Live Brine Shrimp Shelf Life?

[vanvran]

Hi, I bought a bag of live brine shrimp. LFS said to keep in fridge and they should last a week. AFter a few days, I took them out and they all seemed almost "comatose" but seemed to revive eventually. Any idea how long they live like that?

 

[Xavier]

if they were live why would they tell you to put them in the fridge? that's odd. they should be around 72 degrees but don't quote me on this

 

[kribensis12]

my lfs at one time put somne in the fridge for 2 weeks and took them out and they revived and were acting normally.

 

[JackoUK]

Most of my LFS's keep the Brine shrimp, Daphnia and Bloodworm in their fridges. It may be something to do with the cool temperatures making them less active so they will last a little longer, i'm no expert on that though. When I bring them home I keep them in my cupboard under my tank which I suppose would be at room temperature and they seem to last the 2-3 days I need them to.

 

[Xavier]

suspended animation...

 

[helterskelter]

As shops can feed them they need to make them last longer and cooling them prolongs them till we can get them home to feed our fish.

The problem is in most shops most the shrimp are usually already dead and rotting so make sure their all alive when buying.
If half are already dead then avoid as all you be doing is feeding your fish poor food and putting loads of ammonia striate into the water unless you wash them first and pore the water their in away.

 

[JackoUK]

As shops can feed them they need to make them last longer and cooling them prolongs them till we can get them home to feed our fish.

The problem is in most shops most the shrimp are usually already dead and rotting so make sure their all alive when buying.
If half are already dead then avoid as all you be doing is feeding your fish poor food and putting loads of ammonia striate into the water unless you wash them first and pore the water their in away.

Yes, you do need to have a good look at the livefood before you buy it. I'm finding at the moment that in all my four LFS's the quality of the live Bloodworm is terrible. I don't know if this is seasonal but it's sure fallen off anyway.

 

[vanvran]

Thanks to all for your advice. I guess I was lucky - I had a ton of very lively fresh pink brine shrimp I bought 9 days ago. I took them out of the fridge and left them out a bit, and it seems as though they are all alive. It's amazing, what are they living on? I know it sounds silly, but I feel bad for the little guys. I hope I don't come back in the next life as a brine shrimp.