Growing GIANT Beavertail Fairy Shrimp!

Hatching and growing Beavertail Fairy Shrimp (thamnocephalus platyurus)
Disclaimer - The importation of vernal pool cysts is prohibited in some countries. Please check your local customs policy before importing the eggs of various species.
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[@pico-cosmos]

Disclaimer - The importation of vernal pool cysts is prohibited in some countries. Please check your local customs policy before importing the eggs of various species.

[@BloodAsp]

Are they invasive? Good to know, thanks!

[@Dingusdongus257]

A human sized sea monkey called a "sea ape" will forever haunt my nightmares.

[@lucymnt]

sea simian

[@WetPickle998]

Sea ape has me weak

[@Fofiddly]

The abominable sea-man

[@Crustaceanking50]

Sea King Kong💀💀💀

[@MichaelHarto]

​@@lucymntseamian😂

[@Nonamegirl1]

I used to love growing these as a kid! I kept my last set alive for 3 months when I was 9. BUT, I stopped growing them because my older sister knocked that tank over, I was so proud of the work I put in to get them so big! so I cried while my sister told me to suck it up and that it wasn't that serious. She left to go play video games. To this day she says she never knocked them over. But I remember the trauma of seeing them on my mom's red rug and having to clean them up alone while I cried. I'm 27 and I live with my significant other now, so I think it's time I buy a new one to try again for nostalgia's sake.

[@pico-cosmos]

🥳 good luck with your next batch! My latest video has some tips for raising them 👍

[@MarisolEarl]

It's so cool seeing you raising things other than sea monkeys!

[@RobloxMonkey894]

Yeah he is one of my fav yt his vids are so interesting

[@griffen5821]

Its basically the same things just a bigger species of sea monkeys

[@amsf1]

Instead their cousins 😂. Keeping it in the fam lmao

[@Yikes_its_Psychs]

@MarisolEarl I’ve got some bad news for you, they’re very closely related.

[@LehySnek]

@@Yikes_its_Psychs Him and the monkeys? Should have figured

[@lolapoppy4029]

“I’m sure you guys can relate” 💀😂

[@pico-cosmos]

😭

[@Serithe]

That got a huge laugh out of me

[@Dave-with-a-knife]

OMG😂😂😂 I JUST GOT TO THAT PART OF THE VID

[@754RASTASMURF]

That killed me😭

[@Jansie_NL]

Came here to comment just that xD

[@xicufwm]

12:00 "I'm sure you guys can relate" OOOOH, THE BURN! Nice one!

[@JohnDoe-wn6jo]

This channel is starting to resemble a proper biology/aquarium science channel more and more with each passing video. Good job man, I hope you can keep branching out. I love the microscope and macro lens shots. You seem to enjoy it and take a lot of pride in it yourself, which is something I can strongly relate to. After all, after youthful vigor comes middle age refinement LOL. Enjoy your spring/summer in NZ!

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks man! Really appreciate that :) It’s been a lot of fun exploring other species; I definitely want to try raising some other fairy shrimp in the future! Haha I still love using the microscope for these videos so much 😆 it’s an addictive hobby. Definitely feeling that middle age refinement 🤣

[@jumpvelocity3953]

Oh man, that profile picture. Brings back memories. I had that as my pfp once, you know we’re not supposed to anymore right? Maximilian got canceled.

[@bird_b0nezz]

mmhm, i just came across this channel and it’s very intriguing, i love the style of video, its casual but also professional and well made

[@fruitylerlups530]

i think as long as you focus on small invertebrates it will be sufficiently distinguished from most aquarium channels! crustaceans are underappreciated as house pets ​@@pico-cosmos

[@samvigil957]

I think the reason you might have had so few by the end is the fact that the instructions recommend a 10 gallon (38 L) tank if you want to end up with ~15 adults.

[@Fossil_Blade]

I love the fact that all these small shrimp species look just like an Anomalocaris

[@AFR2024]

YES

[@sponsoredby4275]

Came here to say this! It's so fascinating to see how far species like Anomalocaris have come since prehistory!

[@overratedchannel1440]

10:42 I agree, 2 inches is absolutely enormous

[@coppersuraniumden1985]

I believe the bacterial bloom could be a consenquence of the lack of water change. I change my triop's water once every couple of days to prevent such things for occuring. Great video as always! :)

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks for the tip! Really appreciate it 👌 will try that next time.. and when I eventually get around to trying out Triops lol

[@Ryodraco]

@@pico-cosmos I noticed the instructions recommended a ten gallon aquarium too, much larger than what you used. That could explain why the conditions became toxic more easily, as there was less water to dilute the nutrient and waste build up. Dilution is an aquarist' best friend.

