Are you an aquarium owner looking for a sustainable way to fulfill the nutritional needs of your rare and valuable aquarium creatures? As a dietary staple, Live caught saltwater Mysid shrimp are the only way to duplicate the hunting and feeding behavior of aquatic animals. Handling a live delivery of Mysid shrimp can seem daunting, but with the right tips, it can be done easily! Here’s what you need to know about handling your live-caught saltwater Mysid shrimp delivery.
Open your Mysids shipment promptly.
Newly arrived Mysids should be opened and an air-stone promptly placed in the bag as you begin the temperature acclimation process.
As soon as the temperature acclimation is complete, the best method is to pour the Mysids into either a holding tank for later use or the intended aquarium for immediate use. The salinity is 30ppt when shipped. Your holding water can be slightly more or less with no problem but anything more than a 3ppt difference could cause a problem.
Mysids can handle a wide range in temperatures and salinity, but a sudden shock of either one up or down can be fatal.
If you intend to hold the mysid delivery for longer than 1 day, place the mysids in a tank and vigorously aerate the water. If the holding tank doesn’t have a filtration system, make sure to change the water in the holding system every day
Be careful when netting them while transferring to a tank. During certain seasons they could be going through a molting process and will have delicate soft bodies. The net could damage these soft Mysids during molting.
What do I feed the Mysids I have ordered?
Recommended food is fresh hatched Artemia twice a day. The equipment for hatching out Artemia is a separation funnel, small pipette, air pump and air wand, Artemia cysts, and a relatively warm place around 80 degrees F to 85 degrees F. Artemia hatch kits are readily available online. Search “brine shrimp hatchery kits,” and you will have a variety of kits to choose from.
Feed these fresh-hatched Artemia twice daily. You will need to set up 2 hatches daily as long as you hold them. It takes approximately 24 hours for maximum hatch at the above 80 – 85 degree F temp. Set up one to hatch in the morning and one to hatch in the afternoon.
“Our breeding colony of Ctenophores (Mnemiopsis leidyi) definitely look forward to their weekly Mysid Shrimp! They provide important nutrition to keep our animals healthy and reproductive“
Mark Q. Martindale, Professor and Director
Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida
In conclusion, it is important to know how to properly handle your live-caught saltwater Mysid shrimp delivery. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can ensure that your shrimp are healthy and ready for use in your aquarium. So what are you waiting for? Click here to order your Live caught Mysids today!