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Post by terrytherat on Jun 5, 2007 17:17:46 GMT
has anyone had any experience of breeding their own daphnia i would like to have a go at doing it myself so any advice would be welcome
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Post by mark68 on Jun 5, 2007 19:01:59 GMT
This is something I have read about and found worked for me, but daphnia cultures can just crash for no apparent reason.
Get two large plastic containers and put them outside in a sunny location. Fill both with water and let the chlorine evaporate over a couple of days. One container is for the daphnia, one for their food. In one container put in the starter culture of daphnia. In the other add small amounts of herbivore manure (Rabbit, horse etc) or and banana skins. Over the next week in this container will grow minute plant and animal life that the daphnia eat. Simply ladel in a small amount for the daphnia in their tank until is is SLIGHTY cloudy. When it clears again add more. The daphnia should multiply rapidly. Do not let any daphnia get into their food tank !!
The contents of this food tank can be food also for the newly hatched newt/salamander larvae.
It may be worth carrying small water changes to the daphnia tank every couple of weeks to keep it all ticking along nicely.
I hope this helps.
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Post by terrytherat on Jun 5, 2007 20:24:48 GMT
thanks mark this helps big style i did'nt have a clue
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Post by mark68 on Jun 6, 2007 19:39:51 GMT
Your welcome !!
What I should have said also is that the container for the daphnia should be as large as possible with a large surface area to allow lots of oxygen to get to them. You might want to keep them out of the full sun in the hotter part of the year to avoid overheating. warm water of course also hold less oxygen than cold. A small air pump might even help productivity. But as they say there is more than one way to peel a banana. There are plenty of others out there with more newt rearing experience than me. Hopefully somebody will suggest better/different ideas......
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