Neptun
Corethra is the common name for the larva of the mosquito of the genus Culicidae, species Chaoborus (Corethra). It is used as live food for aquarium fish. It is relatively easy to obtain and preserve. Corethra fish food diversify the diet of your pets behind the aquarium glass very well.
It is widespread everywhere. The larvae can be found above the shoals of deep lakes, in waters of peat bogs and forest puddles.
Corethra fish food Description
Corethra has a spindle-shaped body consisting of 13-14 segments, reaching a length of 12-14 millimeters. Its body color depends on the food base of the water body from which it was caught. It can vary from light yellow to dirty red.
In the third from the ends of the body of the segments on the lumen can be seen paired swim bladders filled with gases formed by the organism. These bladders allow you to support the body in the water column, preventing it from sinking to the bottom and take a position from horizontal to vertical. There is an easily distinguishable head with two black dots – eyes. The head is also equipped with bucket-shaped jaws. The tail end has a plumage of hairs directed vertically downward. Located almost all the time in the upper and middle aquatic horizons. To the bottom of the coretra descends rarely. Is a predator. Catch cyclops, daphnia, the larvae of other insects, is not indifferent to just turned off the fry spawning fish.
During the fall-winter-spring period it remains the above described larvae for a long time. When warming begins to pupate. The pupa stays near the water surface and can sink to the bottom only if disturbed. After about twelve days, a formed insect, the mosquito, emerges from the pupa. The Chaoborus mosquito is not a bloodsucker.
Corethra fish food How to get it?
It is better to harvest bark mackerel in fall, winter or spring. In summer, as already mentioned, rapid pupation begins. Therefore, there is a high probability of collecting not bark larvae, but precisely its pupae. For catching this food it is better to choose a clean reservoir of shallow depth.
A net made of synthetic fabrics with very fine mesh is used for fishing. The movements of the net submerged under water should resemble a horizontally arranged figure eight. And movements along the arcs of the figure eight should be smooth slow without pressure with a smooth turn of the net. And on straight intersecting lines forming a figure eight the movement of the net should be accelerated, increasing slightly the pressure on it.
Such movements of the net can create a light whirlpool, which draws in an additional number of larvae. After the net will be filled with bark, it is necessary to transfer your catch to the bottom of an enameled dish and pour a thin layer of water. The surface area is desirable large. In this form, you can take your catch home and prepare it for long-term storage.
Coretta is considered the purest living food. It is difficult to argue with this. For example, compared to trumpet fish, the risk of infectious diseases when feeding bark tends to zero. If you still have any doubts about the reservoir from which it is caught, it can be additionally disinfected by keeping for one to two days in a weak solution of manganese.
Corethra fish food How to conserve?
You can store your catch in a number of ways.
- In a damp cloth or paper.
- In a small amount of water.
- Frozen.
Store bark, regardless of the method should be at a low temperature to prevent its pupation or rapid spoilage.
If you buy this feed at the market in small portions, it is more acceptable for you to store it in the first way, namely in a damp cloth or paper. In this case it is necessary to rinse it at least once a day under a stream of water, and then lay it on a slightly moistened cloth and wrapped in it. Then this roll is placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. With this method of storage, bark can be kept fresh from one to two weeks.
The second method is not much more complicated than the first, though it will require a little more space. The larvae of the mosquito coretra are placed in a container with water. Half a liter per one tablespoon of larvae. With a larger number of larvae per unit volume will have to establish artificial aeration. Once – twice a day, the water should be changed. A container with bark is also put on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. In this way, with careful care, it is possible to keep the bark fresh from two to four weeks.
For long term storage, you’ll have to freeze it
If the catch is large or you want to stock it for a long time, it should be frozen. This will require a temperature of minus eighteen degrees. Most modern freezers can easily cope with this task. Before freezing, it is desirable to sanitize the bark and decant excess water with the help of a net. After this, the food can be laid out in a thin layer on half a piece of cloth and cover with the other half. After that, place this roll on the freezer shelf.
It is still desirable to freeze not very large portions, so as not to defrost the entire layer each time feeding – unnecessary cycles of defrosting – freezing deteriorate the quality of the product. The most acceptable portions are those that can be used from a week to a month. The ideal portion should be sufficient for a single feeding of all pets in your fish farm. However, this can be problematic at home. In the state of deep freezing you can store bark for up to two years.
How to feed bark to fish?
Corethra contains 10% of dry matter of which fats 5.4%, proteins 41.2%, carbohydrates 48.9%, ash 4.5%.
As you can see food is not the most caloric. Therefore, feed your aquarium fish only bark is not worth it. Normal frequency of use of this food can be considered one – two times a week.
When feeding this type of food should be remembered that bark is a predator and in the absence of its usual food, it can easily begin to feed on what will be at hand including fry and spawning fish.
Nota bene! : Corella has no place in a spawning ground.
Feed the larvae of the Coretra mosquito only to juvenile fry and adult fish.
Before you give bark to fish should check whether there are no specific odors in the container with it, if there is, it is better to refuse to feed your fish with this batch of bark.
Разиорозить и промыть!
Rinse the measured portion under a gentle stream of running water. You can then release the food into the aquarium. If you feed frozen food, defrost it before giving it to the fish. It is not necessary to defrost the entire layer. It is necessary to break off a small piece, which will be enough for one feeding of your pets and defrost only it. Also after feeding you should remove floating to the surface not alive specimens. Since they are quickly affected by fungi and bacteria, which will inevitably cause a fish disease if it swallows this nutrient medium with microorganisms multiplied on it.
Live bark can be so transparent that fish do not always notice it immediately. However, with regular use of this type of food, your pets will quickly learn to eat it. Otherwise, uneaten larvae can pupate and mosquitoes will appear in the apartment in twelve days. One thing is good – mosquitoes of this species do not bite. But the fact itself is not pleasant. If this happens, you should reduce the portion and do not give the next one until all the previous one is eaten.
Corethra food for fish is very useful, if it is still alive, then feeding for your fish becomes a hunt for it, which in itself is useful for living creatures in captivity. And in some cases, without live food floating in the water column and do not do without. By alternating between different types of coma, you will create a complete diet for your fish, thanks to which they will grow well, get even brighter coloring.
