W. Tackaert

Characterization of brine shrimp Artemia from Cam Ranh Bay in Central Vietnam

Artemia cysts collected from inoculation experiments in Cam Ranh salterns are evaluated for their potential use in aquaculture. Cyst biometrics, hatching quality, naupliar fatty acid profile and naupliar growth were measured and compared to reference Artemia strains. Cyst characteristics reveal that the parthenogenetic strain (PR China) used in inoculations, was eliminated from the environment and that the remaining brine shrimp are likely to be composed of Macau and Great Salt Lake Artemia strains, and of their cross-breds. Differences in cyst diapause deactivation characteristics between Macau and Great Salt Lake Artemia may have resulted in the disappearance of Macau Artemia during the rainy season and the persistence of Great Salt Lake Artemia during the following dry season.

Improved use of the fluidized bed dryer for Artemia cysts

A fluidized bed dryer for processing Artemia cysts at temperatures above 40°C is described and evaluated. The design is directed towards electronic temperature regulation and optimal design of the drying unit. The described fluidized bed dryer proves to be reliable for cyst processing, using inflow air temperatures up to 90°C. The use of this elevated temperature ensures a higher drying rate, resulting in a drying capacity more than 4 times higher than when using inflow air of 40°C. Electronic temperature regulation resulted in a large flexibility of the temperature regime inside the drying unit.