Breeding Daphnia

[Honeythorn]

I bought a couple of bags of Daphnia when I went to the LFS, and fed most of them to the fish. But I kept about 1/2 a bag back as I suddenly decided I wanted to try and culture some more if possible.

I looked at a few sites, and have set up a 3 ltr ( 1 gal ) tub on the windowsill . It's just over a quarter full of used tankwater,with a dribble of gravel and a couple of seashells on the bottom ( one site said they liked quite hard water )

I also have a plastic tub on the windowsill full of green water from my aunts pond, with some bits of dying aquarium plant I pulled out of another tank to rot down and help the algae. I've been feeding them this for the past 3-4 days. I also have a cup of yeast which is frothing like mad, and have dripped a couple of drops of that in as well.

I seem to have a fair few babies now, very very tiny, and after another look at some sites, have set up a second batch in a clean old coffee jar with some babies and a few adults from the main tub, as they say that if one culture dies you always have a spare one.

Am I doing things correctly so far? Does anyone else breed Daphnia who could maybe give me a few tips or corrections?

 

[three-fingers]

Sounds good, I've done this before, but I find it much more productive to use a big bucket outside in direct sunlight .

 

[BigC]

Going well thus far but I would tend to produce on a larger scale by using large rainwater butts or 55 gallon drums.
http/www.caudata.org/daphnia/
Regards
BigC

 

[Honeythorn]

Do they breed all year round outside? Even in winter? I could get a bucket and allow it to fill with rainwater, or a mixture of rain and pondwater ? Then add some Daphnia to it and leave them to do what they do best?