[Halocaridina]

Came across something interesting recently on the internet. Vernal (or ephemeral) pool 'shrimp' (really branchiopods) are short-term aquatic pets. Here in the UK, the wild-type variant of Triops longicaudatus, the longtail tadpole shrimp, is the only species sold, but other species are more widely available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Poland, Japan and several other countries. Vernal pool crustaceans include tadpole shrimp (Triops), clam shrimp and fairy shrimp (larger, freshwater relatives of brine shrimp). Recently, selectively bred variants of tadpole shrimp have also become available, including a very cool looking red variant of Triops cancriformis. Another particularly interesting type of vernal pool shrimp is the giant fairy shrimp, Branchinecta gigas, which can reportedly grow up 7 inches long, although 3 inches seems to be more typical, and feeds on other species of fairy shrimp.

Vernal pool crustaceans are usually bought as eggs, similar to annual killifish, and typically live somewhere between two weeks and four months, depending on the species. Before dying, they lay eggs in the substrate. You then have to leave the substrate to dry out fully. When the eggs come into contact with water again, they hatch out again. This is because in nature, they live in shallow temporary pools that dry out on a seasonal basis.

Here are some stores that sell a good variety of species - both sites also have YouTube channels where you can watch videos of some of them:
http://www.arizonafairyshrimp.com/
http://www.triops-germany.de/index.php?cPath=8_14
https://www.triopsking.de/
http://www.aquaristika.de/Urzeitkrebse- ... -Zubehoer/

Here are some other good resources:
http://mytriops.com/
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/shrimp/shrimp2.htm
https://www.youtube.com/user/FreshVerne ... d=0&view=0 (this person seems to keep both vernal pool life and opae ula)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCQzd ... U6Q/videos

These forums are pretty much dead, but there's a lot of good information in them:
http://www.primeval-shrimps.com/en/forum (German language)
http://thetriopsforum.com/index/

This fish food manufacturer sells a dedicated tadpole shrimp food:
http://www.tropical.pl/en/products/terr ... ds/triops/

Has anyone on here tried keeping vernal pool shrimp?

[odin]

Great information I have seen these guys on ebay for sale and thought they looked awesome: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triops-Granar ... 2sxyYkeTVg
Also saw the fairy shrimps, they look so cool! if i get the space i would like to try and keep some for sure, have you tried them before?

ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fairy-shrimp- ... SwsB9WEpVS

[Halocaridina]

I have never kept an aquarium before actually, so I haven't had a chance to try keeping them. However, given their short lifespans, I am thinking about trying some as a project this summer.

Those look the same as the red tail fairy shrimp sold on Arizona Fairy Shrimp.
The same seller seems to have some clam shrimp too:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fresh-water-C ... SwwbdWOk5z

It seems like you can keep clam shrimp and most of the fairy shrimp species in relatively small tanks, but the only way to get the tadpole shrimps to co-exist is in a larger tank (not sure how large, but probably at least 21L?). Most of the aquarium journals I've read about small vernal pool tanks seem to end in one large tadpole shrimp being the only thing left in the tank.

[odin]

I bought some of these to try: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222113782894? ... EBIDX%3AIT lol

The guy also has these at 20 eggs for the price instead of 50 like in the above link but im not sure if there is any difference, are there different types?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222139994604? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[Halocaridina]

I think they are different species, the first link looks like redtail fairy shrimp, Streptocephalus sealii while the second link says Streptocephalus siamensis, siamese fairy shrimp. So the main difference seems to be their geographic origin (Southwestern United States vs. Indochinese peninsula), if I am right about the first link.
Not sure if they differ much physically, I suppose you'd have to hatch them and see.

[odin]

I found this @ http://www.arizonafairyshrimp.com/fairyshrimp.html
There are quite a few types! the website looks very informative too!

[Halocaridina]

That site has a good selection and also ships to the UK. The beavertails look interesting because they grow over 1 inch, up to 2 inches and live up to 12 weeks.

Their "dry lake clam shrimp" also have long life times.

[odin]

they have some that are 10 eggs for $50! they must be pretty rare.

[Halocaridina]

I think those are the giant predatory ones, apparently they're quite difficult to rear.

[odin]

They look so cool swimming around, shame they don't live longer.