Frozen food farms

[Viridis]

I tried to find more info on google, but it was far and few between, and any pictures were either extremely low quality, or not of what I wanted.

Anyways, does anyone have any info/pictures of the farms (if they are farmed?) that produce the species used for frozen/freeze dried food? I'm talking daphnia, bloodworms, mosquito larvae, and gammarus. I know things like mysids and krill (and I'm assuming other ocean inverts like rotifers and plankton?) are usually harvested from the wild, but what about the freshwater spp.? Certainly they aren't collecting THAT many bloodworms/daphnia/gammarus from the wild, are they?

What are they feeding them? How often are they harvested? How are they making sure they are only culturing the targeted sp., or are they just sorted in processing?

Is it just a case of large concrete or dug ponds?

 

[Cyanopica]

I don't have any answers, but am watching the thread in case anyone does...

Have you called one of the companies for the info?

 

[Fat Homer]

Im actually curious too now that you mention it, im guessing in China maybe done using the concrete pond trick, but what about brands like Hikari that are Japanese... does make you wonder...

 

[Fat Homer]

Found a video from Taiwan that shows how they harvest bloodworms from the wild...

Its in chinese but can at least see how its done... also found out they need a constant source of light, otherwise they get lazy and forget to breathe if no lights at night... lol...

 

[Viridis]

I don't have any answers, but am watching the thread in case anyone does...

Have you called one of the companies for the info?

I tried a whie ago and never got a response from any of them. I should try again.

Im actually curious too now that you mention it, im guessing in China maybe done using the concrete pond trick, but what about brands like Hikari that are Japanese... does make you wonder...

I wouldn't be surprised if the Japanese brands (i.e. Hikari) and from the Chinese farms, and just repackaged. Though, doesn't Hikari claim theirs are irradiated? I wonder if that's done in Japan, or just a requirement for all exported (similar to how all Chilecomadia moorei have to be irradiated before leaving Chile).

Found a video from Taiwan that shows how they harvest bloodworms from the wild...

Its in chinese but can at least see how its done... also found out they need a constant source of light, otherwise they get lazy and forget to breathe if no lights at night... lol...

I've seen a few videos of people collecting bloodworms in Asia from ponds for their Bettas and such, but it's usually relatively small amounts compared to the absurdly large number that must be needed to supply fishkeepers...

If they are all wild-caught, these places must have huge clouds of midges too thick to see through haha

 

[Viridis]

I emailed Hikari and got a response back (that was quick!).

For competitive reasons they can't disclose that info... So dead-end there.

 

[Cyanopica]

I emailed Hikari and got a response back (that was quick!).

For competitive reasons they can't disclose that info... So dead-end there.

Booooooooo! You'd think they could at least disclose something? If I call my dog/cat food maker or even the company who processes and packages my chicken thighs, I'd expect at least something. Perhaps there is more pressure in certain types of food industry to be more transparent.

 

[Viridis]

Booooooooo! You'd think they could at least disclose something? If I call my dog/cat food maker or even the company who processes and packages my chicken thighs, I'd expect at least something. Perhaps there is more pressure in certain types of food industry to be more transparent.

Yeah I was hoping for at least something; but I guess they've got to prevent competition somehow? I can understand that some what.

Let's hope somebody here knows something about how it's done.