So I got a small culture from a friend, and am starting a daphnia culture for myself. Anyone have experience with keeping these? I would also like to know a light requirement, and regiment for them.
Daphnia
- Thread starter WyldFya
- Start date
Howdy,
I kept daphnia for years, they are a great and cheap source of live food. Even "boring" community fish turn into true predators when they chase them. Just don't feed them too often, not more than every other day, and only as a treat. For main meal, once or twice a week is okay.
My daphnia lived in a 10 gal tank, no filtration, on the windowsill, in the sunlight. I fed them regularly with dry yeast suspension. Occasional stirring of the water breaks the biofilm formed on the surface. A small strainer is great for catching them. I used my roommate's tea strainer
You can catch them easily when you change water. Just hold the strainer at the end of the hose that drains the tank 
It is smart to have a small back-up colony. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, the main colony dies off. I simply kept a few daphnia in a jar. I rarely changed water and rarely fed them. The population of that back-up colony will go up and down, but you will always have a few when you need to start over.
Good luck,
HarleyK
I kept daphnia for years, they are a great and cheap source of live food. Even "boring" community fish turn into true predators when they chase them. Just don't feed them too often, not more than every other day, and only as a treat. For main meal, once or twice a week is okay.
My daphnia lived in a 10 gal tank, no filtration, on the windowsill, in the sunlight. I fed them regularly with dry yeast suspension. Occasional stirring of the water breaks the biofilm formed on the surface. A small strainer is great for catching them. I used my roommate's tea strainer
You can catch them easily when you change water. Just hold the strainer at the end of the hose that drains the tank It is smart to have a small back-up colony. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, the main colony dies off. I simply kept a few daphnia in a jar. I rarely changed water and rarely fed them. The population of that back-up colony will go up and down, but you will always have a few when you need to start over.
Good luck,
HarleyK
I wish I had a good windowsill, but none will work. There already is a backup colony in pullman with my friend, but I might still setup a small backup.
Ill have to try again,Ive had 3-4 cultures fail on me in the last few months.Luckily I found a place that sells a level coffee scoop of netted daphnia for a dollar.
My friend is culturing a batch 8 miles away, but just in case one of us has a problem we are both culturing them as back ups for each other.