Infusoria is a microscopic form of live in the aquarium. It is perfectly suited for newly hatched fry.
Infusoria can be readily found in small numbers in most aquariums.
The initial set up is very easy to build and to maintain. A small 1-5 Gallon aquarium or jug equipped with an air stone is all there is needed. The more aeration, the less smelly the operation will be.
To seed the first batch, grass clippings, old vegetables and the like, can be placed on the bottom of the set up. A sunny spot provided will start the decaying process and bacteria cultures on which the infusoria feeds.
After just a few days the water should turn cloudy, which indicates the growth of infusoria protozoans.
Harvesting can be done best by shutting off the air stone. This will allow the infusoria to settle just beneath the water surface (has a cloudy appearance). If this fails, a spot light will often attract the infusoria and cause it to “crowd up”.
An eyedropper comes in handy for feeding fry in the main tank. If kept separately, you can simply siphon them directly from the jar into the holding tank.
As for a more constant “automatic” food supply, take a jar (place it higher then your tank) and use air tubing as a siphon feeding it directly into your aquarium. Restrict the flow to a couple of drops per minute, using a clamp. Simply keep the Jar filled and your set to go.
This set up can run for a good while and should be re-started before the water gets too bad to transfer to the main tank. Alternatively, snails can be introduced to the culture. Snails will feed off the vegetable base at the bottom. In addition snail droppings are a perfect food source for the infusoria cultures. With snails, the water will not deteriorate as quickly and the initial culture can be kept longer.
Seeding cultures are also available at specialty live food and laboratory supply dealers. Addresses can usually be found in aquarium magazines.
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