Culturing Moina

[heather]

I am wanting to culture some Moina for my M. alpestris eggs that are developing - Moina instead of Daphnia since they Moina are smaller - but wanted to get some input about them. From what I have read on John Clare's article the culturing of the Moina is very similar to that of daphnia. Has anyone else cultured them and could echo this, or have anything else to add? Oh, and I am only wanting to raise the Moina because I am worried that my blackworms, even when chopped up, will still be too big for such small newt larvae.
Thanks in advance,
Heather

 

[morg]

Hello Heather
Yes moina can be cultured the same way as daphnia, however in my experience, moina cultures do better if kept in medium sized glass jars eg coffee jars, feed sparingly, and put on a windowsill that doesn't catch too much direct sunlight.
I have cultured mine in tanks with regular water changes etc, but found that lots of little cultures in glass jars produces many more moina to use to feed to newt larvae.

 

[heather]

Thanks so much Morg. I do have several glass jars that I think will work well. I was thinking of keeping the culture outside once the weather gets warmer, but the windowsill idea will work for me
Heather