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Triops longicaudatus

When most families consider getting a pet they usually think of dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, fish, etc. I thought it best to start a little more basic, a little simpler. For one thing, we’re allergic to dogs and cats. Also, we have no experience taking care of things with feathers or scales. And rodents are simply out of the question.

Whatever pet we were to choose it had to be rather small and easy to care for. Maybe something that could survive without constant attention? I also thought it would be nice if the pet could provide an educational experience for our daughters, so they could not only share the responsibility of taking care of an animal but also witness the life cycle of something from nature. This idea narrowed the choices down further to something with a short life span.

It turned out that the answer to our pet problem was a 220 million year old crustacean, Triops longicaudatus.

I first became aware of Triops at my daughter’s preschool. There they had a little tank of fresh water in which some Triops eggs had been tossed. In just a couple of days, a dozen or so tiny Triops hatched. Irregular feedings thereafter meant fewer and fewer Triops in the tank until one lone Triops, a pretty big guy after two weeks of eating his cousins, remained. The water in the tank was a bit murky, lending a certain mystery to the Triops’ life and times. I was intrigued. I decided we should try raising Triops.

Of course, it’s silly to think of a two inch long crustacean swimming in a murky tank of water as a pet. Isn’t it? Perhaps. Our daughters referred to our Triops as “our pets” even as they giggled knowing it was a bit absurd. Nevertheless, they do exhibit some pet-like qualities: they are animals, albeit a simple and ancient species; they require food, light, attention, and regular water changes; and they are gregarious swimmers that are quite entertaining to watch. There are, however, two qualities which the Triops possess that do not grant them high marks in petitude: their tendency to eat the weak members among them and the incontrovertible grossness of their peculiar visage.

I will refrain from posting a photo of the Triops as I think it would be too shocking for you. If you really must take a gander at it’s horribleness, you may go here. I’ll wait, but consider yourself warned… Ok, did you have a look? Are you satisfied?

Anyway, you may have noticed that I referred to our Triops in the past tense two paragraphs above. That is because this morning, after 24 days of life, all nine remaining Triops dropped dead. I don’t know why. And I’m not overly concerned about it. In fact, I’m quite relieved. I am a bit curious if it was the algae that did them in. I changed the water several times but the algae came back quickly. Perhaps the poor buggers suffocated.

And now I offer you a poem by Ogden Nash:

The Shrimp

A shrimp who sought his lady shrimp
Could catch no glimpse
Not even a glimp.
At times, translucence
Is rather a nuisance.

In Fun, Hobbies, Pets on 21 January 2006 with 6 comments


6 Comments

At 220 million years old, perhaps it was just their time to go. How old is that in dog years?

Posted by MT on 22 January 2006 @ 1pm

Before I saw your “here” link I discovered Google image has a nice collection.

Posted by MT on 22 January 2006 @ 1pm

I suppose I should have clarified the 220 million years old remark. They are, in fact, one of the oldest surviving species on the planet. They’ve been around since the Triassic. Their eggs can survive for very long periods of time in statis with no care required. As soon as they come into contact with even a small amount of fresh water (for instance, a rain puddle) they can hatch into new Triops. A brilliant survival trait, though I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “intelligent” if you know what I mean.

Posted by Carrick on 22 January 2006 @ 2pm

Nah, your 220 million remark was clear enough, it’s just that the way you and everybody else talks evolution is vague, whereas I am a persnickety smartaleck. Your pets must be related to the horseshoe crabs, by the look and lore of them, because I’ve heard the horseshoes too called Pre-Cambrian and one of Earth’s most ancient forms.

Posted by MT on 22 January 2006 @ 5pm

We got Triops for my 5-year-old’s Xmas present.
Two problems immediately manifest themselves; a)5-yr-olds aren’t very interested in something that won’t be ready for 18 hours minimum, and b) Triops need constant warmth and light (not easily available in damp cold Xmas London).

Now we are at the end of January, the last two Triops are fat and healthy, having eaten all their pals, my wife has finally stopped waiting to get her airing cupboard back, and I have replaced two 60W light-bulbs in the anglepoise lamp that keeps them alive.

And the 5-yr-old? She loves her Triops almost as much as the kitten she REALLY wanted.

Posted by Sean Hodges on 29 January 2006 @ 12pm

You sound interesting, my middle name is Mundell, did you know it was French, My Mother was Mary Mundell and in the County of Argyll in Scotland there are quite a number of Mundell’s all Farming, just as I was, also one of my Aunt’s married a John Mundell, so I have two connections., christian names like Benjamin, David, Alistair,John etc predominate, Argyll is split into regions and they are all in Kintyre and Cowal, nice to speak to you. monty

Posted by Monty Bryden on 31 January 2006 @ 10am

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Carrick Mundell lives in Seattle with his lovely wife and two delightful daughters. This is his blog. More ยป

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