Incubate || Sanitation || Harvest || Feeding || Storage || BBS Sieves

Welcome to our step by step guide to hatching Baby Brine Shrimp. This page will cover the task of preparing a batch of Brine Shrimp Egg Cyst for hatching. Then we offer suggestions for Sanitation, Harvesting, Feeding, Storage and BBS Sieves.

	Pictured here are the equipment and ingredients needed to hatch BBS with the exception of water. They are displayed clockwise and from left to right and include a thermometer, lamp, *dechlorinator, aerated hatching container, brine shrimp eggs, epson salt and non iodized salt.  *A dechlorinator that detoxifies ammonia is suggested for tap water that contains chloramines.
	Fill a clean hatching container with tap water with a temperature between 80-82° F or 26-28° C. Add enough dechlorinator* as necessary to detoxify chloramines if present. Stir or aerate to mix. If your tap water contains chlorine not removing it with dechlorinator has shown to be beneficial. Aeration will remove chlorine by the time your cyst hatch.
	Add 1-2 tablespoons of non iodized salt per quart or liter of water to obtain a 20 - 30 parts per thousand (ppt) salinity or around 1.015-1.020 specific gravity.
	A starting pH of 8.0 or higher is recommended. A 1/2 teaspoon of Epson salt (magnesium sulfate) per quart may be added to buffer the hatching solution. One teaspoon of baking soda may be used as a substitute. Stir or aerate to mix.
	Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of brine shrimp cyst. Mix, cover and began aeration.
	Use a light source  to obtain optimum hatch results and to control the hatching water temperature within a range of 80-82° F or 26-28° C. Lower temperatures result in longer hatching times. Do not exceed 30°C. Insert a thermometer to monitor temperatures. Adjust lamp as needed to maintain desired temperatures.
	Allow the hatchery to run for 24 hours. Hatching will start within 18 hours but wait 24 for a better harvest. Attempt to remove the Baby Brine Shrimp as soon after hatching as possible for feeding or cold storage.

We have created a gallery of images of Brine Shrimp hatcheries from pictures that have been submitted or collected by us from all over the internet. You will see many examples of BBS hatcheries including popular versions sold in local pet stores in actual use.  Click on the links below to access our Introduction to Brine Shrimp, view the AMH Gallery of BBS Hatcheries or continue on to the next section of the AMH BBS Hatching Guide.