A single paramoecium, photo Adrian Burge
Paramecium as a food for killifish
Many young fish are so small when they first hatch that they can not eat traditional 'first foods' such as newly hatched artemia, microworms and vinegar eels. Amongst the nothos, this is particularly the case for N. janpapi, N. luekei and N. geminus - the Aphyobranchius subgenus. Other Nothobranchius, particularly from young parents, can also have similar problems (N. rachovii and N. patrizii spring to mind).
Infusoria is the collective name for microscopic organisms that dwell in bodies of water, feeding on detrietus and smaller single celled organisms, and include rotifers, and paramoecium. These micro-organisms live amongst plants, gravel, and in the filter, in fact anywhere they can. Squeezing out a sponge filter will yield a large number of these infusorians. For most (non-surface dwelling) fry it is ok to simply let them grow for a few days in a well matured tank with a sponge filter, or with a large clump of javamoss. A few days on and the fry will be eating newly hatched artemia nauplii - so why bother to raise paramoecium?
The smaller nothos (Aphyobranchius species) are surface dwellers, the newly hatched fry spending their first days living at the very surface of their tank - often in the meniscus around the edge. Because of this tendancy to remain near the water surface, the infusoria associated with plant matter is unavailable to the young fry, and can lead to starvation. paramoecium, on the other hand will stay near the waters surface if the tank is illuminated from above - exactly where the young fish need them. Another method is to have a slow air bubble (1 bubble/second) going to the surface (and bringing the paramoecium up without causing excessive turbulence.
Culturing Paramecium
Paramoecium are very easy to keep; as long as their water is clean, aerated and free of chlorine, they will thrive. I use aged tapwater. They can be fed easily with the smallest quantities of evaporated milk - just enough to give their water a slightly cloudy appearance. Collection is also relatively easy; if the culture is poured into a tall thin bottle, such as a clear wine bottle, the paramoecium can be seen congregating around the water surface, where they can be easily removed. This is not really necessary though as the culture can be simply poured (in part) in with your fry. Some people even add a tiny drop of milk in with the fry, just to get the paramoecium really thriving with the fry.
The greatest problem is with contamination - if any tank water gets into the cultures they will soon be outcompeted by other infusorians. Failure to feed them is not a major problem, as they will return even if unfed for many weeks.
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New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$19
Live food for newly hatched fish. Living microorganism starter culture. Paramecium caudatum holds great significance for the healthy life of an aquarium. Together with other beneficial microorganisms, it participates in the decomposition and processing of leftover fish food and their metabolic byproducts. In the meantime it is a food source itself for baby fish and other animals Optimal growth temperature:71 6??（ 22° C）
Instruction1. Open your order upon arrival 2. Open the bottle and ...
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Honolulu, Hawaii, 968**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$10
*Description:
Boost your aquarium fish fry's growth and survival rate with our live Paramecium culture! Paramecium is an ideal first food for newly hatched fish fry, providing essential nutrients for growth and development
Details:
- Live Paramecium culture in a convenient, easy-to-use format
- Perfect for feeding small fish fry, such as guppies, tetras, and bettas
- Also can feed adult nano fish ex. Chili rasbora and spotted rasbora etc
- Supports healthy growth and ...
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Midlothian, Virginia, 231**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$9
Paramecium Power Die-Cut Vinyl DecalHigh Quality Paramecium Power Die-Cut Vinyl Decal
Original Design Decal!!!
This decal is not a print. This is a high quality precision contour cut vinyl decal. Our decals are made using high grade full color glossy USA made Avery vinyl. So they will last for years indoors or out!
Decal is solid one color, and die cut. The only thing to get applied is what is shown as the color of the decal. The decal will have no ...
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Angier, North Carolina, 275**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$25
Infusoria Starter Culture ?? 1oz | LJ Group LLC
Kickstart your aquatic ecosystem with our premium 16oz Infusoria Culture, a live blend of essential freshwater microorganisms including ciliates, euglenoids, planktonic crustaceans, protozoa, and unicellular algae. Specially crafted for aquarists, this live culture provides an ideal first food for fish fry, shrimp larvae, and other small aquatic creatures
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Live and Active Culture: Freshly bottled and ready to grow ...
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Apple Valley, California, 923**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$15
The Paramecium Caudatum Live Microorganism Starter Culture is a unique pet supply suitable for various fish species like fryfish, goldfish, betta, rice fish, and killfish. This product includes Pramecium Caudatum as the main ingredient. Cultured in the United States, this unit is designed for use with fresh water and is ideal for maintaining a healthy and balanced environment in your aquarium....
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