Triop World Nick Baker Instructions - Interplay

Interplay on the Web!To get all the latest information aboutInterplay’s range of products, visitwww.interplayuk.comInterplay UK LimitedMeter House, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow,Buckinghamshire. SL7 1LWDesigned by Interplay UK LimitedMade in China©2012 Interplay UK LimitedManual written by Nick BakerProduct Code LW009 v1.0 2012Please retain our address for future reference.7957 Triop World Instructions.indd 1 19/11/2012 10:16

Explore theamazing worldof Triops withnaturalistNick Baker!Designed forchildren byNature ExpertsW O R L DGrow amazing pond monstersHatch in24 HoursStudy the amazingTriop Life CycleWatch them doublein size every day!www.interplayuk.com7957 Triop World Instructions.indd 2 19/11/2012 10:16

WARNING!For children over 5 years of age only.For use under adult supervision. Read the instructions before use.Follow them and keep them for reference.Young children should have adult guidance when using this kit.Not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts that couldrepresent a choking hazard.None of the accessories in this kit should be allowed to come into contactwith foodstuffs.Wash hands after using this kit or the activities contained in this booklet.Triops are totally harmless to humans and cannot bite or cause injury.However, always wash your hands after handling Triops eggs, food orwater, and anything that has come into contact with them.Always place the tank out of the reach of small children and animals.Should any water from the Triop Tank come into contact with eyes, rinseimmediately with plenty of water for at least 5 minutes, holding the eyeopen if necessary.Disposal: Dispose of any waste material in the rubbish bin.Dirty water should be fl ushed down a toilet and not down a sink.2This kit conforms to the following safety standards:Europe: CE and EN71USA: ASTMwww.interplayuk.com7957 Triop World Instructions.indd 3 19/11/2012 10:16

ContentsTank and LidTriop EggsTriop FoodPipetteSandYou will also needA bottle of springwater or supply ofclean rainwaterAbout this Kit!This kit is a hands-on guide for buddingnaturalists and contains the equipment youneed to observe and study the fascinatinglife cycle of Triops. The kit is designed tobe fun and informative for kids of all ages.However, young children will need the helpand supervision of an adult.The best time of year to use this kit is in thesummer months between May and September asTriops will only hatch when the water temperatureis above 21˚c and there is at least 12 hours ofdaylight. You can use the kit at other times of yearbut it is harder to get good results and you will alsoneed to provide an artifi cial light and heat source; adesk lamp with a 40watt bulb is suffi cient.Your Triops are guaranteed to hatch, so if you haveany problems see the details at the back of thisbooklet.Designed forchildren byNature ExpertsW O R L DFinally, I hope you have fun with this kit anddiscover some fascinating insights into the trulyamazing life of a Triop.37957 Triop World Instructions.indd 4 19/11/2012 10:16

IntroductionWhen you add water to the littlepacket of ‘dirt’ that is includedin this kit you will be launchingthe bizarre life of an ancient littleanimal that has been doing thesame thing rather successfullyfor some 300 million years!Triops (pronounced ‘try –ops’),which are also called Tadpole orShield Shrimps, are creatures thatbiologists often call living fossilsand Triops have truly earned thistitle.They first stepped onto the scenesomewhere in the Triassic period andsince then they have witnessed manylarge and spectacular creatures, includingthe dinosaurs, come and go.The secret of their success is all down tosimplicity, they have become masters ofa habitat that is too tough for many andthat is the temporary pool. These shallowpools and puddles appear after rain and thenvery quickly dry up again. For aquatic animalsthis presents many real challenges. Not only dothe temperatures in these puddles go up anddown, but so do the chemicals in the water andthe amount of oxygen dissolved in it. As if thisdoesn’t make it tough enough these puddles arenot called ‘temporary’ for nothing and some maylast just a matter of a few days before the waterdries up and the ground turns to dust again!How on earth does a delicate creature like aTriop cope with all this? Why does it choosesuch a harsh place to live and where does itgo when the water evaporates? Well with yourTriop World all these questions and more will beanswered and all you need to do is add water...47957 Triop World Instructions.indd 5 19/11/2012 10:16

