Daphnia Tank Mates

[coolfishfan]

I am raising daphnia in a small glass aquarium.
 
Want to make this aquarium a little more attractive.
Thought of putting some live fishes(maybe just one or two) in that.
A little worried that the fishes may eat all the daphnia.
 
Just need to know which fishes can I keep with the daphnia.
Doesn't matter if the fishes eat little of the daphnia, but not all.
 
The presence of the fishes should not decrease the overall population
of the daphnia.
 
Thanks.
 
 

 

[NickAu]

So let me get this straight, You are raising daphnia in a small glass aquarium? And you want to add fish, Good luck with that in a small tank. I just cant see this working.

 

[coolfishfan]

I know this maybe a foolish idea.....but still just need to get the facts right.
 
I would be happy even if I keep a single fish in it.

 

[betta fish]

Fish will eventually eat all the daphnia, even one, how big is the tank? I keep my daphnia in buckets outdoors so they can breed freely and then I feed them to my fish indoors by sweeping a net through the bucket.

 

[Baccus]

Depending on the actual size of the tank and any heating or filteration you might have on it, I still would not risk any fish with the daphnia, after daphnia really are like candy to all/ any fish.
You could how ever look at having either dwarf shrimp like cherry shrimp or even some nice snails with the daphnia.

 

[coolfishfan]

Fish will eventually eat all the daphnia, even one, how big is the tank? I keep my daphnia in buckets outdoors so they can breed freely and then I feed them to my fish indoors by sweeping a net through the bucket.

 
I had problems keeping daphnia outside due to increased population of mosquitoes in my premises.
 
Thats why I stopped keeping daphnia outside.,
 
I would like to keep them outside, but just want to avoid mosquito larvae.

 

[betta fish]

I g
 

 

Fish will eventually eat all the daphnia, even one, how big is the tank? I keep my daphnia in buckets outdoors so they can breed freely and then I feed them to my fish indoors by sweeping a net through the bucket.

 
I had problems keeping daphnia outside due to increased population of mosquitoes in my premises.
 
Thats why I stopped keeping daphnia outside.,
 
I would like to keep them outside, but just want to avoid mosquito larvae.
 

uess in India it is different, in the UK the mosquitos are not as bad and don't harm humans, I fed their larvae to my fish too, unless you can find some way to seal the buckets or is there somewhere to keep them indoors? 

 

[Baccus]

You could strech fly screen across the top of the tub/ bucket of water, but this will reduce the amount of light getting into the water and affect the amount of green water for the daphnia to feed on.

 

[coolfishfan]

You could strech fly screen across the top of the tub/ bucket of water, but this will reduce the amount of light getting into the water and affect the amount of green water for the daphnia to feed on.

This idea seems interesting to me.
 
 
Thank you everybody for the useful ideas.

 

[coolfishfan]

Now, I am looking for a solution for the glass algae.
 
How about some algae eaters like plecos, chinese algae eaters, otocinclus,....etc...etc
 
Is there any algae eater fish that doesn't eat daphnia ???

 

[fish48]

the only fish that will not eat daphnia is a dead one lol,

 

[coolfishfan]

the only fish that will not eat daphnia is a dead one lol,

 
But what I have noticed is the algae eaters will eat only those things that are lying at the bottom,
and anything that sticks on the vertical walls.
 
I have not seen these kind of fishes catching anything that is swimming around.

 

[betta fish]

Algae eaters may be less likely to eat the daphnia but with tropical fish you need a heater and a filter plus clean water, none of which are great for daphnia, you also mention the tank is small? how small exactly? 

 

[coolfishfan]

The tank is 20 gallons approximately.