11

Live Foods from the WildLive Foods from the WildPart IV – Part IV –

Types of Wild FoodsTypes of Wild Foods

A presentation forA presentation for The Angelfish SocietyThe Angelfish Society

March 20, 2010March 20, 2010by Tamar Stephensby Tamar Stephens

22

About this presentationAbout this presentationThis is Part IV in a series of presentations on live foods This is Part IV in a series of presentations on live foods from the wild. from the wild.

Previous presentations in this series:Previous presentations in this series: Part I Nutritional value of wild foods. (Sept. 19, 2010)Part I Nutritional value of wild foods. (Sept. 19, 2010) Part II Where to find wild foods. (Oct. 17, 2010)Part II Where to find wild foods. (Oct. 17, 2010) Part III How to Collect Wild Foods (Feb. 11, 2011)Part III How to Collect Wild Foods (Feb. 11, 2011)

(Previous presentations can be found at (Previous presentations can be found at http://www.theangelfishsociety.org/PresentationsTASNew.htmlhttp://www.theangelfishsociety.org/PresentationsTASNew.html) )

The rest of this series will cover:The rest of this series will cover: Part V: How to culture wild foods Part V: How to culture wild foods

33

In this presentationIn this presentation

Daphnia and other small crustaceansDaphnia and other small crustaceans Brine shrimp and larger crustaceansBrine shrimp and larger crustaceans MicrowormsMicroworms EarthwormsEarthworms Aquatic insectsAquatic insects Terrestrial insectsTerrestrial insects

44

Daphnia and other small Daphnia and other small crustaceanscrustaceans

Photo from Wikipedia commons

55

Daphnia aka “water fleas” Daphnia aka “water fleas” Daphnia are among a group of small crustaceans Daphnia are among a group of small crustaceans

commonly called “water fleas” because they move in commonly called “water fleas” because they move in short jerky movements, reminiscent of the jerky jumps of short jerky movements, reminiscent of the jerky jumps of fleas. Their body shape is also similar to that of a flea.fleas. Their body shape is also similar to that of a flea.

Daphnia and other “water fleas” are not insects. They Daphnia and other “water fleas” are not insects. They breath through gills.breath through gills.

Size varies with species, ranging from 1/50 of an inch up Size varies with species, ranging from 1/50 of an inch up to about 1/5 inch in length.to about 1/5 inch in length.

They have no swim bladder and are denser than water, They have no swim bladder and are denser than water, so need to constantly move their branched “swimming so need to constantly move their branched “swimming arms” to keep from sinking. arms” to keep from sinking.

66

Branched “swimming Branched “swimming arms” are in constant arms” are in constant motion to keep daphnia motion to keep daphnia an other “water fleas” an other “water fleas” from sinking.from sinking.

From Wikipedia commons

77

Where can you find daphnia?Where can you find daphnia? Daphnia eggs can lie dormant in the mud over Daphnia eggs can lie dormant in the mud over

winter, and hatch in the spring. winter, and hatch in the spring.

Daphnia are present in most freshwater aquatic Daphnia are present in most freshwater aquatic habitats, but large concentrations are most likely habitats, but large concentrations are most likely to appear under these conditions:to appear under these conditions: Water temperature between 65 – 75 Water temperature between 65 – 75 °F°F Calm water, such as pools, ponds, swampsCalm water, such as pools, ponds, swamps Decomposing organic matter (produces bacteria that Decomposing organic matter (produces bacteria that

Daphnia feed on)Daphnia feed on) Absence of fish as predatorsAbsence of fish as predators They seem to be attracted to light so will come near They seem to be attracted to light so will come near

the surface on sunny days.the surface on sunny days.

88

Brine shrimp and other large Brine shrimp and other large crustaceanscrustaceans

99

The most common larger The most common larger crustaceans are:crustaceans are:

Brine shrimp (Artemia)Brine shrimp (Artemia) AmphipodsAmphipods Fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus)Fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus)

1010

Brine Shrimp (Artemia)Brine Shrimp (Artemia) Newly hatched brine Newly hatched brine

shrimp are widely used shrimp are widely used for feeding angelfish fry, for feeding angelfish fry, and fry of other tropical and fry of other tropical fish species.fish species.

