Frequently asked questions
The four products share the same nutritional foundation- natural marine plankton, with DHA and EPA in phospholipid form, no enrichment needed. The primary differences are size and form. Cryo-L (Semibalanus balanoides, 320 µm) is the larger-size format, used across marine fish and crustacean hatcheries from first feeding through to weaning. For species with larger mouth gapes at first feed can start on Cryo-L directly. Cryo-S (Balanus crenatus, 200 µm) is the smaller-size format, designed for marine species whose larvae cannot yet ingest 320 µm prey at first feed. It covers the earliest feeding window, with hatcheries typically transitioning to Cryo-L as larvae develop. Many hatcheries use both across the larval feeding window. Cryo-Micro (70 µm) is the smallest-size format. It is designed for the earliest stages and has shown strong uptake in sea bream, ballan wrasse, cod and shrimp larvae. i-Cryo is an inert, frozen alternative to Cryo-L, for hatcheries that prefer a format storable at −20 °C without dewars. Shelf life is 12 months at −20 °C, or unlimited in liquid nitrogen. CryoPlankton’s live formats (Cryo-L, Cryo-S, Cryo-Micro) remain biologically active after thawing; i-Cryo is the inert alternative, sharing Cryo-L’s nutritional profile.
Traditional rotifers and Artemia store essential fatty acids inside triglycerides, whereas CryoPlankton contains them naturally inside phospholipids. Marine fish larvae possess an evolutionary adaptation that allows them to process and absorb nutrients bound to phospholipids far more efficiently. Furthermore, CryoPlankton naturally provides optimal, un-enriched concentrations of vital proteins (67g/100g dry weight) and critical micronutrients like taurine, which are structurally deficient in standard live options like AF Artemia.
The four products share the same nutritional foundation- natural marine plankton, with DHA and EPA in phospholipid form, no enrichment needed. The primary differences are size and form. Cryo-L (Semibalanus balanoides, 320 µm) is the larger-size format, used across marine fish and crustacean hatcheries from first feeding through to weaning. For species with larger mouth gapes at first feed can start on Cryo-L directly. Cryo-S (Balanus crenatus, 200 µm) is the smaller-size format, designed for marine species whose larvae cannot yet ingest 320 µm prey at first feed. It covers the earliest feeding window, with hatcheries typically transitioning to Cryo-L as larvae develop. Many hatcheries use both across the larval feeding window. Cryo-Micro (70 µm) is the smallest-size format. It is designed for the earliest stages and has shown strong uptake in sea bream, ballan wrasse, cod and shrimp larvae. i-Cryo is an inert, frozen alternative to Cryo-L, for hatcheries that prefer a format storable at −20 °C without dewars. Shelf life is 12 months at −20 °C, or unlimited in liquid nitrogen.
No. CryoPlankton nauplii do not require pre-feeding or enrichment before use. Thaw, rinse and revitalise according to the preparation protocol.
Traditional rotifers and Artemia store essential fatty acids inside triglycerides, whereas CryoPlankton contains them naturally inside phospholipids. Marine fish larvae possess an evolutionary adaptation that allows them to process and absorb nutrients bound to phospholipids far more efficiently. Furthermore, CryoPlankton naturally provides optimal, un-enriched concentrations of vital proteins (67g/100g dry weight) and critical micronutrients like taurine, which are structurally deficient in standard live options like AF Artemia.
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CryoPlankton is stored in liquid nitrogen dewars and remains viable indefinitely, provided the liquid nitrogen level is maintained. The main requirement is ensuring the dewar doesn’t run dry. Dewars should be kept in a well-ventilated area. In practice, most hatcheries work through their supply well before the nitrogen needs replenishing.
Yes, with standard precautions. Gloves, eye protection and covered skin are required when handling dewars. Dewars must be stored in a well-ventilated area. Planktonic provides handling guidance and practical onboarding support as part of the adoption process.
Under normal conditions, the liquid nitrogen in a dewar lasts approximately 50 days from dispatch.
CryoPlankton is stored in liquid nitrogen dewars. The product remains viable indefinitely as long as the liquid nitrogen level is maintained. The primary storage requirement is ensuring the dewar does not run dry. Dewars should be kept in a well-ventilated area.
CryoPlankton can be stored indefinitely, provided the liquid nitrogen level in the dewar is maintained consistently. In practice, most hatcheries work through their supply well before the nitrogen requires replenishment.
Yes, with standard precautions. Gloves, eye protection and covered skin are required when handling dewars. Dewars must be stored in a well-ventilated area. Planktonic provides handling guidance and practical onboarding support as part of the adoption process.
Under normal conditions, the liquid nitrogen in a dewar lasts approximately 50 days from dispatch.
Using CryoPlankton as a partial replacement or alongside existing live feed systems is a common and practical starting point for many hatcheries. Improvements in larval growth rate and early-stage resilience are observed from the first cohort, even without a full protocol change. These benefits tend to continue into later life stages. A full protocol transition is not required to see meaningful results, and many hatcheries use this approach deliberately as a lower-risk introduction before scaling further.
Significantly less. The preparation footprint for CryoPlankton is approximately one sixth of the space required for equivalent rotifer and artemia production. No culture tanks, no daily monitoring, no enrichment setup. The preparation process requires minimal dedicated space and equipment.
Using CryoPlankton as a partial replacement or alongside existing live feed systems is a common and practical starting point for many hatcheries. Improvements in larval growth rate and early-stage resilience are observed from the first cohort, even without a full protocol change. These benefits tend to continue into later life stages. A full protocol transition is not required to see meaningful results, and many hatcheries use this approach deliberately as a lower-risk introduction before scaling further.
Significantly less. The preparation footprint for CryoPlankton is approximately one sixth of the space required for equivalent rotifer and artemia production. No culture tanks, no daily monitoring, no enrichment setup. The preparation process requires minimal dedicated space and equipment.
No. The nauplii are biologically alive and show strong vitality from the beginning, which is what makes them an effective live feed. However, they are not capable of developing beyond this stage as they cannot complete the moulting cycle required to reach settlement as cyprids. There is no risk of barnacles establishing themselves in a hatchery system.
No. The nauplii are biologically alive and show strong vitality from the beginning, which is what makes them an effective live feed. However, they are not capable of developing beyond this stage as they cannot complete the moulting cycle required to reach settlement as cyprids. There is no risk of barnacles establishing themselves in a hatchery system.
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