Getting started...Designed forchildren byNature Experts12…just add water (but not tap water!)All you need to do in order toget the most out of your Triopsis to re-create the conditions in atemporary pool.So fi rst you need to source some water,enough to fi ll the Triop tank. Rain water isbest and cheapest but bottled still springwater is also good. If using bottled waterread the small print and try and avoid usingany ‘purifi ed’ water. Also avoid water thathas chlorine added to it (this includes tapwater but also some bottled water).Rinse out your tank with a little of yourwater, don’t use tap water or soap, andthen wipe it dry with kitchen towel ortissue paper.Add rain or bottled water to the tank untilabout 3/4 full.W O R L D57957 Triop World Instructions.indd 6 19/11/2012 10:16

3Ensure the water in the tank is at roomtemperature, above 21˚c before addingyour eggs. Normally this will not be aproblem in summer months, but at othertimes of year you will need to provide anartifi cial heat and light source. This can beachieved by using a desk lamp with a 40watt bulb (not one of the Eco variety, theydon’t get warm enough), or a small ‘spidermat’ (available from most pet stores).Place the lid on the tank to avoid thewater evaporating and to help maintainthe water at a constant temperature.4When the water is up to temperature,sprinkle the bag of detritus onto thewater - this contains the Triop eggs. Givethe detritus a brisk stir with the pipetteto mix it thoroughly with the water. Thenuse the pipette to wash down the sidesof the tank with clean water to ensure noeggs are stuck to the side of the tank (theeggs are so small you will not be able tosee them).5Your Triops should start tohatch within 24 hours butthey may take upwards of 7days so be patient (sometimesthey don’t hatch, but don’tpanic we have solutions, seethe back of this book) althoughin their early stages theywill be so small they will bediffi cult to see.67957 Triop World Instructions.indd 7 19/11/2012 10:17

TOPTIPPlacing some black cardbehind the tank andshining a torch in fromthe side while viewingfrom the front mayreveal the very firsttwitching of life.Designed forchildren byNature ExpertsW O R L DFeeding InstructionsAt adult size one very small pinch of foodper adult every two days is plenty to keepthem well fed.The little packet of detritus that you firsttipped into your tank has now magicallyproduced life and it contains enough ofthe essential nutrients to feed your Triopsfor the first two days of their life.On day three sprinkle just a few granules of foodonto the surface of the water. Thereafter, feedevery two days, slightly increasing the amountgiven as they grow in size. In the fi rst week becareful not to over-feed your Triops as uneatenfood will quickly contaminate the water whichwill harm your Triops.Always wash your hands after handling thefood.There should be enough food to last thelifetime of your Triops. Should you runout of food or need more for a secondgeneration of Triops, Interplay will be happyto supply you with some. Alternatively,you can feed your Triops on a good qualityfi sh food available from pet shops - usegranules, not the fl ake variety, crushed carppellets are ideal. I have also found that myTriops are rather partial to grated carrot.77957 Triop World Instructions.indd 8 19/11/2012 10:17

Free extra pets!Triops are not the only creatures thatlive in temporary pools and your bag ofTriop eggs and detritus may well containa few extra surprises. More ancientanimals that share a similar successstory to your Triops. Crustaceans suchas Water Fleas (Daphnia), Clam Shrimpsand Fairy Shrimps are all possible. Seethe pictures to identify what is whatand who is who.Sometimes they hatch at the right time andyou will have a veritable micro-collectionof creatures all swimming around in yourtank at the same time. Although more oftenthan not, the Triops beat them too it andultimately win the race to survive and eat thesmaller creatures!All of these animalshave been aroundfor a long time. FairyShrimps and WaterFleas came about in theTriassic period some200 million years ago.If you want to keep your micro-pets separateand stop them eating each other, then usinga clean teaspoon or the pipette provided,gently move them to another tank or jar butmake sure it contains the same water at thetemperature they are used to.Fairy ShrimpClam ShrimpDaphniaTriops87957 Triop World Instructions.indd 9 19/11/2012 10:17

Looking after your TriopsDesigned forchildren byNature Experts2-3 days after the eggs have beenadded to the water, stare into yourtank and you should see tiny little palethings twitching and swimming around.These are creatures that have hatchedfrom eggs contained in the packet ofsoil, there will be Triops as well as thepotential of a few other creatures too.Now is a good time to skim the detritus offthe surface of the water, it makes it easier tokeep an eye on things and tidies the tank upa bit. You can do this by carefully scoopingit off the surface with a clean teaspoon. Anywaste can now be carefully disposed of in thebin. Remember to wash your hands and thespoon afterwards.After a few days you will notice your Triopsgrowing fast! In the fi rst few days they willmoult several times a day, (they slow downas they get bigger) and will put away 40% oftheir own body weight a day in food whichW O R L Dis why after 3 days it is time to add a little ofthe food provided.In the fi rst week after hatching they are quitesensitive to water conditions. So be carefulnot to over feed them and foul the water, youreally only need a tiny amount of food about3 times a week. I’m not sure why but Triopsgo crazy for carrot. I don’t add too much butif you cut and drop in a little cube (5 x 5mm)you will see what I mean.How much you feed your Triops depends abit on how many have hatched and how bigthey are but as a guide a couple of pinchesof food a week per adult is about right. If youwatch your Triops at feeding time and theyimmediately start to feed in a bit of a frenzythen you are getting it about right.97957 Triop World Instructions.indd 10 19/11/2012 10:17

