As a result of the metabolic characteristics of hydrated cysts, a number of recommendations
can be formulated with regard to their use. When cysts (both decapsulated and nondecapsulated)
are stored for a long time, some precautions have to be taken in order to
maintain maximal energy content and hatchability. Hatchability of cysts is largely determined
by the conditions and techniques applied for harvesting, cleaning, drying and storing of the
cyst material. The impact of most of these processes can be related to effects of dehydration
or combined dehydration/hydration. For diapausing cysts, these factors may also interfere
with the diapause induction/termination process, but for quiescent cysts, uncontrolled
dehydration and hydration result in a significant drop of the viability of the embryos.
Hatching quality in stored cysts is slowly decreasing when cysts contain water levels from 10
to 35 % H2O. This process may however be retarded when the cysts are stored at freezing
temperatures. The exact optimal water level within the cyst (around 5 %) is not known,
although there are indications that a too severe dehydration (down to 1-2 %) results in a drop
in viability.