Shipping rotifers? Or what else to do with them?

RCS · 01/20/2007, 07:20 PM

Okay guys, my first batch of rotifers this far has been what I'd call a success. The first 4-5 days was a nice deepening of the Nanno in the tank they're in, followed by the last 3 days to today where the Nanno is almost gone! I hate to simply pull most of them out of there and dump them, but I've got not much else to do with them. I will be setting up another small tank, but there will still be lots of extras.

Anyone shipped rotifers in cold weather? I'm guessing they're not "worth" it to ship overnight, but 2-day or Priority mail may work. I've got 40 hours heat packs sitting around doing nothing right now...so if anyone needs rotifers and is willing to try them out (or wants to pay overnight!) I'm willing to send some out for postage and the cost of supplies. I'm thinking I'll send them out in Breather Bags and can ship a full one or two for probably 1-2 lbs. worth of postage. Total cost shouldn't be any more than $8-10 delivered.

Otherwise, if anyone has any alternate-use suggestions, I'm all ears. They're well-fed on Nanno right now....should I get myself an ice cube tray and freeze some? I'm thinking if I condense them, I can thaw a cube and feed corals or have backup frozen rots down the road just in case. I'll likely feed some of the live ones to corals anyway, but that's about the extent of my use for them.

Thanks!

Kathy55g · 01/20/2007, 07:48 PM

Hi Fred,
You can filter out most of the water, and freeze them and use them someday when you don't have so many live ones.

Congrats, mine have crashed. I don't usually have this trouble....

I live near a university that grows 'em, so I can get a refill for free on Monday.

tanglovers · 01/20/2007, 08:25 PM

Kathy,

When you freeze your excess rots, do you freeze just then, not in any water or anything? What do you typically freeze them in...ziplocs or what? I have been dumping them down the drain but I think freezing some would be an excellent idea.

mwp · 01/20/2007, 09:39 PM

FWIW, when I short-term freeze rotifers (i.e. 5 minutes) and they thaw out, they're still alive. So I bet that they could actually handle low shipping temps fairly well, besides, it takes a lot more to freeze saltwater.

Matt

Kmiec123 · 01/21/2007, 09:07 AM

Cool, Idea..I trade for Frags.

Freezing good idea. I have hears its not too good on filtration centers for go down the drain with them, better to sive out the pitch in the trash, not that I haven't done it on occasion.

Just some thoughts...Carl

Kathy55g · 01/21/2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tanglovers
Kathy,

When you freeze your excess rots, do you freeze just then, not in any water or anything? What do you typically freeze them in...ziplocs or what? I have been dumping them down the drain but I think freezing some would be an excellent idea.

I just started doing this, so I don't really have a method. I don't really think it matters how much water they have when you freeze them. Just make sure they have eaten a good meal of phyto before you harvest them for freezing. They are only as nutritious as their last meal.

Dman · 01/21/2007, 02:17 PM

Contact your local Aquarium society or message board and start making some money.

Peter Schmiedel · 01/22/2007, 05:42 AM

You would also be amazed how many fish like this small food. My goby collection loves to eat them

01/20/2007, 07:20 PM	#1
RCS Moved On Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 2,880	Shipping rotifers? Or what else to do with them? Okay guys, my first batch of rotifers this far has been what I'd call a success. The first 4-5 days was a nice deepening of the Nanno in the tank they're in, followed by the last 3 days to today where the Nanno is almost gone! I hate to simply pull most of them out of there and dump them, but I've got not much else to do with them. I will be setting up another small tank, but there will still be lots of extras. Anyone shipped rotifers in cold weather? I'm guessing they're not "worth" it to ship overnight, but 2-day or Priority mail may work. I've got 40 hours heat packs sitting around doing nothing right now...so if anyone needs rotifers and is willing to try them out (or wants to pay overnight!) I'm willing to send some out for postage and the cost of supplies. I'm thinking I'll send them out in Breather Bags and can ship a full one or two for probably 1-2 lbs. worth of postage. Total cost shouldn't be any more than $8-10 delivered. Otherwise, if anyone has any alternate-use suggestions, I'm all ears. They're well-fed on Nanno right now....should I get myself an ice cube tray and freeze some? I'm thinking if I condense them, I can thaw a cube and feed corals or have backup frozen rots down the road just in case. I'll likely feed some of the live ones to corals anyway, but that's about the extent of my use for them. Thanks!

01/21/2007, 09:07 AM	#5
Kmiec123 Actual CMAS Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NW Side Chicago Posts: 2,743 Blog Entries: 1	Cool, Idea..I trade for Frags. Freezing good idea. I have hears its not too good on filtration centers for go down the drain with them, better to sive out the pitch in the trash, not that I haven't done it on occasion. Just some thoughts...Carl __________________ Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground. Current Tank Info: All-Glass 120 Gal #12348 W/ Dual overflow 48x24x24. Dual 400w MH with VHO atintic. Rod's sump design with old Euro reef skimmer Wife's tank 55 Gal w/cylone Bio-filter #cy194 w/ Sendra 3500 on Skimmer. Korella's for flow.

01/21/2007, 02:17 PM	#7
Dman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,156	Contact your local Aquarium society or message board and start making some money. __________________ Prisoner Number 642 On parol for reefkeeping Currently doing "time" in a medium security breeding facility for the terminally insane Current Tank Info: Most days; too damn many

01/22/2007, 05:42 AM	#8
Peter Schmiedel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 1,628	You would also be amazed how many fish like this small food. My goby collection loves to eat them __________________ Have a nice day Peter Current Tank Info: 300g main tank, several others

01/20/2007, 07:48 PM	#2
Kathy55g Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,249	Hi Fred, You can filter out most of the water, and freeze them and use them someday when you don't have so many live ones. Congrats, mine have crashed. I don't usually have this trouble.... I live near a university that grows 'em, so I can get a refill for free on Monday.

01/20/2007, 08:25 PM	#3
tanglovers Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 946	Kathy, When you freeze your excess rots, do you freeze just then, not in any water or anything? What do you typically freeze them in...ziplocs or what? I have been dumping them down the drain but I think freezing some would be an excellent idea.

01/20/2007, 09:39 PM	#4
mwp Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,637	FWIW, when I short-term freeze rotifers (i.e. 5 minutes) and they thaw out, they're still alive. So I bet that they could actually handle low shipping temps fairly well, besides, it takes a lot more to freeze saltwater. Matt