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Brine Shrimp

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:30 pm
by Guest
I know brine shrimp are very small, but if I raised them in the 'tat in the salt water could the crabs eat them? Is this even safe? I have a TON of brine shrimp eggs left over from a science project a few years back and I was hoping they could go to some use. I could raise them outside the 'tat then put them in as adults...Any ideas? Is this safe?

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 1:39 pm
by BAB
Hmm... interesting idea... although I've read that hermie's are not predetory. Meaning they won't chase after things just to eat it. Sometimes a crab will, but very few do.

Could you raise them in a sea monkey thing or little plastic jug and then strain them/catch them and serve them on land? I think that would hurt my eyes! HAHA

If it were me, I'd just serve up the eggs. HAHAA Those little guys are soooo tiny. :D :shock:

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:48 pm
by Guest
Hmm yeah i forgot that hermit crabs are scavengers. Well, do you think there would be a problem just raising a few of the brine shrimp in the Hermie's salt water. I just think it would be cool to have a dual-creature tank =D.

Yeah they are small. I have a microscope if I really wanna see them but they are a little creepy looking :shock:

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:54 pm
by BAB
Hehehe... I don't see any real problems with them being there myself. Maybe they'd clean up some algae or something... I dunno... would tickle a crab if they got in their shell. HAHAH Wouldn't that be funnie? I doubt it would happen... but gives a funnie picture.

Have fun with your little experiement! Let us know how it goes! :D

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:55 pm
by Guest
Will do. I'm dong some redecorating in there tomorrow and I'll start growing the brine shrimp when i do =D

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:32 am
by Guest
sometimes crabs kill snails for their shells, I would give it a try! I think it could be fun :twisted:

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:21 am
by Guest
My thoughts exactly. I guess I was thinking of regular crabs and how they eat plankton or whatever it is. So I thought maybe I could get them to do the same. Well, even if they didn't eat them and just lived together it would be kinda cool. They're not in there yet, I'm thinking about letting them grow into adults and THEN introducing them b/c I don't want a bunch of dead shrimp in there. Guess we'll see how it goes.

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:33 am
by BAB
HopsSkipsJumps wrote:I don't want a bunch of dead shrimp in there.
I'd think that would be what they would eat? I dunno... how do they eat these things in the wild though?!

hmmm... Still be interesting anyway it works out. I'm very interested because I'm putting in big pools for my 55g and I'd love to try something like that too. :D

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:18 pm
by Guest
Haha,yeah I meant a bunch of dead brine shrimp mucking up the water dish :lol: I guess I should have explained better. I don't mind putting dead ones in the food, but I don't want them wading thru a bunch of crap in the water, a few are fine, but I don't want it to get in the way of them getting water. Oh well, i'm rearaging the cage now and starting shrimp growth.

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:43 pm
by BAB
HopsSkipsJumps wrote:Haha,yeah I meant a bunch of dead brine shrimp mucking up the water dish :lol:
Yah... that would be gross... hehe