Re: [Killietalk] brine shrimp egg shells fallingto the bottom whenhatched

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

Barry,

It can greatly depend on your room humidity. Anywhere in the Bay Area, 
even the realively drier S.E. (Fremont, Milpitas, SJ) area will see 
sharp degradation in the hatchability of those eggs nearest the surface.

In my high desert air in Bishop, it probably would not be a problem 
anytime it isn't actually raining. [We run about 15% RH most of the 
time. :-)]

Leaving the can in the ultra-dry air of a frost-free refrigerator, and 
dipping eggs from there would possibly work OK, too -- about like 
pouring from a small hole in the lid.

If you stick a mirror in with the eggs, and the next time you open the 
can it does not fog up, you probably are not hurting the eggs. At recent 
egg prices, I am really disinclined to gamble, tho. ;-)

Wright

Barry Cooper wrote:
> Wright,
>
> What you describe has not been my experience. I do store unopened cans 
> in the freezer and I store opened cans in the refrigerator. I open the 
> latter daily to remove about 1 heaping teaspoonful of eggs. The can is 
> open just long enough to do so. I have not noticed any degradation of 
> hatch rate over the lifetime of a 1 lb can, using the premium quality 
> cysts bought from Jehmco.
>
> Barry
>
>
> At 08:26 AM 11/24/2003 -0800, you wrote:
>
> > Hi Paul,
> >
> > Couple of comments:
> >
> > Refrigeration is now recommended over freezing (proven better cyst 
> > survival over time). Eggs are quickly killed if you open a can of cold 
> > cysts in normal room humidity (right from *either* refrigerator or 
> > freezer). They *must* be warmed to room temp. before opening.
> >
> > An invisible fog of dew settles on all the cold eggs near the surface, 
> > which triggers hatch signals. Then, when the rains don't come to wash 
> > them into the salty lake water, they die and will never hatch. Those 
> > end up at the bottom of your hatchery, and usually won't float to the 
> > top with the empty shells. You can quickly change 90% eggs to <50% 
> > eggs by not letting them warm up for a day before removing the lid.
> >
> > Some get away with use directly from cold storage by only poking a 
> > tiny hole in the can to pour eggs from, but not letting in much room 
> > humidity. Tape or put a plastic lid over the hole at all times when 
> > not actually pouring out eggs.
> >
> > Since I rarely hatch more than a tsp. of eggs at a time, I find it 
> > easier to let a can warm for a day, and then pour out a few weeks 
> > worth into a small jar with a good lid. I leave the jar out and put 
> > the sealed can back in the back of the refrigerator until I run low.

--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514

           Procrastination day has been postponed!

                       Again!



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