Keeping daphnia outside

I want to keep a daphnia culture so that I have a constant live food source for my little wild bettas, but don’t have much space to keep the culture indoors (at least nowhere that I can conveniently do water changes). I live in Seattle, WA which can get pretty cold for a lot of the year, but rarely below freezing.

I saw that the ideal temperature for daphnia is from 65F to 75F, but will I absolutely need to get a heater? Any other tips?

 

I want to keep a daphnia culture so that I have a constant live food source for my little wild bettas, but don’t have much space to keep the culture indoors (at least nowhere that I can conveniently do water changes). I live in Seattle, WA which can get pretty cold for a lot of the year, but rarely below freezing.

I saw that the ideal temperature for daphnia is from 65F to 75F, but will I absolutely need to get a heater? Any other tips?

Portland, Oregon. I keep my daphnia cultures outdoors year round, no heater. Most winters the colony gets small Nov-Feb. This year it was warm enough they stayed pretty robust, and I was able to feed 3x/week from them.

 

Portland, Oregon. I keep my daphnia cultures outdoors year round, no heater. Most winters the colony gets small Nov-Feb. This year it was warm enough they stayed pretty robust, and I was able to feed 3x/week from them.

Can I ask you some details about how you do this?

• Do you run an air line? I saw something recently about needing some flow, but that air stones can harm the daphnia.
• What size container do you use? Is there a lid on it?
• Do you feed with green water or with spirulina?
• How often do you water change with an outdoor culture?

Thanks in advance!

 

Can I ask you some details about how you do this?

• Do you run an air line? I saw something recently about needing some flow, but that air stones can harm the daphnia.
• What size container do you use? Is there a lid on it?
• Do you feed with green water or with spirulina?
• How often do you water change with an outdoor culture?

Thanks in advance!

No airlines.

I use 2, 275 gallon IBC totes, and 2, 500 gallon pools. No lids. I do get mosquito, bloodworm, and tadpoles in the tubs seasonally.

I feed spirulina powder from Jehmco spring-fall. Decomposing organics seem to provide enough feed in the cool season.

I empty each tub/pool and start over 2x per year.

 

I've kept a giant colony outside. Was incredible for a few weeks until the water bugs found it and bred. They are all the daphnia. Before that I could get hundreds with a single scoop. I definitely recommend trying it.