15 minutes. Hatched shrimp will seperate from shells and can be drained off. Best results are to drain off to another conainer with an airstone and store until required. Clean apparatus and set up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lani Posted August 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 whew! thanks for all this 'techy' stuff!! My problem is -- I DON'T DRINK all the coke/poisons drinks! to get the empty bottles in the first place. Have to try my neighbours recycle bins. Meantime, my fry are getting ground up flakes along with infusoria but I am getting losses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 I used to hatch BBS in 1kg Marmite or peanut butter jars. Just as good as "poison" bottles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsarmina Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 how much salt do you add?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 As Alan told me, why do the salt thing when we have so much sea water. Thats what I use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsarmina Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 i would, but its an extremely long walk to the nearest beach and i don't drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 50 grams / litre and add a large pinch of baking soda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Why the baking soda? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lani Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 this is great info, thanks everyone I have a long walk to the beach too so will do the easy way of buying salt mix when eventually I need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 As far as heat goes.....I use the plastic bottle method and leave a 60watt lamp next to it for warmth. Seems to work OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 I was advised to add baking soda when told about this method while standing on a mountain with a couple of slabs of stone. I assume it increases the carbonate hardness and encourages the wee fellas to hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranAndMark Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 while we're on the subject of brine shrimp... is it possible to grow them up to a larger size to feed to larger fish such as discus? if so what do you feed them? fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 You can grow them up yes but they lose their nutrition value so are not a good choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janelle Posted August 25, 2007 Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 I was advised to add baking soda when told about this method while standing on a mountain with a couple of slabs of stone. I assume it increases the carbonate hardness and encourages the wee fellas to hatch. There is a site I came across, and I hope it isn't against the rules to link to it here. http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/brineshrimp.htm This person did a lot of experiments with hatching brine shrimp. If you go down about halfway, or use your find function to look for "Brine shrimp hatching solutions" he has a little paragraph there where he found baking soda is actually a good substitute for salt water and they will hatch in fresh water with the right hardness which baking soda can create. I might try this myself and see if it actually works. ? But first I need to get some brine shrimp eggs and an air pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lani Posted August 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 I went for the retail solution & bought a black hatching box - set up on top of my hot water cylinder - and presto! they are hatching at 24 hrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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