How to Hatch Triops

Setting up the Kit

Purchase a triops hatchery kit. Look in your local toy or pet store to find a triops hatchery kit. These kits include eggs, food, a stirring stick, and a tank, which means that you have almost everything you need to begin raising triops! You can buy the items separately if you prefer. Look for a clean, plastic or glass container that’s at least 1.1 US gal (4.2 L). Foodwise, pick any freshwater, commercial fish pellets or flakes. Triops aren’t fussy!

Fill the container with 4 in (10 cm) of distilled water. Open the bottle and add the water straight into the container. Don't use regular tap water, as the minerals are toxic to the eggs. Deionized water works well too. You only need a small amount of water to begin with, as newly-hatched triops can starve if they swim too far looking for food.

Use a heating lamp if the room temperature is below 72 °F (22 °C). The ideal water temperature for triops to hatch and survive is 72–86 °F (22–30 °C). Monitor the water temperature with a thermometer and get an incandescent lamp if it’s too cool. Place the lamp 4–10 in (10–25 cm) above the dish and keep it on either all day or just at night, depending on the temperature fluctuations. Triops can’t survive temperatures over 93 °F (34 °C).

Avoid placing any plants, toys, or substrate in the tank. Triops are sensitive creatives that can easily get sick from the chemical composition of their surroundings. Tank accessories can introduce harmful minerals that may prevent the triops hatching or surviving. Triops thrive with just distilled water!

Hatching and Caring for the Triops

Pour the triops eggs into the water. Open the packet of triops eggs and gently tip them into the tank. Use the stirring stick to mix the water in small, circular motions and check that no eggs get stuck on the side of the tank. Triops eggs look like tiny, pale pink circles. Check the manufacturer’s directions before you add the eggs. Some kits specify to only add half the eggs.

Keep the tank under a bright lamp for 3-4 days. Make sure that the light stays on for 24 hours per day to give the triops the best chance of hatching. Don’t place a lid or covering over the tank, as the eggs won’t get enough light. If you are already using an incandescent lamp for heat, this provides plenty of light.

Wait for the triops to hatch within 48 hours. With the right water and enough light, triops hatch fast! Check the tank every so often and within 2 days you should see tiny creatures swimming about. The triops might be difficult to see at first, but they grow bigger quickly.

Feed the triops daily after the first 3 days. Triops don’t need any food while they are hatching under the bright light. Once you can see them swimming, follow the manufacturer's directions for the amount of food to give them. At the start, 1 fish flake or half of a crushed fish pellet will do. Finding the right volume of food can be tricky. Reduce the amount if you notice it uneaten after 1 hour, as this can cause harmful bacteria to grow. Scoop out any remaining food when you change the water. If you see the larger triops eating the smaller ones, provide slightly more food.

Change 25% of the water when it starts to become cloudy. Change 1/4 of the water 1-2 times per week with a measuring jug to remove any toxic buildup. Use dechlorinator to treat the new tap water and pour it straight into the tank. Make sure the new water is the same temperature as the tank water before you add it. Don’t keep using distilled water, as this is too pure for hatched triops. Add slightly more water each time you change it. This gives the growing triops more room to swim. Keep the triops in the tank while you change the water.