[@rr_cool]

Its kinda predictable that there would be bacterial issues, the instructions recommended a 10 gallon tank for a reason.

[@Lolildoom]

I don’t care if you have a 200 gallon tank it’s always possible for bacteria to get in

[@donnadanielsen9411]

As someone who is so afraid of bugs. I found this video very calming and sometimes traumatising

[@pico-cosmos]

😂

[@kgmc29]

Grow up coward

[@dizzydragon]

I love the freshwaters too, "thamnocephalus mexicanus" looks like a cartoon shrimp lol

[@pico-cosmos]

Lol they really do! I’d love to see these guys in the wild one day 😍

[@beepboop9750]

Love their little eyes

[@WolfmanLarryTalbot]

Thanks John, I love seeing the alternative shrimp speciies. I saw someone who built a habitat, where he added water to hatch the shrimp and let it drie up in cycles.

[@jasonhedtke659]

Hey sometimes 30 seconds is all I need too 😂

[@pico-cosmos]

🥲

[@VincentRuckaRuc]

"for 30 seconds or so, im sure you guys can relate" i had no idea i came to this video to get roasted today.

[@eddvcr598]

I’d be immensely interested in seeing you cultivate freshwater species too! They are such fascinating animals.

[@geckogamer9743]

I love that company. It's so cool to see them getting a shout out on KZbin. I had a tank of red tail fairy shrimp, triops, and a few other critters going for ten years from their stock.

[@potatoperson5]

@@pico-cosmos I had problems too a couple months ago when I was ordering a second set, but payment seems to be back up now! Just ordered some more tiny friends! You really inspired me to get them! Thanks!

[@realnarwhal]

I love the variety videos that weave away from Sea Monkeys/Brine Shrimp. Learning more about these different varieties of mini aquatic creatures is so awesome!!

[@pico-cosmos]

Sea-Monkeys are a gateway drug to these other species 🤣 honestly there are soo many other interesting animals I’ve discovered recently and there’s hardly any video of them online!

[@photobygil]

This is exactly what I've wondered about (for way too long, to be honest!) - whether or not there's a larger version of the beloved Sea-Monkey, & there basically is! However, to really illustrate how big the Beavertail is compared to the average Brine Shrimp, I would love to see them swimming around in a Micro-View Ocean Zoo. That would really drive home just how much bigger than Sea-Monkeys they truly are. Thanks for another informative, entertaining, professionally shot video. Awesome as always!

[@T3CH-SUPP0RT]

I never even know that they could get like this I've got such a soft spot for these guys and I would love to have some of my own someday 💖 With your videos I know that I'd have such a excellent guide for hatching and raising some happy little beavertail shrimp

[@pico-cosmos]

I didn’t expect to enjoy raising them so much either 🤩 I think because they only live for a few months you really appreciate the short time you have with them. I definitely want to try raising other fairy shrimp on the channel! Disclaimer - The importation of vernal pool cysts is prohibited in some countries. Please check your local customs policy before importing the eggs of various species.

[@Big_Money_Salvia]

I'm surprised how similar looking the red tailed shrimp, particularly the males, are compared to Anomalocaris canadensis. The eyes, general body plan and grasping appendages are surprisingly similar, I wonder if they're somewhat related.

[@liquid4688]

I thought the same, the name anomalocaris means abnormal shrimp and they both are in the phylum arthropoda so technically distant relatives at least 🦐

[@PaulKingIII]

I’ve seen these or similar huge fairy shrimp while during salamander surveys at night. They are magical!

[@pico-cosmos]

Ah that’s so cool! Are you based in the US?

[@spitfire0781]

I need some salamanders

[@caffienatedtactician]

I'd love to see you try and culture the new generation of fairy shrimp in a larger tank!

[@fengengao]

The way they swim is so delightful!!!!

