Triops are small crustaceans also known as tadpole shrimp. Learn about the life cycle, eggs, the aquarium you'll need and other facts about this 3-eyed “living fossil”.
What are Triops?
Triops, or tadpole shrimp, are small crustaceans related to shrimp and crayfish.
They are also known as "living fossils" because they have remained largely unchanged for millions of years, and are considered to be a "living link" to the ancient past.
They can be found in freshwater ponds, pools, and streams, and are often kept as pets or used in educational biology experiments.
They're small and have a hard exoskeleton, three eyes, and two pairs of antennae.
Triops is a freshwater crustacean that looks like a small horseshoe crab. Some people refer to it as tadpole shrimp or longtail tadpole shrimp.
There are several different species of triops and some of the most common species include Triops longicaudatus, Triops australiensis, and Triops granarius.
Triops derives its name from Ancient Greek, which means "eye”, prefixed with Latin tri-, which means "three," in allusion to its three eyes.
Longicaudatus is a Latin neologism that combines the words longus ("long") and caudatus ("tailed") to describe its long tail structures.
Triops longicaudatus can be found in freshwater ponds and pools, especially in areas with few higher forms of life. Triops may currently be found on every continent except Antarctica, and there are at least 15 different species.
They are known for their ability to survive in extreme conditions and can survive in temperatures and drying conditions that would kill other aquatic animals.
The most common species of triops available for purchase is the American Triops longicaudatus.
This is a more golden-colored critter that grows significantly smaller than Triops cancriformis and prefers slightly higher water temperatures.
Despite having three eyes, Triops have terrible vision! They have several legs that serve as antennas for seeking food and breathing.
Triops may also use their legs to transfer food to their mouths. They may be observed swimming upside down half of the time, just like brine shrimp.
Asexual reproduction
Triops can reproduce both sexually and asexually, meaning they can produce offspring without the need for a mate. Male-less populations are assumed to reproduce through parthenogenesis or hermaphroditism because females can produce viable eggs without without the presence of a male.
Size: How big Triops is?
Triops cancriformis has been observed in the wild reaching lengths of 4.5 inches (11cm) - not including the tail.
However, it is more common to see this species in a tank grow up to 3 inches (8cm) in length.
In a tank, the typical Triops longicaudatus will grow to 2.5 inches (6cm).
Life Cycle & Expectancy
Are you wondering how long does it take for Triops to fully grow?
Triops reach maturity and are ready to reproduce and lay eggs in around 8-14 days of birth.
On the bottom of their bodies, a pair of egg sacs is being formed and when it is almost time to lay eggs, they will begin digging in the sand.
When eggs are deposited and hidden in the sand, the digging intensifies. The eggs are occasionally laid twice a day by the young. Then, as the triops age, the eggs are deposited once a day or less often, especially when they start to reach the end of their brief life.
Their young remain within the eggs during the dry season (summer and fall).
When dry, Triops eggs enter protracted diapause and can withstand temperatures of up to 98°C (208°F) for 16 hours.
Unlike the eggs, adults cannot survive in temperatures over 34°C (93°F) for 24 hours or 40°C (104°F) for even 2 hours.
The Triops’ diapause period can last more than 30 years! Triops eggs, do not require any salt in the water, and distilled, spring, or rainfall appear to have a greater hatching success rate than tap water.
During the winter and spring, when the pool fills from precipitation, they hatch and feast on fairy shrimps and other invertebrates.
The metanauplius (the first larval stage) is orange in color. It has a single eye, six legs, and grows in instars (growth stages). Each instar concludes with the exoskeleton being shed.
As Triops mature, the number of segments and appendages increases, and they gradually turn greyish brown.
The average triops have a very short lifespan since they only live for about 50-90 days. As their nature inhabitat dries up, adult Triops slowly start to perish.
What do they eat?
Tadpole shrimps are omnivorous, eating algae, insects, and organic detritus; they have been observed chasing extremely small fry, tadpoles, and oligochaete worms.
Their diet also includes debris, algae, daphnia, and mosquito larvae in their native environment.
They devour everything organic that is smaller than them, and that means they may eat their siblings (they are cannibalistic).
Because they need small amounts of food in every feeding, feeding them frequently is the best approach. Powdered fish meals are fine, and crushed-up cichlid pellets and other sinking granules will probably work well.
Larger triops require larger chunks of food.Their diet consists of some fresh food such as peas, carrots, grindal worms, and most other things offered to fish. They may also eat their shed skins, which are lost during growth spurts.
Why are my triops eating each other?
As mentioned above Triops are omnivores with enormous appetite. They eat constantly and ferociously in order to grow and breed at a fast rate. When they're hungry they can display cannibalistic behavior which means that they can start eating each other.
Feeding them often with sufficient portions of food, thus keeping them full, may prevent them from eating each other.
Triops Kit
A kit often includes a plastic tank, a shallow container, eggs, baby and adult food, a small bag of leaf litter, and instructions.
Instructions may vary depending on the kit, but in general they'll tel you to do the following:
First, mix the leaf litter and the water in a shallow container (most kits advise you to use bottled water and not tap water).
Then, add the eggs. If the water temperature is warm enough [try to maintain a temperature between 73-85°F (23-29°C)], the eggs will hatch in 24-48 hours.
Newly born triops resemble water fleas moving about and do not require feeding for the first day. Feed baby food the second and the fourth day. Every day, the infants will double in size. When they are three days old, they begin to grow a shell and resemble adults.
Feed crushed pellets (adult food) the fifth and sixth day.
From the seventh day, feed uncrushed pellets daily. If they eat the pellet in a few hours, feed another pellet.
The triops will be strong enough to be transferred to the plastic tank around the eighth day.
Aquarium Water Conditions & Temperature
The aquarium water must always be maintained clean and there should be no sign of minerals in the water. Mineral water and tap water should not be used.
Rainwater includes contaminated materials, due to them the triops eggs may not hatch. Bottled spring water is strongly advised. The ideal temperature for the eggs to hatch is above 73°F (23°C).
They can live at temperatures ranging from 73-89°F (23- 32°C) once they hatch. A fast change in the temperature of the water can also harm the Triops, therefore changing the aquarium water might be difficult.
When changing the aquarium water, use caution. Each time, remove no more than one-third of the water and replace it with the same quantity of clean spring water. Wait at least 10 minutes before repeating the water change if the water is hazy.
Aquarium Substrate
As a substrate, small stones or sand can be utilized. The best substrates are aquarium sand with no mineral residues and coral sand.
Beach sand and builder's sand are not suited since they include a variety of additional substances that are poisonous to Triops.
Are Triops loners?
In their native environment, Triops choose to stay alone since predators are more likely to spot and consume a group of them. In a controllable and human-made environment such as an aquarium it is possible to add Triops with tropical freshwater fish.
Preferably fish that are smaller than 3 inches so that they do not see the Triops as a meal. A few of these fish are: Neon tetras, Glow light tetra, Cardinal tetras, Corys and Dwarf Otos. Shrimps and snails can be added additionally for companionship.
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