LF nitokra lacustris and platinum bs

[Bratyboy2]

Does anyone know where I can gets start of these dang pods and where I can get a small start of platinum brine from? $325 is just not in the price range for attempting to breed fish right yet

 

[billsreef]

Not sure who's growing that species of pods. As for the brine, if your just looking to start a brine shrimp culture, just go with the cheaper grade of San Fransisco strain. The only reason to spring for Argent's Platinum grade is because you are hatching out huge enough quantities of BBS that the guaranteed 95% hatch out makes a difference. brineshrimpdirect.com is a good source of brine cysts, both San Fran and Great Salt Lake.

 

[Bratyboy2]

I'm going to be attempting to raise blue stripe pipes and they had good results with the platinums because of the smaller size.

 

[billsreef]

It's the SanFran strain that makes for the size at hatch, the platimum grade of SanFran isn't any smaller at hatch than the lower grades of SanFran. Only difference is guarantied hatch rate I used to run a research lab that would go through a case and half of cysts per week at the height of things. Those volumes do make the platinum grade cost effective, but a good quality non platinum works just as well for the fish themselves. I started using the SanFran from Brine Shrimp Direct several years back when Platinum grade wasn't available due a couple of poor harvest years, they work just well, just a somewhat lower hatch rate. Also found I like dealing with Brine Shrimp Direct better than Argent, better service from the sales department.

 

[Bratyboy2]

So I basically can just go out an buy any tube or can of brine and feed them?

 

[billsreef]

No. You need to know the source strain. The San Francisco strain hatches nice and small, and is a favorite for marine fish breeders. The Great Salt Lake strain is cheaper and more readily found, and also hatches larger. You want to be sure it's the San Fransisco strain your buying. It's all the same species, but the location of origin does make a difference

 

[Bratyboy2]

So the San Francisco bay brand brine is okay?

 

[billsreef]

Yes

 

[Bratyboy2]

Sweet!!!! Thanks so much bill!

 

[billsreef]

Good luck with the pipes, and be sure and post pictures

 

[Bratyboy2]

Thanks and I'll try to get as many pics as possible! First I gotta get my pair in!

 

[reefstew]

It's the SanFran strain that makes for the size at hatch, the platimum grade of SanFran isn't any smaller at hatch than the lower grades of SanFran. Only difference is guarantied hatch rate I used to run a research lab that would go through a case and half of cysts per week at the height of things. Those volumes do make the platinum grade cost effective, but a good quality non platinum works just as well for the fish themselves. I started using the SanFran from Brine Shrimp Direct several years back when Platinum grade wasn't available due a couple of poor harvest years, they work just well, just a somewhat lower hatch rate. Also found I like dealing with Brine Shrimp Direct better than Argent, better service from the sales department.

Brine Shrimp Direct is really good to deal with. On the other hand I have tried calling Argent & I get no answer on 1 line & not in service on the 800 #. Are they still in business?

 

[billsreef]

They went through a business change this past year of the company president. Now calling themselves Argent Aquaculture under what I believe is new ownership, and I believe the phone numbers changed as well from what I recall hearing on aquaticinfo list.

http://forum.zhaonline.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=44

Don't know if it will be improvement or not. I stopped dealing with Argent Labs several years ago when a sales rep BS'd me and left me in a huge jam.

 

[Bratyboy2]

Well I appreciate you clearing up all this info bout the cysts and the company. I feel a lot better now...but if I can find these pods I would be really happy!

 

[GreshamH]

They went through a business change this past year of the company president. Now calling themselves Argent Aquaculture under what I believe is new ownership, and I believe the phone numbers changed as well from what I recall hearing on aquaticinfo list.

http://forum.zhaonline.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=44

Don't know if it will be improvement or not. I stopped dealing with Argent Labs several years ago when a sales rep BS'd me and left me in a huge jam.

The word on the street is sinking ship. We have been getting inquiries from ex Argent customers, and for stuff like F2.

 

[billsreef]

Somehow I'm not surprised. It's easy enough to find the old defunct Argent Labs website sill up and functioning, but not the new companies.

 

[GreshamH]

These are large volume buyers, that backbone of their clientele.

I do not expect them to survive the change, in fact, I consider them DAA

 

[Bratyboy2]

Got word from the reef crew guy,Brian in Canada said he will be in buffalo possibly next week and will ship the nitoka strain to me from there! Super pumped!