What exactly, is a Triops?

Question

I've often seen people asking for info on how to keep them etc, but have no idea what they are.

Answer 1

TRIOPS come from the order Notostraca (colloquially referred to as notostracans, called Triops, tadpole shrimp or shield shrimp) are small crustaceans in the class Branchiopoda. Triops have two internal compound eyes and one naupliar eye in-between, a flattened carapace covering its head and leg-bearing segments of the body. The order contains a single family, with only two extant genera. Their external morphology has apparently not changed since the Triassic appearance of Triops cancriformis around 220 million years ago. Triops cancriformis may therefore be the "oldest living animal species on earth" [1].
Notostracans can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
DISTRIBUTION
In Austria, two notostracan species (one spring species and one summer species) are documented: Lepidurus apus and Triops cancriformis. In the Americas, several species have been identified, including Triops longicaudatus and Triops newberryi. In Australia, Triops australiensis is found. Other common types are Triops numidicus from Africa, although it has been said that some papers refer to this as an outdated name for Triops granarius, which is from South Africa, China, Japan and Italy [2]. Triops cancriformis is also found in Britain, but is endangered, occurring only in pools in two areas, one in England at New Forest and one in Scotland at Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Caerlaverlock, which is near Dumfries..Some have even been found in Malta Europe!

Notostracans in the aquarium
Notostracans are often sold to children in small packets as eggs as an interesting science project or as a beginner's kit for their first aquarium. One pours distilled or spring water onto the eggs, and they will hatch out very quickly--often within less than a day. They will also grow at a remarkable pace; growth is actually noticeable from one day to the next until they reach their maxiumum size of approximately 2 inches, including their caudal appendages. If food is not available in plenty--and sometimes even if it is--they will not hesitate to eat each other.

These creatures can make a useful addition to a freshwater aquarium, as they keep the substrate very clean and eat almost anything they find. They may, however pose a slight danger to very small fish or other crustaceans, and may in turn be eaten by large fish. Also, they may damage the roots of aquarium plants they encounter if not kept well fed. They are also very short-lived pets, but are easily replaceable.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

Never heard of anyone keeping one. I thought it was a fictional 3 eyed monster! Apparantly it's a small shrimp, a member of the crustacean family.

Answer 4

Triops are crustaceans that look like miniature Horseshoe crabs.

Answer 5

frequently after an afternoon or 2 in the journey that they hatch. i'm not in an answering mood yet i tried Triops 4 cases- they did not hatch any triops, merely one little fairy shrimp (sea monkey) contained in the triop egg %..

Answer 6

i had some as a lil kid...basically..theyre big sea monkeys...nnot in the same family i don think but the same basic idea as them

Answer 7

you got 3 good answers