[@marjorielabrioche1440]

You would have had a lot more success if you had cycled the aquarium beforehand. Also, given their size i think this one was way too small for them, even with regular water changes. Very cool creatures tho, I didn't know them

[@kinkbauble]

I loved this video! I have raised several micro creatures from green water farms, it is so awesome. Extra fun when you get to build out the tank with stones, woods, and flora! I was surprised how broad the variety of vegetation are for vernal pools. So much micro life in fresh and salt water! Diatoms, rotifers, moina, daphnia, tubifex. Would love to see all the tiny creatures and habitats receive this same video treatment. Funny, I also use these exact containers for this purpose! Two of them fit perfectly on germination heat mat which I use to provide a bit more distributed heat. I clean them with hydrogen peroxide and water between uses and they stay nice and clear. The lid helps with evaporation and I run the air stone in from the front to keep the lid cracked. I use a hygger bubble curtain across the back to help with aeration and circulation. Would also be super awesome to see the many types of algae explored as well. They are beautiful, unique, and full of life too! There is also a great list of smallest fish on Wikipedia I have been wanting to explore that might be fun.

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks for all the tips! Which other species from Green Water Farm have you tried growing? I’d love to give Moina a go

[@rodrigocoockiemonster4460]

Taste test next?

[@izaiahvalenzuela7528]

Yummy

[@thewolfdogsmarket6641]

Nah... I'll try it with you

[@amandadonegan2137]

I kept Accellus Aquaticus as 'pets' for 20 years now through various Aquarium adventures. They are such a great cleanup crew and sweet little things rambling around. I also have Daphnia from the same old horse trough l got the Acellus, (fed from a sinkhole well) and a tubifex/red detritus worm, which the Shubunkins in my pond love...and copepods from my rainbarrel. I use local pond plants collected from the area too. Im going to make a miniature mountain pond with partial bank and terrestrial native plants too in my 4'x2'x2' aquarium this time..

[@bubblerings]

Happy to see the other bacterial bloom comments... The beavertails are considered an Advanced hobbyist species. I bought a kit six months ago.. after killing the eggs without the detritus. Killed after hatching.. Lasted less than a week. Glad I watched this, before hatching the kit.. Overfeeding is the biggest problem, especially in a small tank. The water does not need to look foggy at all for there to be enough to eat. An added note: I added Seachem Stability... for the beneficial nitrifying bacteria, when raising brine shrimp. I think it was helpful!

[@bubblerings]

I fed my brine shrimp about a tenth of what I used to, when they crashed. Mostly Spirulina and barely any yeast water for vitamins, strained thru cheesecloth to help prevent blooms. Yeast sucks oxygen, adds CO2.. lowering PH. 😯

[@quitlife9279]

Great documentation! I don't think they need anywhere near all that detritus, it only causes water quality issues, especially since there's no plants. I've kept the thai species somewhat successfully in a large planted jar with spring water, pure sand, no heater or air stone, and had no water quality problems. Only that I didn't know how to feed them properly then and starved many at first. I still have many eggs left over and had been planning to try creating a mini vernal pool planted community tank, with fairy shrimp, copepods and ostracods, maybe some daphnia too, there's so much variety and they are all super hardy. Oh and I'd love to get some clam shrimp eggs too! Maybe you should try something like that, i'd love to see how it turns out.

[@Lillian2167]

Oh, I love them! Look at their cute lil faces! Love the lil red tail ones too!

[@GingerBread-yf5ql]

I think your bacterial bloom happened, because there was nothing to process the nitrates. I have strepocephalua siamensis and there is algae growing everywhere

[@pico-cosmos]

Possibly! I did feed these guys a bit of live algae though and I did notice that it started growing in the tank. I’d love to try this setup again with live plants 🌱

[@YouDontGnomeMe]

You are one of my favorite KZbinrs. Funny, knowledgeable, great at editing videos, and you always have something new to teach us. Thank you for being a creator. I hope you continue to make awesome content for us all to enjoy until the end of time!

[@zackcleveland1348]

I like the microscope closer looks. They look like they are dancing and having fun.

[@katebjerre]

I'd love to see more freshwater species and I love the idea of adding tank mates and such! :) Great video!

[@justmariaok]

i could watch these vids all day, im so excited for more creatures!! my fave are the microscope and macro shots, there’s so much detail you miss with the naked eye :0

[@pico-cosmos]

Those are my favourite shots too! I actually started this channel after doing the macro videos for fun, and then realised it would be cool to make the videos longer with an explanation of everything. Thanks for supporting the channel!

[@pixiecolors]

We have a vernal pond behind our stables with fairy shrimp, I absolutely love watching them every year 😊

[@Nuttilicious]

I love the change of format in this video. I'd love to see tankmates and a planted tank!!

[@MountainHomeJerrel]

What a great channel. Thanks for sharing your passion with us.

[@michaelcarter6928]

30 seconds, Wish I had that stamina.

