Some time ago, (in 1988) we had rain floods, and a water pan was created about 7 kilometers long by 3 kilometers wide and on average, about 5m deep..... In this dam, we found trillions of weird looking "things", which was later identified as "Triopses"... (through a local TV channel 50/50 by request)... I innitially thought they were the extinct "Triobites" I caught hundreds of these live, and put them in a tank, but they (being more than 3" in size) were immediately attacked by even the little fish (such as neon tetras) and the like.... (so I assumed they must be an excellent food source) We learnt later that their eggs remain dormant untill exposed to water & then they hatch within 24 hours....(like Brine shrimp eggs) Now, that water source has dried up, (4 years after the floods) and for the first time since 1987/8, I had the opportunity to return to the area, visiting my son who still lives in the area..... So obviously, I decided to get a bucket full of the sand from the borders of this "dam" as I remember it. When we got there though..... someone have in the meantime erected an electric fence around the area where I thought the water level rose to..... my son was not brave enough to test the fence.... (neither was I) and since we did not take a spade along.... I scooped some sand from the banks.... (more than 10m) above the (recalled) water level.... I have a tank prepared for the sand and will be delighted if either the Triops or transparrent shrimps appears..... I do not feel very confident though, but let's see what happens. anybody out there seen these before??
I have seen them before but years back and I can't remember where. I think it was on my uncles farm. We use to go and catch all kinds of stuff from a 'Grond dam' there was some of these, leaches, frogs and stuff that looked like shrimp.
O now I remember where I saw them recently. Was in the UK, you buy a small packet with some eggs and you could keep them as pets.
Well... I have in the meantime made friends with a guy (In Phoenix Arizona) who commercially breeds these, so If I have any success with my "random" sand sample... I'll call him to guide me along.
Can buy these at the mtn science center - in both CT (Canal Walk) and KZN (Gateway Mall). Don't know if there are any other science centers?
If you walk into any MTN store... there's a science centre in the making! (Sorry.. couldn't resist that!)
Hey guys sEeing that it looks like a crustacean,what's the input rgding it being on the blacklist or not
You sure the things offered for sale are not just general brine shrimp? These look very cool, would they be illegal cos they are local after all? Its amazing hw the eggs lay dormant for years and then come to life like nothings wrong
http://www.triops.com/ There for sale in sa and doubt its illegal. whatever You do dont believe the website. They tell you that they can only live in a litre container. Thats not true! They also breed great in captivity. They just tell you this that they die quickly and you have to buy a new kit. Its all about the money for them. There are other good care sheets on the net. Also saw some on our farm.
I've ordered a hatching kit from Kalahari.com, doesn't seem illegal, any container with a nice depth and enough area for oxygen exchange is good enough. and they eat anything organic. a few places are selling hatching kits.
