Triops is the oldest animal in the world because it has lived for almost 300 million years. To care for triops, create a suitable habitat for them. Fill the aquarium with filtered water. If you want to incubate triops eggs, add substrate to the aquarium. After hatching, feed the triops every 3 days and clean the aquarium water every 1 week. If properly cared for, triops can live up to 3 months!
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Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Aquarium
Step 1. Fill the aquarium with 2-4 liters of real spring water for every 1 triops
Pour water into a clean aquarium. Determine how much water is needed based on the number of triops to keep or breed. Use real spring water that contains calcium for proper growth of triops.
- You can also use tap water that has been dechlorinated. Remember, chlorine can poison triops.
- Do not use distilled or mineral water. The mineral content of mineral water is too high. Meanwhile, distilled water does not contain sufficient calcium for the growth of triops.
Step 2. Place a heating lamp over the aquarium to keep the water temperature as high as 22-29°C
Since triops need a warm habitat to hatch and thrive, place a heating lamp over the tank to keep the water temperature stable. Position the incandescent or fluorescent lamp 30 cm above the water level of the aquarium.
- Place a thermometer in the aquarium to check the temperature of the water.
- If the aquarium is placed in the sun or in a warm room, you may not need to use a heating lamp.
Step 3. Add substrate if you want to imitate the original habitat of triops
Cover the bottom of the tank with soil, gravel, or sand so that the triops can dig. Cover the bottom of the aquarium with 3-5 cm thick substrate to protect the triops larvae. The substrate can also protect the triops eggs from being eaten by other triops.
- You can buy substrate at a pet store or online.
- Wash the substrate with tap water to remove any adhering chemicals or debris before placing it in the aquarium.
Step 4. Choose decorative plants carefully
Although triops don't need plants, boulders, or toy castles, you can decorate your aquarium with these decorations to make it more pleasing to the eye. Make sure you use aquarium safe plants and decorations to prevent the triops from dying.
Do not put objects from the wild, such as rocks or tree trunks, into the triops aquarium. These items may contain harmful bacteria
Step 5. Drain of the aquarium water every 1 week
To keep the aquarium water clean, drain of the aquarium water every 1 week. Drain the water using a cup or bucket, then replace it with clean real spring water. Make sure the triops don't get drained when changing the aquarium water!
- Do not clean the aquarium with soap. Soap can poison triops.
- If the aquarium has algae or moss that looks like green feathers, transfer the triops to another container. After that, clean the aquarium that is overgrown with algae or moss. Refill with water, then transfer the triops into the aquarium.
Part 2 of 3: Hatch Triops
Step 1. Purchase a triops kit at a pet store or online
Choose a product that contains triops eggs, feed, and a guide to caring for triops. You can also purchase kits that come with an aquarium, thermometer, or plate for incubating triops eggs.
Most triops equipment sets are sold for Rp. 150,000-Rp. 300,000
Step 2. Sow 20 eggs into the aquarium
Of the 20 eggs, only 1-3 triops are able to survive. Make sure the triops eggs (which are about the size of a grain of sand) enter the water properly, and are not scattered or stuck in the corners of the tank.
- Most triops kits contain 40-60 eggs. Therefore, you can drip triops eggs in 2-3 cycles.
- You can also incubate the eggs using a small plate. To do this, simply place the triops egg on a plate. After that, move the triops to a larger aquarium when they have hatched.
Step 3. Wait 1-4 days
After sowing the eggs into the aquarium, the eggs will hatch after 24-96 hours. Observe the aquarium up close as the newly hatched triops are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. The body of the newly hatched triops is almost see-through.
If incubating eggs in cold weather, you may need to wait 3-5 days longer
Part 3 of 3: Feeding Triops
Step 1. Feed the triops once a day on the second day
Before starting to feed them, wait 2 days after the triops hatch. Puree 3-5 triops feed using a spoon, then sprinkle into the aquarium.
- If the triops kit doesn't come with triops feed, you can use green algae powder.
- Always puree triops feed for the first 7 days. Triops take 7 days to grow up. As adults, triops can eat unmashed feed.
Step 2. Increase the serving of triops to 8-10 grains on the third day
On the third day, grind 8-10 grains of triops feed, then put it in the aquarium. Just do this once a day.
Don't overfeed the triops. Wait until all the triops feed in the tank is used up before adding new feed
Step 3. Increase the portion of triops meal periodically
Measure the amount of feed put into the aquarium using a teaspoon or a triops set of spoons. For example, on the fourth day, grind 1 tablespoon of feed if keeping 5 triops, or 2 spoons if keeping more than 5 triops.
- For the fifth and sixth day, if you keep 5 triops, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of feed 2 times a day. If keeping more than 5 triops, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of feed once a day.
- On the seventh day, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of feed 2 times a day for 5 triops. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of feed once a day if keeping more than 5 triops.
Step 4. Feed 1 grain 2 times a day for each triops on the eighth day
After the seventh day and the triops have grown up, give him unmashed feed 2 times a day. Make sure the triops feeding schedule is spread out enough so that the feed is completely depleted before introducing new feed into the tank.
- If the triops only eat 1 grain per day, this is not a problem. Don't overfeed it so that the uneaten feed doesn't rot in the tank.
- When the triops feed runs out, you can feed them high-quality fish feed.
Step 5. Give triops of supplements that contain protein to make them bigger
To make your triops bigger, add 6 grams of protein from insect larvae, small shrimp, or fish to your triops diet. Give triops supplements 2 times a week.
