Results from experimentation with Daphnia Cultures- Alternate Feeding

[SludgeMunkey]

Thanks for the harvesting tip - I will try that!

I do have aeration in the form of an open airline tube with a small pebble tied to it to prevent it from floating, but I have the tube pinched half way shut. Perhaps I will open it all the way and see if I notice a difference. I would not think the surface area to volume ratio would be a problem - I am using a standard 10 gallon tank, but maybe its dimensions aren't as ideal as I thought. The smell is not great, but I do notice it a bit when I "stir" the straw to the side to try and harvest (or just peek in to witness the glory of live daphnia - in my tank!). Even if the smell remains it is not that bad.

And any excuse to not do water changes is great in my book! I have placed that tank in a somewhat awkward place and though its easy to siphon water out of, the shelf above it has made adding water kind of tricky (brilliantly I left about 3 inches of space between the bottom of the overhead shelf and the top of the tank). If I am not routinely taking water OUT, then I don't routinely have to put water IN.

Again, I really appreciate that you have shared your findings with all of us. I can't imagine I and my newts are the only ones who have benefited from it.

Heather

I would keep the air line wide open. That will help get the O2 in there and kill off the stinky anaerobes.

I have personally never been able to maintain a viable culture in a ten gallon, and believe me I tried. Then again, back then I was a neat freak and a sterile environment kind of guy. Lots of starving fish and dead cultures in those days.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

More results!

Extensive microscopy comparing samples from my experimental alfalfa cultures and "regular" culture methods show the big difference that may be the key to the mystery.


The experimental cultures have a HUGE bioload of euglenoids and paramecia. The "regular" cultures do not.

My Hypothesis is that the daphnia prefer to eat protists over yeasts and algae powders and thus reproduce better. Additionally, I suspect the water chemistry is more stable due to the "ecosystem" in there thus promoting live reproduction rather than epiphia.

 

[Azhael]

Has anyone tried wood chippings? I was thinking about the whole cellulose thing and since i have wood chippings for my mice at hand i was wondering if those would be suitable at all. I´ve only managed to find one reference of wood being used in Daphnia cultures, but in theory it sounds like it could work?
I could purchase or collect hay but if the chippings work it´d be grand.

 

[caleb]

i have wood chippings for my mice at hand i was wondering if those would be suitable at all.

If they're softwood (pine), the resins might be a problem. I don't know what it's like where you are, but wood-based animal bedding in the UK is always softwood.

 

[Azhael]

According to the amazingly informative text on the bag, it´s "normal wood"...¬¬
I´m guessing it points to angiosperms, but it says nothing specific at all, except that it is high quality wood (sure...).
It doesn´t smell like pine at all, even when burned, and i would hazard that being destined to mice, they wouldn´t use pine, but that may well be wishful thinking.