I think I've mutated your brine shrimp!

[Sailfin]

Hya

I've been using your stuff for yonks and always have newly hatched, 2 day old and half grown brineshrimp on the go. Something very odd happened this morning. I enrich and grow on with gamma nutri-plus (I never have got on with the Hufa although I know its good). I'm weaning baby Comes seahorse onto two day brineshrimp (much to its disgust) so I'm leaving the brine shrimp in the rearing tank and lobbing in some gamma for the shrimp to feed on (this method worked well for Kuda before anyone starts shouting at me). Did this as normal this morning (about 8am) alls well just checked the tank now and all I can describe is lots of 'kites' in there. The bbs have developed 'tails' up to about 8mm long! Not all of them, about 75% - the rest are normal. (I have to admit the baby comes is looking a bit puzzled as well!) Interestingly the bbs with the longest tails have the smallest bodies. The bbs are 48 hours old.

I also use this method for feeding the dwarf seahorses but their bbs are absolutely normal

Am I just being thick here and just never noticed this happen in previous years?

Any ideas

If your going to tell me its poop or something like that do me a favour and do it via pm will you otherwise I'll never live it down! :D :o

[FUGU]

Hi Sailfin - no worries its a useful observation and has links with the food/digestibility. Can you check two things please how long has the food been opened for with respect to shelf-life and which grade of the current cysts you have (Basic or Basic Plus)?

A separate question: have you tried the ZM-100 on seahorse fry yet? We have a public aquaria using this food as a first feed with a good deal of success.

Cheers

[Sailfin]

Hya - thanks for the reply.

When you say food do you mean the gamma - nutriplus (been open for about ten days) or the cysts (been stored in the fridge in an airtight container for about 6 weeks). The hatching rate is still good - they are the Premium grade. (I ordered them quite a while ago).

This obviously isn't a new observation to you - do you know how it will affect seahorse fry etc - I'm quite curious about this?

Yes I read about that aquarium using ZM-100 with success. I have been trying but mine won't take it - they certainly follow it but never go for the final strike. I always have trouble weaning onto non-kicking foods but tbh I think I'm more the problem because I can't bring myself to leave them with no food for a length of time first :o

:thanks:

[FUGU]

Hi Sailfin - no other reports so far I'm just keeping an open mind as I believe I remember seeing some notes about this before; I should be able to recheck on Monday.

I do have a limited quantity of US Premium Grade cysts arriving next week.

I'll try and get the ZM-100 & ZM-200 protocol organised from the public aquaria as its another option available for breeders.

Cheers

[Sailfin]

Ok FUGU

Thanks for that. If you could keep me updated with anything else you find out that would be much appreciated (Inc the stuff from the public aquaria!).

Thanks as always for your help

[Linda]

When I had reidi fry on the go I used to leave some in the tank for several days and add enrichment to the tank, and exactly the same occured. They grew very long tails. Being fairly new to the game I just assumed it was normal. :confused:

[FUGU]

OK - initial check on my notes didn't really come up with anything useful so I'll have to update as and when something does! Cheers