Congo Killies - PageSuite

Aeration of the tank can be
achieved by using an air stone connected
to a small air pump, but a
sponge filter connected to a medium
sized air pump maintains better
water quality.
Omnivores
I have found that for almost every
strain of tadpole shrimp, ordinary
flake food is suitable. For the first
larval stages, small feed that contains
Spirulina algae and animal ingredients
normally used for fish larvae
or to culture baby brine shrimp has
worked well. Larvae in larger stages
will consume almost anything: dried
fallen tree leaves, vegetables, silkworm casings, fish food
tablets, and live foods such as Artemia, Daphnia, and
bloodworms, to name just a few.
Since Triops are true omnivores, they will also consume
live plants; therefore, it is difficult to maintain a
planted tank with tadpole shrimp in it for long. However,
there is one plant that works well for the Triops aquarium:
duckweed, Lemna minor. Although the duckweed is eaten,
the plant’s fast growth rate permits its survival and it
helps absorb excess nutrients from the water.
As in fish aquariums, any decorations should be carefully
assessed for toxic substances. Many plastics appear
to release toxins, to which these shrimp are very sensitive.
However, natural driftwood such as that used for
fish tanks is very suitable. Various natural stones can be
used to add structure and replicate natural biotopes.
Keeping Triops with other animals is a challenge; one
should not forget that they will eat any smaller animal
and even each other. Conversely, larger company might
regard the Triops as food. Fish are generally unsuitable
as tankmates, but various snails are perfect because
they are common in the natural habitats. In nature-like
biotopes of Triops cancriformis cancriformis the great pond
snail Lymnaea stagnalis, and possibly other snails, can be
found. In one of my larger aquariums, the water louse
Asellus aquaticus lives together
with Triops cancriformis.
This cyst-laying individual probably
belongs to a form of Triops newberryi.
tilled water, we wait until the temperature has stabilized
where we want it to be. Then we can add the cysts or
the sand containing the cysts. With Triops longicaudatus,
T. newberryi, T. australiensis, and T. granarius the first
hatched nauplii are found within 24 hours; Triops cancriformis
might require a little more time.
Pair of Triops granarius from Japan. The sexing
is straightforward: the male (right)
has a rounder shield and is
brighter and more uniformly
colored than the female.
T. ADAM
Seasonal shrimp
I would like to report how I
have achieved the best success
in terms of the number
and size of adults I was able
to raise. An aquarium of at
least 10 gallons (38 L) is first
equipped with 6–10 pounds
(3–5 kg) of aquarium sand, a
light with timer, and a heater,
if necessary. After adding dis-
An adult male of a variant of Triops longicaudatus
from the U.S. This strain has a high male to
female ratio.
AMAZONAS
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