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Freshwater

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Infusoria<br />

Infusoria (paramecium and amoeba) are small animal protozoans that make<br />

an excellent food for small, newborn fry. Infusoria are very tiny and form a<br />

cloud when added to your aquarium water. Infusoria can be cultured at home<br />

by soaking vegetable matter (such as a piece of lettuce) in a clear jar of water<br />

placed in direct sunlight for at least a week. Check for infusoria when it<br />

becomes cloudy by shining flashlight into the jar. The infusoria will appear as<br />

small dust-like particles.<br />

Rotifers<br />

Rotifers are small invertebrates raised on farms. You can find the addresses<br />

of these farms in most aquarium magazines, or try the Web sites mentioned<br />

earlier in this chapter.<br />

Tubifex, bloodworms, mosquito larvae,<br />

and earthworms (yuck!)<br />

We know these worms sound gross, but your fish will love them! You can purchase<br />

freeze-dried tubifex and bloodworms in cubes or shredded form to use<br />

as a treat periodically. They can cause digestive problems, so don’t feed them<br />

to your fish regularly. Mosquito larvae provide good health and coloring for<br />

show fish, but can be difficult to find. Fish readily accept earthworms, but<br />

clean the worms thoroughly with water and chop them up before serving.<br />

Feeding Fry<br />

Chapter 10: Diet and Nutrition for Your Wet Pets<br />

Young fry (baby fish) require a different type of diet than adults because their<br />

digestion systems have not yet matured. The good news is that you can feed<br />

many fry special foods available at your local fish shop. The bad news is that<br />

young fry need to be fed constantly, so swing by the pharmacy on the way<br />

home and grab some drops for your sleep-deprived eyes.<br />

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