Infusoria and green water

[Foo Hong]

Well Another topic on food from me. No not really just throwing this for chats.

In case you are wondering, I always add green water to my once free swimming fries - reason is there is lots of Infusoria of all sorts there. Fries can go for another 3 to 4 days like this, you will notice their swollen bellies. Better still it saves you work and money and doesnt foul the water.

I call it 'free food' that you dont need to culture.

Next topic....vinegar eels[just got starter culture from Hsu! 2 weeks ago.

[Myron Tay]

Foo Hong,

But won't the green water be also containing all sorts of bacteria and potential diseases which the young fry might be subceptible to? What's the survival rate in your experience?

Guess this might be of concern to those who wish to preserve most of their spawn.

[Jung]

I use green water too. (collect from nearest park at night in pails, sieve with coffee strainer to remove predators). Almost no fatalities (in fact, don't remember seeing a single one at all in more spawns than I can count).

I think young fry are very resistant to diseases (more so than adults). Besides, all aquarium water contain pathogens (only stressed/weak/low resistance fish get sick)...green water from ponds should be very "ecologically balanced" :)

Keep daphnia alive longer too!

[Dr Hsu]

Commercial breeders pretty much depend on good green water for the first weeks of fry development. If your green water is good, you pretty much don't have to feed them anything till they're large enough for tubifex, which in such systems may only be a week!

Regards,

Li Chieh

[Foo Hong]

Hsu, you are right about your question and no wonder you are a vet! Yes I do check the green water to be introduced first as one of the things I wanted is to introduce a culture of infusoria into teh fry tank to florish. I take green or old water from community WITHOUT SICK FISHES. You will be surprised even if it look clear, the water has millions of organisms in it. Take your torch and check it at night.

I havent gone to the stage where I collect water from the wild like Jung. But what is worth trying is really to take water from ponds with fishes. Friend of my dad used to raise guppy fries in water pump from a nearby reservoir. Doesnt feed them in first week. I once scopped some up in my hand and boy...they look darn good. His tanks were mud based and guessed lots of natural food of all sizes exist.