Feeding live Daphnia

[ADelphi]

Well i started buying live daphnia from my lfs, which was all well and good as the portions were sealed and from holland and didn't make a mess at all.

Now these bags are from the uk and not sealed, they don't seem to be very alive either, i'm getting on the surface of my tank alot of white scum flakey pieces off them, what they look like are husks of bodies, and i now have to spend time trying to net the mess off the surface.

I do strain them in a net and rinse them under the tap. I do keep them in the fridge.

I have 5 more bags of these daphnia, do you think the white flakey bits will pollute my tank.

 

[BigC]

I never really liked buying live Daphnia from my local fish supplier, they were as you said barely alive, and full of shells (Husks). I wouldn't bother buying any more. You could try culturing you own in 55 gallon drums using the LFS bags as a starter culture. Then you could have your own supply on a seasonal basis. Do a google for the lifecycle of daphnia/culturing daphnia.

 

[GSD]

hmm strange.
mine always come alive and well and are eaten buy my fishies in a matter of minutes.
i suggest you stop feeding it if its that bad quality.mabe you can try frozen bloodworm.mine love it and its easier and less messy imo.
or live bloodworm although i do put them in my net and wash before feeding.

 

[ADelphi]

I'm going to give brine shrimp a go, i have bought a hobby hatcher and waterlifes shelless Artemia. http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z099221.asp

I have fed live blood worms, but they did look a bit big so the smaller fish were not keen on them.

The daphnia i have when i open the bag they smell quite bad, i only purchased them on friday and thats the day the lfs have live food delivered.

I liked this article about daphnia --> http/www.caudata.org/daphnia/

For someone who only wants a modest amount of Daphnia per week, cultures can be maintained in two litre bottles.

Thats more my size

 

[laurasmithuk]

be cautious. i added live daphnia to my tank a few months back and it produced a major ammonai spike killing alot of my fish! there seemed to be too much waste in the bag. it might be worth draining water and rinsing them off if you can find a way.