[@user-pr5ou3ks9w]

Another knowledgeable post! Love seeing up close with such detail 👍

[@michellejones4609]

Omg I’m obsessed 😊 They’re so cute!

[@WIVRreal]

Pico I remember when you were called artemia daddy and only had 11k. You helped me get my brine shrimp to grow in my 2.5 gallon they have sadly died off though.

[@magistratejraynor6082]

Loved the video! your videography is excellent! the detail of the species comes through! Thank you for all your hard work!

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks! Taking those macro shots is my favourite part of filming :D

[@karen3530]

The coloration on their tails is beautiful and it’s cute how they swim kinda curved downward 😂 I neeeed these to match my orange neocaridinas 🧡

[@pico-cosmos]

Yeah I think so too! The way it curves down is a bit weird though huh, it’s the only species I’ve seen this with so far 🤷‍♂️

[@evelynpayne5995]

loved seeing you cover different species!!

[@brittanylolol]

I have an empty 10 gallon tank. I think I should get some beavertails. I love this video so much! Thank you!

[@pico-cosmos]

You definitely should! And 10 gallons would be a great size 👌 I think I went too small with the tank I chose

[@umbrellacorp.]

What a nice change from sea monkeys. I love your videos, it's always relaxing to watch before I sleep. 🥱👍💯

[@emrisrex]

Loads of fun, thank you 😀👋🇿🇦

[@FaultBoyy]

love these ! they are just like giant sea monkeys! if sea monkeys did get this big, you wouldnt need those annoying magnifying hole things on the ocean zoo lol

[@pico-cosmos]

😆 exactly! Man if Sea-Monkeys got this big they’d be sooo cool. I should really try and selectively breed them to grow larger lol

[@goldentortoisebeetle]

these are massive! I really wish these were more popular classroom pets.

[@BlackArroToons]

This is really cool to see these giant Shrimp that can grow up to 2" in length. Thanks for showing all the set up process for them. Great video that reminds me of raising baby tadpoles to frogs from the mother frog's eggs a few years ago. Thanks.

[@pico-cosmos]

That’s cool! I’d like to try raising tadpoles/frogs one day

[@BlackArroToons]

@@pico-cosmos Thanks! It's a challenge much like raising these eggs were, in that only a certain amount grow strong to survive even though they're all given ideal conditions. Great to see the ones here grew to their full potential. Nicely done.

[@opheliamunroe1110]

This video renewed my interest in "sea monkey" type animals and I am genuinely considering trying to find this kit. These little fellas look cool as heck.

[@jessicas9448]

Loved the video, thanks for sharing!

[@Meme_masterpieces]

This is so interesting I would love to see more fresh water intetibrates in the future

[@lucyeccles9775]

Haven't heard of these before, but they're very cool! Thanks for sharing! Love your videos.

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks! Glad I could share something new :))

[@mich421]

It's always nice to discover something new that I thought didn't exist

[@tammyturner6321]

Very cool!! They are truly beautiful.

[@destannyturner8629]

I love this video, was a perfect birthday gift!

[@pico-cosmos]

Happy belated bday! 🎂

[@kimberlywalls9869]

Loved this video. Looking forward to your other videos!

[@Mr_C.Bacteria]

It's so cool to find an NZ channel doing this kinda stuff! Now I know how to get these sorta guys here! I've got a few spare small tanks that I want to put something interesting in

[@pico-cosmos]

Ah that sounds really cool! I'd highly recommend checking your local customs policy before importing the eggs of various species though👍

[@Butteredsausage177]

You should do triops. Those are so freakin cool. I rember having some when i was younger. Also do fairy shrimp swim upside down? It pooks very much that way

[@Butteredsausage177]

@pico-cosmos YEEES SIIIIIIR. You'll have more fun with triops, and sea monkeys are some mysterious creatures

[@thecrawfish894]

Fairy shrimp video was entertaining and did its job

[@KillerCaitie]

I look forward to learning more about other species too!

