Urgently in need of live daphnia

Some of you perhaps saw my earlier thread about Daphnia. I was supposed to be getting some Daphnia eggs from a contact in JHB, but she sent me brine shrimp eggs instead (I don't think she realised that "artemia" is brine shrimp) >.< Still looking for the daphnia, but scared to try catching them in the wild in case I introduce bacteria, chemicals, or diseases into my tanks. Can anyone supply me with some, either live or eggs (preferably live)? We could even arrange to have it delivered via courier and I will cover the shipping cost plus pay you for the daphnia. Really need it at the moment, as brine shrimp is proving to be a lot of trouble.

 

If you are desperate I can give you some. But Im in PE. I think overnight shipping is about R60.

 

@TheGrissom - I am quite desperate, got surprise babies who will only eat live food, and the baby brine shrimp are a bit tricky. They like to die, and separating shrimp and eggs is not so easy. Really would like to get Daphnia since they are more sustainable and will survive in the fresh water and not die and pollute it. Overnight shipping depends on the courier you use - I used skynet last time and that cost R80. Let me know Or you can PM me/email me (perhaps emailing is easier?). How do you raise your daphnia?

 

Hi @Zeiphex

If you dont mind, please tell us what fry you have. Though Daphnis has its advantages, it also comes with a few shortcomings, of which low in nutritional value is the most significant, and the fact that the often carry tapeworms into the aquaria another.
Maybe microworms can serve as a better option?

Rgds

Marco

 

@Marco - they're not fish. I'm a keeper of general aquatic animals, not just fish ^_^ But I'm not going to discuss them further here because TASA is a fish forum specifically. However, the species concerned does very well on Daphnia as babies, and they are the recommended food for them, with brine shrimp being the second best. I just couldn't get hold of daphnia in time, but am still looking! Just thought TASA would be the best place to go in order to find some Daphnia, since they are such a common fry food.

Oh, and Microworms are also recommended, but only once the babies are a little older (mine are only five days old). Apparently they don't accept microworms when they are younger.

 

Eish, sorry then. Can help you with microworms, not Daphnia.
If you are having trouble seperating bs from eggs, you could try decapsulating them? Saves the eggs/egg shell issues later.

Rgds

Marco

 

@Zeiphex

Are you raising platanas??

Just curious

Regards

Andrew

 

I can give you a culture. Unfortunately I do not have a lot at the moment, but it should get you started at least. Pm me your e-mail address then we can arrange a time for you to collect.

 

@Marco - no worries I've heard about the decapsulating thing, but it sounds like it involves bleach... I'd be WAY to scared to bring bleach anywhere near any of my aquatic babies, directly or indirectly. Plus I want the daphnia so they can live in the water with the babies until eaten. I'm also going to the Kruger Park later this month and boyfriend will be at home taking care of the animals (poor guy couldn't get leave off work!) and I don't want to make him do the baby brine shrimp thing. He has no experience with fish or anything like that, and so I want to make this as simple as possible for him.

@pHish_man - Nope, I'm already a plattie mom Platties don't need live food - the tads are filter feeders and will eat anything that is small enough. Crushed Tetra Prima works pretty well for them! These guys are exotic (9 Leucistic Axolotl larvae) but I don't want to discuss them here as apparently ALL amphibians are blacklisted. Apparently the law is a grey area around actually keeping them though. Just no selling them. Let it be clear that I am not encouraging their sale or import (these ones are not illegal imports!), but will say that I am going to care for them properly and will NEVER release them. As a responsible first time keeper, I want to do this right and have done a LOT of research. The little 'lotls will only eat live foods when very young, as they react to tiny movement by snapping at it.

@AquaS - Thanks, that would be wonderful. I don't need a lot - these guys are only about a cm and a half, and there are only 9 of them. Will PM you my email address

 

What an ugly mother! Can see why it is critically endangered.

 

@TomK - Oh, that's not a very nice thing to say! You just hurt the feelings of axolotls all over the world... Personally I think they're adorable, but each to their own. I suppose you'll tell me this is ugly too? It's a platinum Saddled Bichir. Kind of reminds me of an axie.

 

Zeiphie, yes, each to his own. I must thank you however. I was constantly on the lookout for something semi amphibian, because our neighbor, when I was a child, had something like that. It used to climb out of the water, onto a rock that was sticking out in the fish tank. I was very fascinated by this, although it did not last long. His heater packed up and cooked everything in the tank. Come to think of it, I do not know why this thing perished, as it could climb out of the water. Anyway, ever since then I wanted something like that, and now you have cured me! Thanks.

PS. Anyone remember the days that OK Bazaars had a tropical section in their furniture stores? It was bought there.

 

Do you still want me to send you some Daphnia or have you sorted something else out?

 

@TheGrissom - Oh yes, yes please! My brine shrimp didn't hatch and I don't have much to feed my babies with. Got a few BBS remaining from the last batch and just started a culture of the Ocean Nutrition brand ones (those hatched well last time). Also went to try to catch some Daphnia out the wildlife sanctuary dam, but the water is crystal clear with nothing! All I found was a whole lot of what is either Hornwort or Parrot's Feather (looks more like hornwort but I can't be sure), and some pond snails >.<

Should I PM you my email?

 

@TomK - would have been some species of salamander/newt. Most commonly kept one in the pet trade is the firebelly newt I think. Before they were blacklisted I think they were all rather readily available in petshops.

 

Looking for live Daphnie call Fish Etc. they are out in Stellenbosch, usually keep in over the weekends. Her name is Danje.

 

@keith1964 - thanks, but I don't think I can get to Stellenbosch. I don't drive yet and boyfriend is NOT going to want to drive out there just for daphnia! I'll definitely bear it in mind though.

 

Crisis averted for now My second batch of BBS hatched! Yay for Ocean Nutrition!

 

Hey @Fishlady
How you keeping?

Questions for you. How do you keep your Daphnia culture up and running?
I'd like to start a permanent culture to add to the brine shrimp and microworm diet I feed my fry... suggestions?

 

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