Egg ID?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by brenbee

If I put Daphnia in my wildlife pond, will it feed my newts?

Waste of time everything will eat it before it gets chance to eat the algae...
There is a chance you could introduce something nasty into your pond from the Daphnia..

[dampflippers]

Yes, your newtswill eat it. So will other carnivores.
I doubt whether the daphnia you buy in bags would bring anything nasty into your pond since it is grown under special conditions.
Similarly if you put some in your water butt, I can't see that would bring anything in that your rainwater didn't.
Yes, if you do a bucket culture, and if that grows banket weed, then you would risk that getting into the pond. I wouldn't use it if there was blanket weed growing. With a bucket culture, you don't really need to add anything other than tap water to start with and some daphnia. In fact if you just fill a bucket of water and leave it, it they will start growing without you putting any in- but it will take longer.
Having said that, mine is a wildlife pond, and I am happy for any wildlife to move in.

[tugnut]

the whole point of the daphnia was to help with the green water and feed the newts, the greener the water the longer the daphnia will survive , they are not a complete cure for your green water but they will help. and as for them bringing any diseases, i wouldnt worry, the newts would have come across many nasty things before reaching your pond

[Kayleigh]

Still think they are a wast of time..
Get more oxygenators and flag iris's you need plants to use up the extra nutrients in the water that's causing the green water...

Oh and DON'T use tap water try to top it up with rain water as you will get blanket weed...
The best solution is to use plants and let nature take its course that's my advice anyway..
I have had my pond 4 years now and the water is lovely and clear and is totally natural..
Great pic by the way I can hardly see them with the naked eye..
Mind I'm blind as bat..

ps
young newts are called efts..

[tugnut]

lol kayliegh, if you was a newt , you wouldnt think the daphnia was a waste of time . i have some great crested newts and they eat happily on daphnia, and although i agree the plants will eventually cure the green water, i was thinking more about the wildlife than the eye candy clear water

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by tugnut

lol kayliegh, if you was a newt , you wouldnt think the daphnia was a waste of time . i have some great crested newts and they eat happily on daphnia, and although i agree the plants will eventually cure the green water, i was thinking more about the wildlife than the eye candy clear water

Well there is enough wildlife in my pond that comes in naturally including daphnia..
So I don't need to add food for the newts they seem to doing all right on their own I dont believe in interfering...