When your Triops are about two weeks old,add the sand provided in the kit by simplypouring it in the tank. This helps keep thewater clear and your Triops will love scurryingaround in it, searching for tiny particles offood.It’s normal for only one or two individualsto survive to maturity in your Triop World. Ifmore than that hatch you can separate themout into separate containers. While yourTriops will do fi ne in the tank provided, youcould try setting them up in a larger fi sh tank.It’s interesting to discover that the bigger thespace they have to grow in, the bigger theygrow. I have seen monster ones, nearly 10cmlong from tip to tail! However, never put yourTriops in with fi sh in an aquarium as they’llsoon be gobbled up.10Note:Always wash yourhands and equipmentafter handling Triopfood or water.CleaningBecause in the wild Triops live inpuddles, they do not need to be keptspotlessly clean like fish and they canseem to cope with fairly murky water.However, to stop it becoming toomanky and smelly and so you can seeand enjoy your pets, it’s a good idea topartially change the water every weekas they get older.7957 Triop World Instructions.indd 11 19/11/2012 10:17

Firstly get some clean rain or bottled waterand let it get to the same temperature asthat in your Triop Tank, then carefully pouraway half the water in their tank - be verycareful not to tip away any Triops whenyou do this. Then top up your Triop Tankwith the clean water, you can repeat thisanytime the water gets too murky.A New GenerationSadly Triops live fast and die youngand after a period of between 3 and6 weeks they will finally cease theirenergetic antics and will twitch theirfinal leg and die.They seem to simply slow down, like aclock-work toy that needs rewinding. Thisis exactly what would happen in the wild,usually the pool will dry up and they with it.But in their short period of life they will haveleft the next generation in the form of tinyalmost invisible eggs that are less than0.4 mm across.Designed forchildren byNature ExpertsW O R L DNo matter if you only had one Triop in the fi rstplace they can often produce eggs without evermeeting and mating with another! This is a bitof magic called parthenogenesis and is anothertrick the Triops use to survive in such harshplaces.To get a new generation, do not empty thetank, but let the water dry up completely overa period of two or three weeks or more, untilall that is left is scum, dirt and dry sand in thebottom. Gently free it up by scraping it loosewith your spoon and then tipping this into asmall container. Then wash and wipe your tankand you are now ready to start again! Simplyadd the detritus back in the tank and addwater, with any luck you should get a secondgeneration hatch.117957 Triop World Instructions.indd 12 19/11/2012 10:17

I have found the longer you leave thedetritus to dry, the better the chances ofa new generation. I have also read thatkeeping the dried detritus in a freezer fora week or two also can benefi t the hatchingprocess because it mimics cold winter conditionsin the desert areas where Triops originate. I havenot tested this idea but it would be an interestingexperiment for you to try out.The eggs are remarkable in that they can survivefor decades, maybe even centuries as no morethan dust. They can withstand freezing androasting hot temperatures and even though theyseem to have no life within them, when the rightconditions occur off they go again. Only thoseexposed to light will hatch and even then notall of them. This is another way they insure thatwhatever happens to the pool, if it dries up beforethose that hatched got a chance to breed therewill always be some eggs left. This is anotherreason why it is worth drying out the substratein your tank when they’ve fi nished as even ifyou never saw any eggs formed on your Triops,the chances are there will still be some of theoriginals unhatched.12Other things you might want to know...There are over 15 species of TadpoleShrimp in the world, although the exactnumber is still a matter of debate amongthe world’s Tadpole Shrimp experts. Theyare quite a successful group with everycontinent except Antarctica having at leastone species. They all specialise in temporarypuddles and water bodies. We even haveour own native species (Triops cancriformis)which is found in a few pools in Scotland,Wales and the New Forest. It is so rare inthe wild due to habitat destruction that itis fully protected by law (Schedule 5 of theWildlife and Countryside Act).The Triops that you’ve got in your Triop Worldare commonly called the American, Long-Tailed orTadpole Shrimp and just to be thorough and avoidconfusion its Latin name is Triops longicaudatus.They are native to America. Triops longicaudatusmight sound like a horrible long name but it makessense when you realise what it means. Triopsmeans 3-eyed while Longicaudatus refers to the7957 Triop World Instructions.indd 13 19/11/2012 10:17

