• Triops are also called Dinosaur shrimp because they existed in prehistoric times and remain relatively unchanged
  • They are called Triops because they have THREE eyes! Triops longicaudatus are from America (They are also called Tadpole Shrimps), Triops australiensis (Shield Shrimp) are from Australia and the native European ones are Triops cancriformis.
  • A single creature should be called a Triops not a Triop, this is because the name Triops is based on the Latin naming convention for the creature.  Click here for a full explanation why.
  • They resemble miniature horseshoe crabs (Apart from the fact they have three eyes!)
  • Eggs should hatch within 24 hours of being added to water (may take up to two weeks in colder temperatures)
  • They are predatory and carnivorous - eating anything else in the tank (including each other !)
  • They double in size each day until they reach their adult length of about 2 inches.  They are fully mature after 3-4 weeks
  • Each Triops has a lifespan of between 20 and 70 days (If they manage to avoid other hungry Triops)
  • They are acrobatic swimmers, and eat on the move and will eat anything that moves!
  • They are hermaphrodite and may lay eggs in the tank, if the tank  is allowed to dry up and more water added a new generation of Triops may hatch.
   

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Triops