Re: [Killietalk] Decapping vs proper storage techniques -- Decapping is way harder.

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

I said in response to Dan:

> In this statement, you told us why your hatches were poor, though. It
> isn't your water.
>
> For at least 10-15 years, none of the big Artemia producers has
> suggested that Artemia cysts should be kept in the freezer. Freezing
> gradually can kill them. They found that properly-packed eggs last
> much longer at better hatch rates if stored in the refrigerator at
> 40-50F. Room temps, if cool, are often even better than the freezer.

I never suggested you would see any clumping. That usually is long, 
long, after significant damage was done to the cysts near the surface.

I think the reason the manufacturers/packers are against freezing, now, 
is that they have learned to optimize the hatch rate by controlling the 
humidity of the cysts when they are sealed (as I recall at about 7% RH). 
If so, what used to work may fail (in a very expensive way) if you 
freeze eggs with the right amount of moisture already there. Years ago, 
they just tried to get them as dehydrated as possible, and freezing 
apparently caused no harm.

I really do not care if you want to freeze your cysts, but the above is 
the story I have gotten in recent years from both SF Bay Brand and Brine 
Shrimp Direct. I indirectly also got it from Sanders.

>
> If you take a beer mug out of the freezer, even in our dry desert
> air, it develops a coating of dew and maybe even frost, eventually.
> Cysts do the same thing if removed from the freezer and not allowed
> to warm up before opening, but the dew is totally invisible on the
> tiny eggs. Those returned to the freezer (at least the top inch or
> so) are going to be dead when you try to use them.

Note that I said the condensation is not visible. By that, I mean that 
clumping or other visual changes are not a useful clue as to future 
hatch rate (though eggs that clump have probably partially had it).

Please don't lecture me that you have kept eggs for years in the freezer 
with no loss of hatch rate. I agree 100% that it used to work quite 
well. I'm merely passing along information from a couple of good sources 
that they don't recommend freezing any more, after the cysts are 
packaged by modern techniques.

Wright

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



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