Daphnia for feeding reef fish

ttt64 · #1 10/27/2007, 08:14 PM

Has anyone tried using Daphnia (fresh water crustations like tiny shrimp related to brine shrimp) to feed their reef fish?

Any benefits or cautions?

tanker · #2 10/27/2007, 08:20 PM

I've tried it (by accident). My fish ate it, but I think there is not enough or wrong nutrients in daphnia for SW fish.

ttt64 · #3 10/27/2007, 09:00 PM

They have more fat and protine content than brine shrimp.
What is missing?

The reason I ask is because I have an unlimited supply of fresh green water and these creatures. They dont smell like raising brine shrimp and are easier to breed.

I dont want to hurt my fish, so I want to know if they are nutritionally sound for reef fish. They are widly used for fresh water fish.

kydsexy · #4 10/27/2007, 10:03 PM

you're gonna have to gut load them with HUFAs and PUFAs that meet the requirements that SW fish need. I've fed them to rainbow smelt which are anadromous. They grew to healthy adults.

kydsexy · #5 10/27/2007, 10:04 PM

oh yeah. and they were only fed to the fry. not adults.

loosecannon · #6 10/27/2007, 10:21 PM

I use to feed them to fresh water too. Good ruffege. I don`t know about salt, sorry.