Triops!
In 2003 as part of a school project we ordered some Triops longicaudatus eggs.
These creatures are sometimes called 'tadpole shrimp'. They are a type of
freshwater shrimp that live in temporary rain pools. This species is common in
the American western arid states. These little guys average about 1 1/2 inches,
not including the tail. They hatch in 24-48 hours as larval filter feeders.
Their life is geared around the very temporary environment they live in. Their
lifespan averages around 50-70 days. They are omnivorous feeders that rely
more upon their sense of touch and smell than sight, a concession to the murky
water they are usually in. Their genus name refers to their 3 eyes.
Their reproductive life is very interesting. A few are male and female, but
most are hermaphrodites that can self-fertilize the eggs they lay in the sand.
They live fast, die young, and leave a lot of potential offspring! These eggs
can withstand the drying up of the pool and will be viable for a number of
years. With the addition of water and light these eggs will hatch.
This little guy, named Groucho, was the last of the first generation. He lived
to a ripe old age of 90 days. Groucho was very curious and would swim up to the
tank glass and watch people. When he detected food he would get very excited and
swim in spirals all over the tank. We called this his 'happy dance'. After
Groucho died, I drained the aquarium and let the substrate dry out. Several
weeks later I added a combination of distilled and spring water and up popped
a lot of "Groucho juniors". This was the first picture you saw at the top of
the webpage. Triops are fascinating creatures that are easy to keep. I highly
recommend these guys as a pet. Be sure to see the 'links' section for a number
of websites with information on ordering and growing triops.
Email Ken and Karen
Back to the Home page