Daphnia are not the wonder food some sources would have us believe them to be, but they're pretty good. These little 'water fleas' are nutritious exercise for our fish.
I have cultured Daphnia for years, and fed a lot of fish over the summer with them. I have been able to produce them in winter, indoors, but never in useful numbers. They're summertime, outdoors project for me. I have some ideas to try to fix that this winter.
In my new region, I haven't found a good wild source yet. So I went online and bought eggs from an aquaculture supplier. They cost me $15 CAD, a bargain since they'll feed a lot of fish for months. I prepared two 20 gallon plastic tubs of green water, with screens to keep the biting bugs from attacking my innocent neighbours. I also made a greenwater culture on the side, as a food source. You have to feed food.
It took over a month for the culture to reach feedable levels. If I had started with overwintered eggs, in my cool Canadian conditions, I would have been feeding in May, rather than July. Next year!
They should at the very least overwinter, and be the start of a new food source for years.
My prequisites?
A shaded area of the yard to ride through the hot days of summer. My neighbours aren't nosy, and I don't allow mosquitoes in the culture, with screening.
My kids are grown up, so no danger there.
I don't mind looking foolish with my little net out in the yard.
It works well. try it...
I have cultured Daphnia for years, and fed a lot of fish over the summer with them. I have been able to produce them in winter, indoors, but never in useful numbers. They're summertime, outdoors project for me. I have some ideas to try to fix that this winter.
In my new region, I haven't found a good wild source yet. So I went online and bought eggs from an aquaculture supplier. They cost me $15 CAD, a bargain since they'll feed a lot of fish for months. I prepared two 20 gallon plastic tubs of green water, with screens to keep the biting bugs from attacking my innocent neighbours. I also made a greenwater culture on the side, as a food source. You have to feed food.
It took over a month for the culture to reach feedable levels. If I had started with overwintered eggs, in my cool Canadian conditions, I would have been feeding in May, rather than July. Next year!
They should at the very least overwinter, and be the start of a new food source for years.
My prequisites?
A shaded area of the yard to ride through the hot days of summer. My neighbours aren't nosy, and I don't allow mosquitoes in the culture, with screening.
My kids are grown up, so no danger there.
I don't mind looking foolish with my little net out in the yard.
It works well. try it...
