whats there to algue?
doctor say its good to eat your greens

Mr. Kashino feeds algae.

There are many kinds of algae and duckweed. I prefer to feed my Ranchu algae. I feel they prefer it to duckweed. But, I do not think that it is that important what king of algae or duckweed you feed. As long as your fish like it and as long as they get enough "vegetables". It is so good for their health, digestion, colour, scales etc.

Regards,

Geert Coppens

as long as not artificial enhanced food good enough.

any long term complications with constant duckweed feeding ? I wonder ...

I think duckweed serves better as a dietary supplement rather than a staple.As it is harvested in high organic and often polluted waterways there is always a risk of contamination and possible infection outbreak .
But because of the folowing attributes,it is widely used and harvested especially in rural areas

1)It can be readily grown locally often in waste ponds that are polluted.

2)It can be fed fresh and since it floats, it may be totally used by fish feeding at their own pace

3)It is used very efficiently by fish as a component of the diet since it is particularly low in fibre and high in protein (up to 40%)when grown under ideal conditions.

4)It is relatively inexpensive to produce or may be regarded to have no cost where the opportunity costs of family labour are not taken into consideration.

As in all greens there are always far more benefits towards the digestive wellbeing of the fish and I see no long term damage if careful handling is executed before feeding.

Doc,
Must it be grown in waste polluted pond? Your answer is important to us, as we grow duckweed ourselves.

There were some posting about parasite from duckweed, any idea what kind of parasite?

Rgds
CHLeong

Parasites need to feed to survive. They need hosts. For example skin flukes need continuous supply of fish muscus to eat on. It is more especially so for newly hatched flukes. Else they will just die away.

So it depends on how you culture your duckweeds.

Agreed, so the host for parasites is an animal not duckweed. So parasites are introduced into your tank via another "animal host" not a "plant host". I not sure a plant's parasites can cross over the animal. Doc any info on this?

Yes, duckweed can be collected from unclean water sources so precaution must be taken when introduce to the fish.

I have kept duckweed together with 3 CBR in a 3ft tank at 6" of water. 50% water was changed every two days and the duckweed is growing fine. You can always PP all your duckweed before introducing them to your fishes or before starting a culture.

Its another good food source as mentioned by Doc, so no harm feeding them.

Rgds
CHLeong

Now if it is home grown and cultivated by yourself then you would reduce incidence of parastic outbreak.However those available commercially are usually cultivated under condition whereby it is conducive to its propagation but not very hygenic for our fishes.In order for fast proliferation they have to be grown under high organic substrates and debris that could pose danger to our fish if fed.Worse if you harvest them in swamps and natural ponds!


Sorry I'll be back after lunch

Dear CHLeong

Let me continue where I left

All aquatic life are related in a closed, interdependent relation in order to assume a continual circle of life.
Parasites are no different.Infact they have evolved into more complex forms to overcome adverse living conditions to continue in their quest for survival.Aquatic plants and organisms may not share the same parasite-host relation but their close niche habitat allow a lot of possible contamination through their common dwelling…the water .What appears clean through our naked eyes may beg to differ.Any exposed parts of the aquatic plants to a shared common water environment may house myriads of unwanted guests and its introduction into a new and suitable water catchments may initiate a new invasion and continue their survival .In unsuitable condition,they can assume dormant mode by encysting themselves and even allowed to be carried by wind, visiting animals like what pollination in plant reproduction.The possibilities are inexhaustible and I can only write this much to drive the point that we may be dealing with just the tip of the iceberg.So be careful .