[@jjbeasley8791]

A small sponge filter. This will solve your problem. I got 9 tanks going. Once water and filter is established . I've been thinking about red shrimp. But now would rather do this. Thanks... Only will be using established water from active aquarium to try this too. Great job👍

[@pico-cosmos]

Yeah filters are a tough one. They can't be used when the shrimp first hatch, because even a sponge filter will suck up the small babies. It could work when they're adults, but these shrimp are filter feeders, so a filter will essentially be removing their food from the water

[@juansotelo3996]

I love your content, even the people around here are very nice 😊. I never had a chance to have pets as a kid, thanks for sharing your passion with us, I will stay around to learn more and have a good time, much love from Colombia

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks for supporting the channel Juan 🙌 🇨🇴

[@TheSunflowerGiraffe]

Their tiny little hearts 😭💛

[@cheffroggo4363]

I love planeria, I had one once by accident he was awesome

[@Mildewpants]

Loved this video! I've accidentally raised them before from TriopsUSA mixed detritus packs (dont think these are available anymore).

[@izziekawaiicat4127]

Love this guys channel he’s so interesting

[@Driftingkalamari]

That was a great video and I’d love more like it! :D

[@Ucceah]

gotta love branchiopods. clam shrimp are really fun to watch too, and the must uncommon. i'd love to see a video on those sometimes. PS: better drain the water at the end. it's much quicker than waiting for it all to evaporate, and gets rid of the waste products in it.

[@adamhellegaard2019]

If you intend to showcase more species on this channel, I’d love to see a video on triops! I raised a few in my childhood, and would be interested to see what you think of them.

[@Mikoleseuyy69]

These ones look more interesting than the usual brine shrimp!

[@Rebecca-qf7is]

This was fun to watch, great job!

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks Rebecca! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏

[@ZeCahli]

I’d love to see you do Triops next!! ❤❤

[@__-mn5dp]

Detritus is mainly plant matter like leaves and stems just for anyone who was wondering I only Kno that cuz of Philippino termites that grow fungi from detritus

[@danbowes]

I caught that subtle diss!!! I last much longer than 30 seconds tyvm!!!!

[@The_quran_is_lies]

Ill be hear to watch mate.. look forward to it

[@defeatSpace]

Fascinating!

[@macelocam7442]

I love your vids Keep the great content! ❤

[@austinnerd2343]

Dr. Plants made a pretty cool desert vivarium video with fairy shrimp in it. It was pretty cool

[@pico-cosmos]

Thanks I’ll check it out!

[@Sinserg]

Amazing! thanks for sharing :)

[@Mr_C.Bacteria]

Awesome footage mate ☺

[@Sea-cucumber1151]

That is pretty cool

[@smartazz61]

When I was wee high to a shrimp I got a present for Christmas. "Sea Monkeys". No they're not actually monkeys. But they were still way cool. I don't remember the tank well but I do remember spending hours watching them. They had babies but it seems to me I ran out of food and they died. It was a very, very long time ago. Almost 60 years ago. The sixties were fantastic for cheap, educational, and very entertaining toys. The ant farm was another winner. Ahhh. I remembered the name now. "Uncle Miltie's Ant Farm" they would send you a colony of red ants including a queen in a seperate test tube. Just send in the coupon and in about ten-thousand years (in a kid's perspective) they would come in the mail. Another very cool "toy". At first I thought this must be a niche channel. Until I saw 404K views. (Beaver tail shrimp) Wow! Oh & you just got me with the "ciliates"? I hope I have the name right. I'll never forget getting a couple drops of pond water & putting it under my kid's level microscope. Seeing microscopic creatures in a drop of water still blows my mind even now. I had such a good start. What happened?

[@anime4ever7213]

I want to see a red tail colony! 😊

[@Beeznitchio]

I'm always looking for fun little projects to share with my kids. I think you just found our next one.

[@Tygor3533]

New sub awesome video man! Those microscopic shots are amazing!

[@brochacho.]

great stuff!

[@thatcantbeso]

thanks for making this one video and not a series

[@OmegaMegalodon]

nice video, very educational.

[@jakiethompson8663]

Great video! Quick question, I have a "smoke" layer about 1 Inch above the floor of my tank. It seems and moves like water within water. Using my bubbler does make it disperse but I can't seem to find any information on what it is, just wondering if you would know? Much appreciated

[@zackrog1270]

I want to see shrimp food B under the microscope! Great video!

[@segamatthews5023]

That was a kool and informative video.

[@segamatthews5023]

I wonder if they're good eatin lol 😂

[@random_slav]

Would love a video w tankmates!!!

[@badgercrafts2915]

Itd be pretty cool to see if you really can hatch the cyst in the future :)

[@pico-cosmos]

I’m going to give it a shot! Will be pretty cool to see if I can get a second generation :D

[@Teodor435]

Have you considered using nitrifying bacteria supplements to help with bacterial blooms for longer running tanks like this?