They start as tiny eggs waiting for water.
In the wild this would be from seasonal ponds drying up and
leaving the eggs in the mud until the rains come again.

They are not dehydrated they are in diapause
(suspended animation).

Doubling in size every day, this little beast is only 3 days old and already 2cm long.

Hard to see, but these Triops at 5 days old are FAST.
Click the image above to download a video of the Triops digging.

Day 7: Notice the shell is changing colour from red/orange to grey.

Day 9: Two pronged tail is clearly visible
as the Triops holds it's food in it's many 'feet' and feeds.

Day 11: Predatory and cannibalistic; Inevitably a fight ensues.
This time both live to fight another day!

Day 14: Almost 2 inches long now, with a grey/blue shell

Day 16: Feeding at the surface

Day 18: They are now fully grown, 
Their eggs sacks have formed and
just as Tiggers love to bounce, 
Triops love to dig.

Image used with permission from Prophet Consulting

As they grow they shed their shells,
above is an example of a Triops shaped skin!