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Cyclops

All 44 species of cyclops are fresh water Arthropoda and members of the Crustacea group, sub-class Copepoda, group Cyclopoida. Their length is between 0.5 and 3 mm. They can be found in virtually every type of water, and can be found in standing waters, but also in slow flowing rivers and canals, particularly among weeds.

Freshly caught cyclops are highly nutritious, usually they are reddisch brown or green. If kept in jars for a few days they will start to loose the color, and become less nutritious. Cyclops naupliae are an important food source for small fry. Larger cyclops are dangerous to small fry, since they will attack and eat the eggs and fry.

To catch cyclops you will need a fine mazed net, and a bucket. At the waterside, fill the bucket, and check if any small animals are present. The best places are downwind, in sunny areas. If you find only a few cyclops at the first location, walk 5 meters further, and fill the bucket again. Repeat the procedure until you arrive at a place where a reasonable amount of cyclops are present. Move the net through the water in a figure eight at a depth of 10-30cm. After three or four rounds your net will be filled with cyclops, you will notice this when it gets heavier to move the net through the water. Invert the net and submerse it in the bucket.

References: Mellanby, H.(1963): Animal Life in Fresh Water., 6th. Edition pp 96-102. ,Chapman & Hall, UK.

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