Brine Shrimp Young

The small dark brown eggs of a brine shrimp place the creature inside into diapause.  In this state the eggs can resist temperature and humidity changes.  Brine shrimp eggs have been successfully hatched from those found in Egyptian tombs.  When the conditions are favourable (temperature and saline concentration) the eggs will hatch.

If the environment is suitable for brine shrimp instead of producing eggs, females will have live births called nauplii.

Even more remarkable is the fact that if eggs are produced then some will not hatch until the second time that conditions are favourable.  These are second generation eggs, there can also be a third.  This is suited to the evaporating pools in the salt lakes.

Brine shrimp will hatch within a few hours of rehydration in a saline solution.  The saline slowly weakens the cyst until the babies can break free.  Cysts that were produced when the saline concentration was too high will not hatch as not enough as they do not receive sufficient hydration.