Think of the great State animals of the US and you may think of the Bison, the Grizzly Bear, or even the Bowhead Whale, but none of them are as cool as Utah’s latest designation, the Brine Shrimp, Artemia salina. Native to Utah’s Great Salt Lake, these tiny salt-loving crustaceans support 10 million migratory birds annually, across 330 species, but that lake also supplies 40% of the world’s demand for brine shrimp, and with that, Artemia for our aquariums.
Artemia nauplii are the mainstay food for many fish breeders, and even Jellyfish displays, but those newly hatched brine shrimp also make excellent coral food, while many feed the live and frozen adult form to their fish.
Have you ever tried hatching your own brine shrimp? For fish breeders and public aquaria, hatching brine shrimp is a daily task, but it can be done at home with a kit, and if you have young children they can get involved with hatching out a smaller version of sea monkeys too. But for Utah to recognize Brine shrimp for their importance both to wildlife and the local economy, and for that crustacean to be such a vital part of our hobby too, is a cool thing. Let’s get Artemia on a T-shirt, and let’s see other states celebrate aquatic crustaceans too!
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