two long tails of this species;longi = long, caudata = tail.Designed forchildren byNature ExpertsYour Triops can grow to 7-8cm long but moreusually 4-5 cm is expected from the Long-Tailedspecies. The British species can grow even biggerand sometimes reach over 10cm in length.Like all arthropods (a group which includes theinsects, arachnids, crustaceans, centipedes andmillipedes) Triops have a skeleton on the outsidecalled an exoskeleton. This is very useful asit acts almost like a suit of armour protectingall the soft and delicate bits inside but thedownside is it needs to be taken off and moultedif the animal is to grow. Your Triops will moultmany times in its life cycle, each time gettingbigger and bigger. You will see evidence of thisprocess in the pale clear washed out lookingskins left behind in your tank.I tend to leave mine in place and in time theywill soften up and get eaten and recycled bytheir previous owners! You can however carefullyremove the empty skins when you fi nd them(use a spoon) and then if you are very careful,pop them on a piece of absorbent kitchen paper,W O R L Dand using a pin you can arrange it nicely andthen let it dry out until crispy - you now haveyour own souvenir Triop exoskeleton.If your Triops have trouble moulting it maybebecause they don’t have enough of a chemicalcalled iodine in their diet. This can be easilyrectifi ed by simply adding a bit of pond weedto the tank or a small piece of kelp tablet(available from chemists or health food stores)Watch your Triops feeding, they grovel aroundin the sand and any detritus in the tank andas they do so they rapidly wave their limbs,particularly the ones towards the back whichare fl attened and paddle shaped. These setup currents in the water and food is thendrawn into the groove on the underside ofthe Triop’s body and passed up the middletowards the mouth.137957 Triop World Instructions.indd 14 19/11/2012 10:17

Know you way around your petLabrumPart of the appeal of Triops is that they arelike little robots, survival machines. Justlike a machine all the bits have names andalthough some of the words may seem alittle strange, they are all easy enough tolearn and say with practice.MouthThoracopod 1Thoracopod 2Eyes: The rather expressive ‘face’ is bedecked bya fi ne pair of compound eyes and between thema third ‘eye’ or naupilar eye. This middle eye isactually a window through the tough shieldlike carapace to the simple eye deep beneathit. These three eye clusters are what gives theanimal the name Triops which translates as‘three eyes’.Food particalbeing passedtowards themouthMandibleMaxillaeVentral groovePooCarapace: This is the tough shield-like shellthat makes these little creatures pretty hardyand robust, protecting all the delicate bits andpieces that make up the rest of its body.147957 Triop World Instructions.indd 15 19/11/2012 10:17

Tails: These are called caudal furcula.Trunk: This is the bendy bit at the back and isused to fl ip and fl op the body around.Ventral groove: The hollow that runs up themiddle of the underside of the Triop and it isalong this that the food particles are pushed.Anus: I’m sure you’ll want to know wherethe bottom of your Triop is right? It’s right atthe end of the body between the two tails,often you will see Triop droppings beingdragged behind.HeadThoraxCompound eyesAbdomen‘Third’ ornaupilar eyeAnusMandibulargrooveCervical grooveShield or carapaceTrunkMaxillary glandYou can see these through thecarapace on either side, theywork a bit like our kidneysTails orcaudal furcula157957 Triop World Instructions.indd 16 19/11/2012 10:17

