Freezing Technology

Conditioning

Prior to shipment live animals are usually conditioned. Lowered water temperature, and starvation are used to condition live animals.  Conditioning lowers stress, the metabolic rate and oxygen consumption.  This keeps the mortality rate low.  Makes is possible to ship consignments over longer distances and to increase the packing density.  A lower metabolic rate reduces the fouling of water by ammonia and carbon dioxide.  The packing density of live fish can be greatly increased by proper conditioning as the oxygen demand will be lowered.  The consumption of oxygen is also reduced with increased in age and body weight of fish.

The water and body temperature is lowered very slowly to as low a temperature as possible without causing adverse effects to the animals.  Many tropical fish do not tolerate low temperatures.  The animals also need time to adjust to the temperature.  Temperatures have to be maintained during transportation and use of insulated boxes is recommended.