Daphnia

[WillyCKH]

This is my second time growing Daphnia. Lost my cultures long time ago so I purchased some eggs to grow them again. It takes about a month for them to hatch, after that they just keep growing and multiplying as long as there is 'green water'. They eat algae and other water impurities so they are considered beneficial and often used in water testing labs. It would be interesting to grow some along with Utricularia and Gelisea in the future.

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

Where did you buy from?

I used to collect from the local ravine but they never reproduced. They were fascinating to watch.

 

[Stanley]

I feed freeze dried daphnia to my sundews! They are digested much more quickly and aren't as prone to molding as freeze dried bloodworms. Now it's time to get some live ones.

 

[Stanley]

@Lloyd Gordon there are some people selling them on kijiji. The listing says they're right by Yonge/Steeles.

 

[WillyCKH]

Where did you buy from?

I used to collect from the local ravine but they never reproduced. They were fascinating to watch.

I bought them from a local fish guy. Do you want some eggs? I still have a few left that you can have for free.

 

[porcorosso]

those little gaffers are adorable !

 

[Carson Hardy]

I also have a few cultures of daphnia growing. they are mixed in with my tadpoles in a "green water" tank. i also have copepods and other unfamiliar microfauna. they have reproduced for me, but their population seems to boom and bust as the water goes through stages of green and clear.

I started with alitreof water from a local pond, with my initial goal of fedding my fish. But I was never able to "culture" them, and so I just feed from my tadpole tanks when I notice a population boom.

From my experience, reproduction happens withon the adult daphnias carapace. little babies can be seen inside the parents, and they spit them out every once in awhile, like that prego goldfish ffrom that game insaniquarium haha

 

[WillyCKH]

They are very cool indeed! There are two different ways for them to reproduce, via little babies and via eggs.
Here's a photo from 3 years ago when I first started culturing them. I will try to get more cool photos of them if you guys are interested.

 

[krizz]

Where did you buy from?

I used to collect from the local ravine but they never reproduced. They were fascinating to watch.

http://gregsbiologicalsupply.com/

I bought mine from the states since I was collecting fresh water fairy shrimp eggs , triops and sort. I don't see some places like parks with lakes/ponds don't have water fleas in them if there is no fishes.

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

The local ravine used to have them in some muddy puddles in the late spring. No fish at all. Also ostracods which weren't as interesting.

 

[Tarantulalover]

Very interesting, we used these for an experiment in my biology class last year to test the effects on their heart rate from certain substances added to the water like caffeine and alcohol. If you have any eggs left I wouldn’t mind buying some from you!

 

[WillyCKH]

Very interesting, we used these for an experiment in my biology class last year to test the effects on their heart rate from certain substances added to the water like caffeine and alcohol. If you have any eggs left I wouldn’t mind buying some from you!

I've sent what I have to Lloyd but when I have new eggs I will let you know!!

 

[Tarantulalover]

I've sent what I have to Lloyd but when I have new eggs I will let you know!!

Sounds good!

 

[WillyCKH]

New eggs!

 

[WillyCKH]

More photos! The culture is going really well, I'm using it to filter my two aquariums' water.

 

[WillyCKH]

I have few of the cultures going right now. They are surprisingly effective cleaning cloudy algae water, produced by my goldfishes!

 

[FlyTrapKing]

Willy, do you have any eggs i could buy? Thanks

 

[WillyCKH]

I'll let you know when I have new eggs.

 

[WillyCKH]

New Daphnia eggs! (available here)

 

[FlyTrapKing]

How do you get the eggs? Do they just end up on the ground.