Brine shrimp are found in Brine shrimp are found in the wild in salt water the wild in salt water lakes worldwide, but not lakes worldwide, but not in oceans.in oceans.

Adults grow to be about Adults grow to be about 1/2 inch long.1/2 inch long. From Wikipedia commons

1111

AmphipodsAmphipods Sometimes called Sometimes called

“freshwater shrimp”“freshwater shrimp” Very active, swim Very active, swim

backward and upside backward and upside downdown

Usually found in the Usually found in the bottom of streams, bottom of streams, ponds, or swamps, ponds, or swamps, where they may hide in where they may hide in the gravelthe gravel From Wikipedia commons

1212

Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus)Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus) Close relatives of brine shrimp, Close relatives of brine shrimp,

but live in fresh water.but live in fresh water. Adults are 1/4 to 1 inch long.Adults are 1/4 to 1 inch long. Usually found in seasonal Usually found in seasonal

freshwater ponds that dry up freshwater ponds that dry up at some time during the year. at some time during the year. They can be found under the They can be found under the ice in late winter and early ice in late winter and early spring.spring.

Defenseless, so they don’t Defenseless, so they don’t appear in ponds with appear in ponds with carnivorous insects or with carnivorous insects or with fish. fish.

Very nutritious; excellent food Very nutritious; excellent food for adult angelfish. for adult angelfish.

From Wikipedia commons

1313

MicrowormsMicroworms

1414

Microworms (nematodes)Microworms (nematodes) Microworms, sometimes called Microworms, sometimes called

“threadworms,” are nematodes. They “threadworms,” are nematodes. They are tiny, colorless, cylindrical worms. are tiny, colorless, cylindrical worms. Some species are aquatic and some Some species are aquatic and some are terrestrial.are terrestrial.

They make an excellent food for fry.They make an excellent food for fry. Aquatic species can be found in the Aquatic species can be found in the

bottom of freshwater bodies where bottom of freshwater bodies where heavy growths of aquatic vegetation heavy growths of aquatic vegetation and soil are present. and soil are present.

Terrestrial species are often cultured Terrestrial species are often cultured by aquarists for feeding newly-by aquarists for feeding newly-hatched fry.hatched fry. Panagrellus redivivus from

Wikipedia commons

1515

Earthworms and RelativesEarthworms and Relatives

1616

EarthwormsEarthworms Earthworms are segmented Earthworms are segmented

worms.worms. Feed in humus-rich soil.Feed in humus-rich soil. Burrow deep to avoid the cold.Burrow deep to avoid the cold. Light sensitive, so will be found Light sensitive, so will be found

at the surface during warm at the surface during warm nights, where they come to feed nights, where they come to feed on decaying vegetationon decaying vegetation

One way to collect is to lay a One way to collect is to lay a burlap bag in a shaded moist burlap bag in a shaded moist place and cover it with tea place and cover it with tea leaves, coffee grounds, and leaves, coffee grounds, and other bits of organic garbage to other bits of organic garbage to attract earthworms.attract earthworms.

From Wikipedia commons

1717

White Worms (White Worms (EnchytraeidaeEnchytraeidae) ) White worms are a relative of White worms are a relative of

the earthworm. They are the earthworm. They are smaller, growing to a little smaller, growing to a little under to a little over an inch in under to a little over an inch in length, depending on species.length, depending on species.

Usually found in moist soil Usually found in moist soil feeding on remains of feeding on remains of vegetation.vegetation.

Easy to culture, so it is Easy to culture, so it is probably easier to buy a probably easier to buy a starter culture than to try to starter culture than to try to collect from the wild.collect from the wild. From

http://www.springhalen.dk/enky.JPG

1818

Aquatic insects, insect larvae, and Aquatic insects, insect larvae, and relatedrelated

SpringtailsSpringtails MayfliesMayflies CaddisfliesCaddisflies BloodwormsBloodworms MosquitosMosquitos

1919

SpringtailsSpringtails Springtails get their name from Springtails get their name from

their ability to leap into the air their ability to leap into the air several inches to either escape several inches to either escape predation or simply move to predation or simply move to another location.another location.

