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Just set up a brine shrimp hatchery, gonna start hatching soon. Got me wondering, is there any point in feeding the eggs to my fish? Does the shell make 'em indigestible or is there another issue I'm missing?

bettaMagenta wrote: ↑Thu Jan 19, 2023 6:56 am Just set up a brine shrimp hatchery, gonna start hatching soon. Got me wondering, is there any point in feeding the eggs to my fish? Does the shell make 'em indigestible or is there another issue I'm missing?

Decapsulated Non-Hatching Brine Shrimp Eggs are a thing, and they're fed directly to various tropical fish, providing great nutritional value without the hassle of hatching. They're suitable for angelfish, goldfish, and guppies. Apparently, you can also just soak the eggs, that's what I found pretty interesting.

You can actually decapsulate the eggs using bleach for food. Feeding the shells to fish seems pretty hazardous, if a small one ingests just a few of these shells or unhatched eggs, it could block their intestinal tract and cause death.

Mostly, it's the unhatched ones that get fed to the fish. I wouldn't recommend wasting hatching quality eggs for that, though.

Feeding the shells can be fatal for your fish. I've used decapsulated eggs when I couldn't hatch them, but they can't compare to freshly hatched ones. Decapsulated eggs are basically just another dead food, and it's still a hassle. A hatchery is really simple to set up, though - just get a couple of two-liter bottles and some decent scissors, and you're good to go. If you want, I can walk you through the easiest way to do it.

Re: using bleach to deshell the eggs.

Honestly, I think it's just more straightforward to hatch them. I mean, why risk it with bleach when you can just let them hatch naturally? It seems like a safer bet for your fish, and a lot less hassle.

WildFins wrote: ↑Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:08 am Re: using bleach to deshell the eggs.

Honestly, I think it's just more straightforward to hatch them. I mean, why risk it with bleach when you can just let them hatch naturally? It seems like a safer bet for your fish, and a lot less hassle.

It's been a common practice since the 90s, and for good reason. Not only does it effectively disinfect, but it also significantly boosts the chances of a successful hatch.

You can source decapsulated eggs at a lower cost, as they're typically produced from lower-grade or expired eggs. While they do offer good nutritional value, their usefulness in the hobby is somewhat limited compared to hatching your own, mainly due to the fact that they tend to float initially before sinking. I personally hatch cysts regularly using a basic setup made from bottles, and I find it to be a more rewarding approach.

graye wrote: ↑Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:08 am Feeding the shells can be fatal for your fish. I've used decapsulated eggs when I couldn't hatch them, but they can't compare to freshly hatched ones. Decapsulated eggs are basically just another dead food, and it's still a hassle. A hatchery is really simple to set up, though - just get a couple of two-liter bottles and some decent scissors, and you're good to go. If you want, I can walk you through the easiest way to do it.

I've found this hatchery to be super useful, actually discovered it thanks to @Ellie Potts here. The way it's designed is really clever - there's this hole at the top that lets light in, which seems to draw the BBS straight into the collecting cup. Plus, it's got this baffle system that keeps the cysts separate. Only real downside is that the yields are pretty small, but for my needs, it's actually perfect.

Just got the same hatchery, excited to start it up when time allows. Been using Freeze Dried cubes for a bit now, and I recently found some Spirulina fed frozen brine shrimp cubes - my fish devour them in any form. I'm expecting live ones to be a huge hit with them.

bettaMagenta wrote: ↑Thu Jan 19, 2023 6:56 am Just set up a brine shrimp hatchery, gonna start hatching soon. Got me wondering, is there any point in feeding the eggs to my fish? Does the shell make 'em indigestible or is there another issue I'm missing?

I'm really excited to start using my new hatchery, but one thing I want to make sure I don't do is waste those precious little guys. When you're hatching brine shrimp, it's crucial not to let them go to waste - every single one of them is packed with nutrients that your fish will love.