| The benefits of feeding live food to fish in | | | | cause the bubbles to become lodged in the |
| a community tank are many: live food will | | | | carapace of the culture, and they will |
| improve vigor and color, and more closely | | | | die.Water temperatures for Daphnia magna are |
| resemble the food found in the fish's natural | | | | not a high requirement, but the optimal |
| habitat. Live food is easily obtained.Some | | | | temperature should be in the 64-72 degree |
| drawbacks include the transmission of | | | | range. they are very tolerant to changes in |
| diseases or parasites to the aquarium, it is | | | | temperature, and can withstand fluctuations |
| time consuming to maintain the cultures, and | | | | down to freezing. In fact, Daphnia can be |
| a lot of space needs to be devoted to raising | | | | frozen and kept in the freezer, and then |
| live foods. The cost of equipment and | | | | revived when needed. Moina withstand a |
| supplies needed to maintain cultures is also | | | | higher fluctuation in temperature than do D. |
| a consideration for the beginner.In this | | | | magna.Lighting should be in the neighborhood |
| article I will discuss how to raise Daphnia. | | | | of eight or more hours light per day and |
| This article will be part of an on-going | | | | light intensity equal to or greater than 850 |
| series on live foods. You can find many more | | | | lux. A simple light and a timer can |
| related articles at belong to a group known | | | | accomplish this indoors.Feeding the Daphnia |
| as the Daphniidae, and are close relatives of | | | | is where most aquarists fail. Daphnia feed |
| the freshwater shrimp, and the brine shrimp | | | | on dissolved organic matter, yeast, various |
| (Artemia). Their generic name is generally | | | | groups of bacteria, microalgae, and |
| referred to as "water flea." This common name | | | | detritus, or mulm. Organic fertilizers, such |
| is derived from the jerky movements of | | | | as fresh cow manure. It is not recommended |
| Daphnia in the water. The over 150 different | | | | by our breeder, though, because of the |
| species can be found in North America, with a | | | | antibiotics and supplements fed to dairy and |
| similar amount of species growing in Europe. | | | | beef cattle. A much better mixture is a |
| Some of these species find common ground on | | | | combination of one tablespoon each of |
| both continents.Daphnia are a small | | | | spirulina, soy flour, and active dry yeast, |
| crustacean, and are great to use as a fresh | | | | added to a pint of water. This mixture should |
| food because they will exist in the tank | | | | be added so that the water is cloudy, but you |
| water until eaten by the fish. Daphnia can | | | | are able to see the bottom clearly, and |
| also be sterilized if it is felt necessary by | | | | observe the Daphnia swimming in the culture. |
| placing in a 5% solution of Clorox for 3 to 5 | | | | This mixture should be added carefully every |
| minutes. Very few micro-organisms can | | | | two or three days, being careful not to over |
| survive this. Be sure, however, to rinse them | | | | feed. At this time, you should see an |
| thoroughly before feeding!Daphnia can be | | | | abundance of Daphnia, and they can be |
| raised both indoors and outside. Many people | | | | harvested to feed your fish.Harvesting is |
| raise daphnia in a small children's wading | | | | quite simple - simply use a small aquarium |
| pool. A more controlled environment, | | | | net, observing that the smaller Daphnia fall |
| however, is done indoors, and can be done | | | | through the netting to grow further. In this |
| year round if one lives in northern climes. | | | | way, the adults are harvested, and can be fed |
| This can be as simple as a couple of two | | | | to your fish. The younger Daphnia can go on |
| liter bottles, to a 20 gallon tub purchased | | | | to produce still more fish food. Harvested |
| from a store such as Menard's. The ideal | | | | Daphnia can be kept in the refrigerator for |
| situation is to have as much oxygenated | | | | several days in clean water.Daphnia are high |
| surface area as possible, so if there is room | | | | in protein, and a very good diet for tropical |
| for a larger container, by all means use it. | | | | fish. Some aquarists feed them exclusively. |
| A shallower environment suits daphnia best | | | | They provide up to 70% protein to your |
| for prolific growth.Setting up the | | | | tropical fish, and are an excellent source of |
| environment for daphnia is quite simple. | | | | live food for the aquarium.Much can be |
| Many methods are used for collecting the | | | | written on the culturing of Daphnia. This |
| water to use for the culture. The best advice | | | | guide is only meant to help the beginner to |
| I have heard is from Joe F. of Circle City | | | | live foods to establish a colony, and feed |
| Aquarium Club in Indianapolis, IN. He gave a | | | | live food high in protein to their fish. A |
| presentation at the August meeting of | | | | series of article on live foods is |
| Southwestern Michigan Aquarium Society, and | | | | forthcoming, and can be viewed at Smith is a |
| recommends using tank water saved from a tank | | | | published author, and has been marketing on |
| change. Joe has been raising live foods for | | | | the internet for 7 years. Read more articles |
| a long time, and has had good success. His | | | | at his website, King Discus, an active |
| video presentation was top notch.PH levels | | | | gathering place for discus breeders and |
| for successful Daphnia cultures should be in | | | | lovers of discus fish. |
| the range of 6-8, and should be more alkaline | | | | |
| than acidic. If raised outdoors, no aeration | | | | His wife Betsy is the administrator of All |
| is needed. If raised indoors, aeration | | | | The Best Recipes a site rich in free online |
| should be adjusted to produce large bubbles. | | | | recipes and cookbooks. |
| Small bubbles in the daphnia culture will | | | | |