Minibeasts, Habitats and Life Cycles: Triops Hatching Project

I've created a series of free videos following my own Triops tank, and will be creating further resources in the future, with suggestions for experiments and observations. The triops kits can be purchased relatively cheaply (online or from toy stores), have everything you need in them, or you could set up your own tank, and just purchase the eggs online (a number of different species are available).

Triops are small crustaceans, related to woodlice, horseshoe crabs, and lobsters, and were around during the triassic period, when the dinosaurs were. They have changed very little since then which is why we say they are 'living fossils'. The eggs hatch around 24-48 hours, and the triops have a lifespan of approximately 90 days. In the first few weeks they shed their skins daily, doubling in size most days. They are both male and female, will lay eggs, burrow in sand, have three eyes, and gills in their legs to help them breathe.

They are great for teaching about life cycles and species, as well as having students come up with their own theories, hypothesis, and experiments. For example, will the triops grow bigger if they live in a bigger tank, what are the ideal hatching conditions, what foods do they like best, are they affected by things like light, temperature, or the pH of the water? What can you do to prolong the lifespan of a triops?

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd9pxOIcWRI1VgMatN6mP869wrIWS3ibJ

Please leave me a review and I will send you any other resource of your choice for free (contact me: office@oceansproject.com). Check out my other resources at my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/sarah277

Let me know if you have any resource requests and I will tailor make a resource for you.