Daphnia is a crustacean creature. They are often called water fleas. The size of small representatives reaches 6 mm. All crustaceans are very different, and each of them is unique in its own way, like a person. This can be judged by the form of the creature.
Daphnia is a living organism. It is also called the term "live dust". The crustacean has the largest number of genes. Humans are much larger than Daphnia, but humans have only 20-25 thousand genes, while this creature has more than 30 thousand. Despite this, breeding daphnia at home in different ways is not difficult.
Using
Not everyone knows how to breed daphnia at home. Typically, crustaceans are used as food for domestic fish and insects. Also, with the help of these creatures, you can recognize the quality of water. True, this will affect the crustacean, that is, its health.
Everything will depend on his legal capacity, but such an experiment can lead to death. If daphnia will be active, then the water quality is normal. If the creature slowly dies, it is better to change the water, since the rest of the aquarium inhabitants will die.
The structure of the crustacean
Any kind of daphnia is covered with a chitinous shell. She is very thin and transparent. Through it, you can see all the organs of the creature. And when the crustacean eats, then it becomes such a shade as the color he ate food.
Like a person, Daphnia also has two eyes, it has a brain and all other insides.
Varieties of crustaceans in different parts of the world
In Europe and America, there are about 150 varieties. Many of them fell on other continents. And often this happened in different ways.
Crustaceans are very amazing animals. Scientists give an example: if these creatures appeared from the same litter, but lived in different conditions and habitats, they can grow unlike each other.
Daphnia (or river crustaceans) can be bred in ponds. Usually they are used as food for fry and fish.
Growing
Many do not even have a clue how to breed daphnia at home. Nevertheless, the crustaceans may well grow a layman. No special tools are needed for this.
A capacity of approximately 17 liters is required. A home aquarium in which future Daphnia will live will do. It is not recommended to use plastic containers, it is better to take a container of glass.
Daphnia can be withdrawn both at home and on the street. In the latter case, it is recommended to take a capacity of at least 40 liters.
The most dangerous for these creatures
In no case should you keep Daphnia in salt water, since this will be detrimental to the crustacean, because he lives in fresh ponds.
But oxygen starvation of crustaceans can tolerate normally, as well as high temperature. But on average, these crustaceans prefer living conditions at +20 0 .
Food for crustaceans and breeding bacteria
When wondering how to breed daphnia at home, you need to remember that creatures are very fond of microscopic bacteria, yeast and plankton. Any person has food waste, so do not throw it away. Just from them you can get food for crustaceans.
For example, deciding how to feed Daphnia at home, you can leave banana or apple peels in the water for a while (for about 3-4 days). When the liquid becomes cloudy, this indicates the appearance of bacteria. In a week they are ready, that is, now for Daphnia there is food.
To feed a creature, you need to pour muddy water into a container with a crustacean. For 20 liters, 450 milliliters of liquid with bacteria will be required. And this procedure is recommended every week.
By the way, in order not to complicate yourself with cooking for crustaceans, you can just buy yeast. It will be much easier and more convenient. A similar product must be added at 28 grams per 20 liters of water. However, in this case, you have to feed the crustaceans every day.
Additionally, it is worth adding microscopic algae, which help the water stay clean for a long time. And the main plus of such plants is that they secrete useful substances.
Healthy Food for Daphnia
Not everyone understands how to breed Daphnia without a living culture. Yeast is a good food for crustaceans. You can just buy it at the store. Compared to algae, the yeast is less valuable, but daphnia should be given in large quantities.
By the way, crustaceans in lakes or ponds always swim where there is more vegetation.
Chlorella
Chlorella algae are well adapted and mastered in the aquarium. This vegetation perfectly cleans the aquarium.
As soon as the algae is in the tank, they will immediately begin to actively develop with the assistance of sunlight. In the future it will be very convenient when the algae begin to reproduce on their own, and daphnia begins to use them as food.
Another crustacean food
You can also add vegetable juice to the container in the ratio of 1 teaspoon per 5 liters. This food will have a very good effect on the health and activity of the crustaceans. You can also add manure. But you can’t feed your pets with dairy products, hay tincture. This food will not affect daphnia very well.
