Buzz
Are you keen on accelerating the growth of your fish fry? Instead of purchasing nutritious microorganisms known as infusoria, create your own using leftover produce. Place a few pieces of leafy greens or vegetables in a jar filled with water from a pre-established tank. Let it sit in the sunlight so the produce can generate bacteria for the infusoria to thrive on. Use an eyedropper to administer a few drops of water rich with infusoria to your fish fry and observe their growth!
Procedures
Establishing Infusoria Culture
Selection of Vegetables for Infusoria Initiation Utilize either canned or fresh vegetables as the foundation for your infusoria. If desired, incorporate multiple varieties of vegetables to foster a diverse range of microorganisms. Options include:
- Diced lettuce or spinach leaves
- Finely shredded green cabbage
- Fresh green beans
- Peas
Prepare a 1 US quart (950 ml) jar by filling it one-fourth with vegetables. Cut the leafy greens into 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) pieces before placing them in the jar, along with the shells of green beans or peas. Ensure the vegetables are finely chopped to facilitate quicker breakdown in water.
- Slicing the vegetables aids in their decomposition within the water.
Add boiling water to the jar until it reaches one-third full, then allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Boil water in a kettle and carefully pour it over the vegetables in the jar. Pour gradually until the jar is one-third full with boiling water. Let the water cool until it's warm to the touch.
- Ensure the jar is warm or at room temperature; pouring boiling water into a cold jar may cause it to shatter.
Fill the jar with aquarium water.
Once the water in the jar has cooled to a warm temperature, slowly add water from an established aquarium until the jar is full.
- Some debris from the aquarium is acceptable.
- The aquarium water contains microorganisms that aid in infusoria growth.
Place the jar in a sunny spot near a window. Position the jar on a windowsill where it will receive sunlight throughout the day. While sealing the jar is unnecessary, you may cover it with a light cloth like cheesecloth to prevent foreign objects from entering.
- Sunlight facilitates vegetable breakdown, producing bacteria for the infusoria to consume.
Allow 2 to 3 days for the infusoria to develop. Observing cloudiness in the water indicates bacterial growth, signaling the development of infusoria. As the infusoria population increases, the water will become clearer as they consume bacteria. This clarity indicates that the infusoria are ready to be fed to your fish fry.
- Cloudy water signals impending readiness of infusoria, but refrain from use until the water clears.
Pro Tip: If you notice a film forming on the water surface, gently swirl the jar to ensure proper oxygenation throughout.
Utilizing and Preserving Infusoria
Administer a few drops of infusoria to the fry twice daily using a dropper. Insert a clean eyedropper or turkey baster into the center of the infusoria jar. Extract some liquid and dispense a few drops into the fry tank. Due to the rapid growth of the fry, ensure they receive infusoria at least twice daily.
- Remember, only a small amount of liquid is needed from the jar as infusoria are tiny and numerous in a single drop.
Continue feeding infusoria to the fry for approximately 1 week. Maintain infusoria feeding until the fry reach a size where they can consume larger prey, such as brine shrimp nauplii. Observe the rapid development and growth of the fry.
- Overfeeding infusoria liquid to the fry tank may result in cloudy water.
Pro Tip: To ensure a continuous supply of infusoria, start a new jar 3 to 4 days after initiating the first batch.
Keep the infusoria at room temperature for storage. Maintain the vitality of the infusoria by avoiding drastic temperature changes. Instead of refrigerating the infusoria jar, leave it at room temperature. To slow down bacteria and infusoria growth, relocate the jar away from direct sunlight and place it on a countertop.
- To prevent contaminants, cover the jar with cheesecloth or a light towel. Avoid tightly sealing the jar lid to prevent premature spoilage of its contents.
Dispose of the infusoria after 48 hours. Use the developed infusoria within a 2-day period. Beyond this timeframe, bacterial growth will dominate, resulting in cloudiness and a foul odor emanating from the jar. Consider labeling the jar with key dates for reference.
- Consider labeling the jar with the date you set it in the window, the date it became usable, and the disposal date.
Helpful Suggestions
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Opt for organic vegetables or thoroughly wash conventional produce to eliminate pesticides.
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Ensure the leaves or vegetables used are non-toxic.
Essential Supplies
- 1 quart (950 ml) jar
- Turkey baster or eyedropper
- Assorted vegetables
- Optional: Light cloth or cheesecloth
