Re: [Killietalk] Re: Hatching BBS eggs

[Rjga at aol_com]

I hatch them much like Brian, but I have been using the same hatch water for 
about three years and it might last forever. My hatch water is full strength 
(or more) sea water stored in a 50 gal drum with a trickle filter. I fill a 
gallon jar inside the drum, and pour the used hatch water back into the drum over 
and over again, with tap water to make up for drum evaporation. I hatch the 
gallon jar of marine water for 48 hrs with vigorous aeration (two stiff airline 
tubes that reach to the bottom) IN FULL DAYLIGHT . Light is important to 
getting a good hatch. I store sealed cans of BBS cysts at room temp and my opened 
15-oz cans in the freezer (with the plastic lid), plus a two week's supply in 
a capped container at room temp. After hatching I filter the mixed hatch in a 
brine shrimp net, invert the mass in a 2 quart plastic pitcher filled with tap 
water, and let them sit for 10 minutes. Shells float, nauplii sink. I pour 
off the shells and excess water, wipe shells from the pitcher. Then I refill the 
pitcher with tap water to spread out the cleaned nauplii. Finally, I feed the 
nauplii in tap water with a baster. 

If you are not getting any hatch at all, I suspect you used tap water instead 
of salt water, you measured out far too little salt to have any effect on 
salinity, the air shut off, or you tried hatching in the dark. The only time I've 
ever had absolute zero hatches was when mistakenly using tap water, 
harvesting much too soon (less than 24 hrs), or using eggs from a plastic vial or bag 
which were'nt any good. 
   

Robert J. Goldstein, Ph.D.
Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc.
Environmental Consultants
8480 Garvey Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616 USA
tel  (919) 872-1174
fax (919) 872-9214
URL   www.rjgaCarolina.com
e-mail  rgoldstein at rjgaCarolina_com
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