Re: [GSAS-Member] Baby Brine Shrimp or similar

["Clifford Miller" <clifford@clevergeek.com>]

BBS are pretty low icky factor and easy to hatch out if you don't mind
setting up a bubbler (and paying for eggs, and dealing with salt), and
daphnia are pretty much just a freshwater version of bbs...(with ostrocods
and cyclops being pretty much just more of the same...). Daphnia are
problematic in the long term...I've had populations surge into the
thousands (maybe even tens of thousands), but the cultures tend to crash a
little too easily and need constant green water or yeast supplements to
survive...I think they're best kept in larger volumes outside (right now
I'm not sure I have any active cultures, but have some ephiphia saved...).

I've never kept cichlids, but would imagine they start off too large for
green water or infusoria to be of use.  Vinegar eels and walter worms are
in the right size range (for tiny fry), but have a significantly higher
icky factor.  (this week I've become pretty enamored with the walter
worms, which are *disgusting*, but in that fun zombie-horror-movie kind of
way if you're into that kind of thing, and are incredibly prolific...I've
had bad luck with grindels so the easy success factor made a difference to
me-- vinegar eels require less handling, but a little more work (or
preparation rather), and probably more water changes if you're worried
about PH).

Scuds/gammarus (freshwater amphiopods) are by far one of the easiest
non-worm/nematode live foods I've tried to culture, but only the newly
hatched babies would be small enough for tiny fry.  The adults are a good
size for standard live bearers and killifish, so I've been turning them
loose in pretty much all my tanks.  If they can make it to the plants in
the tank and breed, all the better...

I could supply any of these for a couple of fry or the price of materials.

Cliff



> Alright, so I have my first fry, in 2 separate batches all at once. I
> understand that live cultured food is among the best in terms of what
> to feed them.  That being said, I have never had fry nor cultured live
> food before.  I prefer to have something with a low "icky" factor that
> requires little equipment and maintenance, and both my multifasciatus
> and mbuna fry can eat.  What is my best bet?  :-D  Strangely enough,
> I'm looking to acquire some of whatever such food is recommended, and
> of course I don't mind paying for it.  Thanks so much for your help!
>
> Laurel
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