FAQs

Are Aqua Dragons really alive?


Yes, Aqua Dragons are living creatures that exist in the wild - their official scientific name is Artemia Salinas. When you receive them, your Aqua Dragons eggs are in a state of hibernation called Cryptobiosis, and they need you to bring them to life! See a full explanation of the life cycle of these amazing creatures here


How do I hatch and grow my Aqua Dragons?


It’s very important to follow all the instructions carefully. You can find a full set of instructions here, with a video (in English). Take the time to read them carefully before you start - if you don’t follow the instructions your Aqua Dragons might not hatch! 


What temperature should the water be?


The first week is when Aqua Dragons are the most sensitive to temperature. The best temperature is from min 17ºC to 30ºC


How long does it take to Aqua Dragons to hatch?


If you follow the instructions carefully, you should see some tiny white Aqua Dragons swimming within 48-72 hours of adding the sachet to your tank. With a magnifying glass, you may be able to see some signs of life as early as 24 hours after setting up your tank.


How many Aqua Dragons will hatch?


It can vary quite a bit depending on how many eggs were in the sachet and the conditions in the tank. You can expect anywhere between a dozen or so up to a hundred! 


How often should I feed my Aqua Dragons?


Don’t add any food to the tank until the day after you see the first Aqua Dragons hatching. That’s usually around 48-72 hours after setting up your tank. 


It’s important not to overfeed your Aqua Dragons. How often to feed them depends on the number of Aqua Dragons there are and how much food there is remaining in the tank. 


If there is food still floating in the water (the water is cloudy) then they don’t need to be fed. If the water looks quite clear and the aqua dragons are looking for food in the sediment formed on the bottom of the tank, then it’s time to feed them. 


As a general guide, you would normally feed Aqua Dragons every 2-3 days if you have many Aqua Dragons, and every 3-4 days if you have fewer. 


When you feed the Aqua Dragons, don’t use more than one level spoonful of food - and always use the special tiny spoon that comes with your Aqua Dragons kit. 


How long will they live?


Under optimal conditions - if you care for your Aqua Dragons very well - they can live for a few months. This is their normal life cycle and it is completely normal for them to die within a few months, so when this happens, don’t worry that you have done something wrong. 


What can I do to help my Aqua Dragons live for their full life cycle? 


There are 5 key points to remember:


  1. Feeding - feed your Aqua Dragons the dried algae from the food sachet every few days, but be careful not to overfeed them - check to see if there is food remaining in the tank before feeding. 
  2. Oxygenate the water daily - This is especially important during the first days and weeks. 
  3. Salinity - to keep the salinity level correct, keep the water topped up to the original level as it evaporates. 
  4. Temperature - make sure the water temperature stays between 17ºC to 30ºC
  5. Sunlight - natural light is beneficial and sunlight is good as long as it does not cause the water to become too hot. 


Will my Aqua Dragons reproduce? 


It’s impossible to say for sure, but they certainly might! If you see two adults swimming while joined together, then they are mating. The male is below and grasps the female with some antenna-like protrusions that sprout from his head. They may stay like that for a few days. The eggs are too small to see, but you may notice the new baby Aqua Dragons appear. Don’t worry, the adult Aqua Dragons won’t eat them! Aqua Dragons only eat algae. 



Do Aqua Dragons like sunlight?


Yes, sunlight is good, as long as it doesn’t cause the water to overheat (it should be between 17ºC and 30ºC) so be careful in summer. 


Do Aqua Dragons bite?


NO, actually they don't have a mouth, they eat through their wings which work like gills.


Why do some of my Aqua Dragons have a very long tail?


Actually, that’s not a tail….it’s poo! Sometimes it forms a string and stays attached to the Aqua Dragon for a while before eventually dropping off. It’s perfectly normal and doesn’t do the Aqua Dragon any harm. 


Can Aqua Dragons live in my aquarium with other fish?


No, because it’s likely the other fish will eat them!


Do I have to change the water in the tank?


No, the water has a special ph and salinity level that is established by the contents of the eggs sachet. However the water does evaporate so you should top up the tank to the original level (look for the wavy line on the tank) as it naturally evaporates. Remember to only use bottled water.


Can I move my Aqua Dragons to a larger tank? 


There is no need, because the Aqua Dragons have enough space in the tank that comes in the pack. If you want to move them to a larger tank or container, then remember that you need to maintain the correct salinity level in the water - 350-380ml of bottled water per sachet of Aqua Dragons eggs. 


Do I need to clean the tank?


It’s not normally necessary, but if you want to clean the tank you can carefully tip your Aqua Dragons (and their water) into another clean container while you rinse out their tank. Only use water and a clean cloth or brush to clean the tank, don’t use any chemicals or detergent, because that could harm your Aqua Dragons. 


What shall I do if I’m having problems with my Aqua Dragons? 


See our troubleshooting tips here!