Mouth: This is quite diffi cult to actually seeas most of the time it is hidden behind afl ap called a labrum, but it is there and if youwatch your Triops feeding closely you mighteven see the mandibles and the maxilla allchomping away, mashing the food up makingit easy to swallow.1st Thoracopods: The fi rst pair of limbsare a bit different to the rest. Modifi ed, theyperform the same sort of jobs as antennaein other invertebrates. The fi rst pair are splitinto several ‘fi ngers’. Weirdly Triops do haveantennae (in fact they have four) under thecarapace in line with the eyes but they arevery diffi cult to see.The other limbs: There are 70 appendageson the thorax. The fi rst eleven are the biggestand most developed called Thoracopods. Theyhave numerous functions, each leg is dividedinto different sections, with spiky bits andfl aps. They all work together, swishing wateraround they stir up the sediment for feeding,they act as legs walking the Triop along thebottom and when it needs to they act as fi nstoo, with the thin fl appy sections, able to propelthe crustacean through the water. They also havethe gills and the gnarly bits at the base which areused to mash and pass the food to the mouth.The fi rst pair of Thoracopodsare divided up into fi ngers.They are very senstitive and areused a bit like antennae to feel andtaste their way aroundThe group of crustaceans that the Triops belongto are called the Branchiopods which means lungfoot and refers to the ability of the animals tobreathe through the gills on their legs.167957 Triop World Instructions.indd 17 19/11/2012 10:17

In mature animals you might see on the 11thpair of appendages something that looks like abag of miniature baked beans, these are eggs.Maxillary gland: You can see these on eitherside of the carapace as pretty patterns, lotsof squiggly concentric lines. This gland worksa bit like our kidneys and is responsible formanaging the chemical balance of the body,from regulating the blood to waste disposal.Mandibular groove: This marks theattachment point for the powerful mandiblesor jaws underneath.Cervical groove: This marks the end of thehead and the beginning of the thorax.Other useful stuffDesigned forchildren byNature ExpertsW O R L DTriops - a very unusual creature:Dr. Helen Pashley. This is apparently the onlybook in the world dedicated to Triops (I’venot read it) but I have a copy on order fromAmerica!Arkive is one of the most useful webresources for anyone into any animal andit doesn’t disappoint when it comes to ourlittle crustacean friends either. See the pagededicated to ‘the big one’ Triops cancriformishere - www.arkive.org/tadpole-shrimp/triopscancriformis/www.mytriops.com: This has to be myfavorite website dedicated to these fascinatinglittle crustaceans - loads of info from thelatest discoveries, serious scientifi c referencesand pictures.Microscopy UK - Has a great page exploringthe Triop life-cycle through some seriouslyhigh powered magnifi cation - check this out.www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjul00/dwtriops.html177957 Triop World Instructions.indd 18 19/11/2012 10:17

About the AuthorNick Baker is a professional naturalistwhose career has taken him from being afi eld ecologist working on birds, butterfl iesand badgers to top TV broadcaster. Bestknown for his wildlife programs on BBC,Animal Planet, Discovery and NationalGeographic, he has had many adventureswith many species from gorillas to polarbears, but his real love is that of thewildlife in his own garden, the little thingsthat make the world go around - it was theinsects and other invertebrates that startedhim off as a kid and to this day still hold avery special fascination.Nick’s TV programmes include:The Really Wild ShowNick Baker’s Weird CreaturesNick Baker’s Beautiful FreaksNick has written over 12 naturestudy books; titles include:My First CockroachNick Baker’s Bug BookNick Baker’s British WildlifeThe New Amateur NaturalistHabitat Explorer GuidesNick Bakers Bug ZooDedicated to conservation, Nick is involvedwith many wildlife charities and trusts:Vice President - Butterfl y Conversation TrustVice President - (youth) RSPBVice President - The Wildlife TrustsPresident - Bug LifeTo fi nd out more about Nick and his manyachievements visit his website: www.nickbaker.tv187957 Triop World Instructions.indd 19 19/11/2012 10:17

Designed forchildren byNature ExpertsMail Order Spare PartsW O R L DSpare parts can be ordered by phone,by post or online:Phone:Call our Customer Services help desk01628 488525Post:Write to Interplay stating your requirementand enclosing a cheque made payable to‘Interplay UK Limited’. Please add a deliverycharge of £2.95 to all orders under £35.00Note:Prices quoted are for UK only.Online:Order online at www.interplayuk.comPlease Note:Postage charge: £2.95 for orders under£35.00 Postage free for orders over £35.00Prices quoted are for UK only.Triop World (complete kit) £9.99Eggs and Food Sachet £3.00Food Sachet £1.00Bag of Triop Sand £1.00Triop Tank & Lid £5.00GuaranteeYour Triops eggs are guaranteed to hatch!You should get at least one (often you will getmany more). Should you not have any success,please contact our Customer Services help deskon 01628 488525 and we will be happy to sendreplacement eggs.197957 Triop World Instructions.indd 20 19/11/2012 10:17