Puffer Pantry Care Guide

What Are Daphnia? (Beginner‑Friendly Explanation)

Daphnia (often called water fleas) are small freshwater crustaceans used as live fish food, water polishers, and microfauna builders. They reproduce quickly, thrive in simple setups, and are ideal for feeding bettas, puffers, tetras, cichlids, axolotls, and other freshwater fish.

Aquarists keep Daphnia for:

• feeding fish with nutrient‑rich live food
• maintaining stable micro‑ecosystems
• improving water clarity
• conditioning breeding fish
• culturing live foods at home

What Daphnia Eat — Best Foods for Daphnia magna

Daphnia are filter feeders that eat suspended particles in the water.

Best Foods

• Chlorella microalgae
• Tetraselmis phytoplankton
• Green water
• Yeast (very small amounts)
• Powdered spirulina
• Crushed fish flakes
• Bacteria and biofilm

Feeding Tips