Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've been lucky enough to have a virtually free source of nutritious fish food right in my backyard for years - Daphnia pulex. I used to head out to a vernal pond with no fish and scoop out kilos of live daphnia every Spring. I'd freeze it in blocks, and by summer, the ponds would be gone.

Later on, I set up some plastic tubs in a shaded area with old window screens to keep mosquitoes out, using green water to feed them. This setup allowed me to get about 5 years of returning daphnia cultures every Spring. It was a good thing too, since my old source got developed into McMansions - I'm sure those homeowners love their damp basements and mosquito bites.

My current location's an ancient river delta with sandy soil, making it tough to find natural pools. I couldn't find any Daphnia, so I bought a vial of eggs last year. They did great, and my fish food expenses dropped for 6 months while my breeding efforts took off.

I overwintered the tubs in a shed with about 12 cm of water and some leaf litter. They froze solid for a few months, and I wasn't sure how the bought Daphnia would do. But I just harvested enough to feed half a dozen tanks, and I'll let the breeders build up their population for a few weeks. The eggs survived the winter, and I'm back in business.

I harvested today because some mosquito larvae had snuck in, and I wanted to get rid of them before they started causing trouble. My dwarf Cichlids appreciated the snack.

The Daphnia pulex I use prefer cooler water, and during heatwaves, their numbers will drop off until it cools down. There are other species suited to different climates, so it's essential to do some research when buying from online sellers. I'm in a seaside spot in eastern Canada, where it's currently in the teens Celsius. Summer days usually hit around 22-23, and we get a fair bit of rain.

The old-timers where I used to live would go on daphnia-collecting trips a couple of times every Spring as a social outing. They always talked about it like it was a blast. Nowadays, we spend more time staring at screens and have fewer laughs as a hobby community. But at least we can benefit from what they learned without having to fall into a creek.

It's been a few weeks since my last harvest, and I'm thrilled to report that my Daphnia culture is thriving. Today, I managed to fill all my tanks with these nutritious little critters. However, I did have a bit of a setback in one of the tubs - a thirsty gopher paid a visit, and in the process, let in a few unwanted guests: mosquitoes. Luckily, I caught the problem early and adjusted the weight on the cover to prevent any further intrusions.

The mosquito larvae are actually a welcome bonus, as they're incredibly nutritious for my fish. In fact, I save them specifically for the fish I'm trying to breed, as they're even more beneficial than the Daphnia. It's a win-win situation - the mosquitoes won't be bothering me or my neighbours, and my fish will be getting a nutrient-rich treat.

I must say, I'm thoroughly enjoying the benefits of this low-maintenance culture. The initial investment was minimal, and the returns are substantial. The Daphnia are easy to care for, requiring only green water, a tub, and a screen to thrive. They even help filter the water until they become food for my fish. While they do slow down in hot weather, that's not typically a concern in my area.

If I can keep this culture going at its current level, I'm confident it will become my primary source of fish food for the foreseeable future. I highly recommend giving it a try if you have a shaded spot in your backyard - it's definitely worth the effort.