Q: What is Daphnia?
A: Daphnia is a very small crustacean, which means its related to animals like lobster, crab and shrimp.

Q: Where do Daphnia live?
A: Daphnia are fresh water crustaceans. They can be found in lakes, rivers, ponds, streams – even puddles!

Q: What do they eat?
A: They eat lots of things you’d find in a lake or river, like algae, bacteria, and detritus.

Q: How big is a Daphnia?
A: Adult Daphnia usually measure 2 -5 millimeters long. That’s smaller than your pinky nail!

Q: How long do Daphnia live?
A: On average, about 3 months.

Have more questions about Daphnia? Email us at learning@biobus.org

Daphnia Videos

Daphnia giving birth under BioBus microscopes

[fve]https://vimeo.com/154217505[/fve]

Daphnia heart beat

[fve]https://vimeo.com/154218657[/fve]

Other resources to learn about Daphnia:

Daphnia Images and Information at MBL Aquaculture

Daphnia – Wikipedia

Daphnia: An Aquarist’s Guide

For teachers: Order Daphnia for your classroom

• Email us at learning@biobus.org to order Daphnia through the BioBus, or order a live culture from Carolina Biological Supply.
• Follow these instructions on how to care for your Daphnia
• Here’s another guide to culturing Daphnia