Also, the crustacean eats bran, flour and even animal blood well. Add this food in the same proportion as the yeast.
Daphnia breeding
In most cases, when the living conditions are good, daphnia only give birth to females. But if the crustaceans are starving, then males appear.
The males are much more enduring than the females. They can survive the most terrible conditions, even winter will not bother them.
The female has embryos. Reproduction occurs every three days. when observing crustaceans, there was such a statement that a female can give birth 25 times in her entire life, but in reality this happens less frequently. But if there are favorable conditions for daphnia, then it will give birth to 30-40 grams of crustaceans in just one day.
Crustaceans in the winter season
In winter, Daphnia can be seen on the surface of the water or in silt algae. Found eggs can be kept dry in a place where you should maintain a cool temperature.
Daphnia sex determination
One can distinguish males from females upon examination. A strong floor is smaller than a weak one. And also the males have limbs in front, like hooks so that they can cling.
Crustacean abilities
The creature resets the carapace, and with it the surface of the body leaves. Daphnia molt throughout life. Usually she performs this procedure in the water column.
If you carefully study daphnia of different species, you will notice that they differ in color.
Crayfish color determination
Oxyhemoglobin - it is he who paints Daphnia in pink or even red. Oxygen also affects color. If it is enough for a crustacean, then it will be a yellow tint. Nutrition also plays an important role, it also affects the color.
If the crustacean ate algae not so long ago, then it will be a greenish hue. And if Daphnia consumed bacteria, then it will be pink or even red.
Good conditions for crustaceans
Aeration will have a good effect on daphnia. It contributes to the progressive growth of creatures. Here oxygen is released, which will saturate the water. And that film that likes to appear on the surface of the water will disappear. And all this thanks to aeration.
But you need the power to be average. Strong power will disturb pets. And also these bubbles will penetrate the carapace of Daphnia, after which the creatures will rise up.
Development of crustaceans and additional conditions
For creatures to evolve faster, certain conditions are necessary. Aeration should be not only medium power, but also without hesitation.
When growing daphnia at home in an aquarium, it should always be clean. If the creatures are light, then growth and reproduction will increase significantly.
The light in their aquarium should be at least 18 hours. Change the water should be given what the crustaceans feed and how many creatures in the aquarium. But cleaning the aquarium is in any case necessary.
The hardest part is picking up daphnia
If daphnia was kept at a temperature of less than 25 degrees, then it is worth catching it in the middle of the second week. Because it’s difficult to adapt to new conditions, and it may take 3 days.
You need to catch crustaceans with a net. In it, it is already possible to select good and bad Daphnia. Rachkov should be caught in the daytime, and also be sure to turn off aeration.
Caught crustaceans can live in clean and fresh water for three days. If the temperature gets higher, then this almost does not affect daphnia.
To save the life of the crustacean and not kill it, you need to avoid contamination of the aquarium, the ingress of dangerous substances into the water and sudden changes in the environment.
Conclusion
It’s easy to breed Daphnia at home. Using them as fish food is a good idea and food. More crustaceans can be stored in the freeze. Unfortunately, after that they will die. And even after freezing, the crustaceans will not be as nutritious and useful as if we fed them in a living state. Also, their death may occur after the addition of chemicals.
If there is chlorine in the aquarium, it is advisable to remove it from the water. Aeration will also help. In general, tap water in urban conditions is very poor for Daphnids, and distilled water should also not be used in aquariums. Indeed, in such a liquid all the necessary and useful substances are destroyed.
It is best to take the liquid in which the fish swam. But they also need suitable water. Even if a good one flows from the tap, in any case it needs to be insisted for about five days, but it can take longer.
In addition, with this hobby you can build a good business. However, here it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the matter, since it is important not only to supply good Daphnia to customers, but also to observe all the rules for breeding and caring for crustaceans.
In any case, if there are doubts about how to breed daphnia at home, it is recommended that you first consult with specialists to avoid problems in the future.