Culture of fish food organisms (1+1)

Unit 3 - Cladocerans

3.2.2.Moina

Various species includes Moina affinis, M.australiensis, M.belli, M.brachiata, M.brachycephala, M.flexuosa, M.hartwigi, M.hutchinsoni, M.macrocopa, M.micrura, M.minuta M.mongolica, M.rectirostris, M.reticulata, M.salina, M.tenuicornis. Adult Moina have an average size (700-1,000 µm) and are approximately the same size or only slightly larger than adult rotifers and smaller than newly-hatched brine shrimp. Moina are ideally suited for feeding freshwater fish fry as they have a longer life span. Moina micrura grown in ponds, fertilized with mostly chicken manure or, less frequently, with pig manure, are used as the sole food for fry of many ornamental tropical fish species, with a 95-99% survival rate.