They are very small, from 1/100 They are very small, from 1/100 to 2/5 of an inch long.to 2/5 of an inch long.

They live on the top of the water They live on the top of the water and can be found on the surface and can be found on the surface of ponds from temperate to arctic of ponds from temperate to arctic climates.climates.

They contain more digestible They contain more digestible material per body weight than material per body weight than daphnia.daphnia.

Have been reclassified – no Have been reclassified – no longer classified as an insect.longer classified as an insect.

From Wikipedia commons

2020

MayfliesMayflies Mayfly nymphs or naiads live Mayfly nymphs or naiads live

on stream bottoms under on stream bottoms under rocks, decaying vegetation, or rocks, decaying vegetation, or in sediment. They mold in sediment. They mold several times as they grow, several times as they grow, and are in the nymph stage for and are in the nymph stage for 6 months to a year. Adults 6 months to a year. Adults only live a few hours – long only live a few hours – long enough to mate and lay eggs. enough to mate and lay eggs.

The adults are eaten The adults are eaten extensively by fish in the wild, extensively by fish in the wild, especially trout, but the especially trout, but the nymphs are more useful for nymphs are more useful for aquarists as fish food.aquarists as fish food. Adult mayfly – from

Wikipedia commons

2121

Caddisflies Caddisflies Caddisfly larvae live on the Caddisfly larvae live on the

bottom of moving waters. bottom of moving waters. Concentrations may be found Concentrations may be found underneath flat stones.underneath flat stones.

Caddisfly larvae construct Caddisfly larvae construct cases that they live in. In some cases that they live in. In some species the cases are in fixed species the cases are in fixed locations, but many species locations, but many species have movable cases that they have movable cases that they live in. Cases are constructed live in. Cases are constructed from various materials such as from various materials such as leaves, bits of vegetation, leaves, bits of vegetation, sticks, stones, etc. sticks, stones, etc.

They need to be dislodged They need to be dislodged from their cases to feed to from their cases to feed to tropical fish.tropical fish.

Caddisfly larvae emerging from its case. From Wikipedia commons

2222

BloodwormsBloodworms ““Bloodworms” are not really Bloodworms” are not really

worms. They are larvae of worms. They are larvae of midges (Chironomidae) and are midges (Chironomidae) and are usually bright red in color, hence usually bright red in color, hence the name “bloodworms.”the name “bloodworms.”

The larvae are often referred to The larvae are often referred to as chironomids.as chironomids.

They can be found extensively in They can be found extensively in freshwater habitats in almost all freshwater habitats in almost all kinds of water. They are most kinds of water. They are most abundant on or in the mud abundant on or in the mud bottoms of lakes, ponds, pool, or bottoms of lakes, ponds, pool, or streams. streams.

They are a very nutritious food They are a very nutritious food for angelfish.for angelfish.

An adult midge resemble a small mosquito in appearance. Photo from Wikipedia commons.

2323

MosquitosMosquitos Mosquito larvae Mosquito larvae

make an excellent make an excellent food for angelfish.food for angelfish.

Mosquit0 larvae Mosquit0 larvae can be found in can be found in calm waters calm waters throughout the throughout the world. world.

Egg rafts can also Egg rafts can also be collected and be collected and the larvae hatched.the larvae hatched. From

http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/larvae.html

2424

Many more insectsMany more insects

Many more insects and insect larvae can make Many more insects and insect larvae can make excellent nutritious supplements to the diet of excellent nutritious supplements to the diet of your angelfish. Maybe this presentation will your angelfish. Maybe this presentation will inspire you to research this topic more fully. inspire you to research this topic more fully. Just a caution – not all live insects or insect Just a caution – not all live insects or insect larvae are safe for your aquarium fish, so get a larvae are safe for your aquarium fish, so get a good guide to identifying insects, and research good guide to identifying insects, and research them a little before adding an unknown to your them a little before adding an unknown to your aquarium.aquarium.

2525

I hope you enjoyed this I hope you enjoyed this presentation!presentation!

Please return to the chat room for Please return to the chat room for discussion.discussion.