Dried Daphnia 100g

Dried Daphnia — Natural Protein Treat for Isopods, Millipedes & Snails

100% Black Sea daphnia, freeze-dried to preserve nutrient content. Daphnia (water fleas) are tiny freshwater crustaceans naturally rich in protein, chitin, and dietary fibre — and they're one of the most useful occasional protein supplements you can offer to invertebrates. Originally a fish food staple, daphnia has become a quiet favourite among isopod and millipede keepers for the same reasons aquarists use it: clean nutrition, broad appeal, and zero processing.

100g resealable bag — a small amount goes a long way for invertebrate feeding.

Why Daphnia Works for Invertebrates

Daphnia is a whole-organism food. Unlike formulated flake foods, it's not a recipe — it's freeze-dried whole creatures, with all their natural nutritional profile intact. For invertebrates that evolved feeding on dead and decaying small organisms in their natural habitats, this kind of unprocessed protein source matches their biology better than processed feeds.

50% crude protein. Higher than most fish flakes and protein powders. Daphnia's protein is naturally concentrated, so a tiny amount delivers significant nutritional value.

Rich in chitin. Daphnia bodies contain chitin — the same structural compound found in insect and crustacean exoskeletons. For moulting invertebrates (which is most of what we sell — isopods, millipedes, springtails, cockroaches, even snails for shell development), this is biologically meaningful. Chitin acts as a natural fibre source and helps regulate digestion.

Easily digestible. The freeze-drying process preserves nutrients without any cooking that might denature proteins. When daphnia rehydrates in a humid enclosure, it softens quickly and becomes accessible even to soft-bodied invertebrates that struggle with harder dry foods.

No disease risk. Unlike live foods, freeze-dried daphnia carries zero risk of introducing parasites or pathogens to your enclosure. This matters in tropical isopod setups where introducing mites or other pests can devastate a colony.

Variety in the diet. Even if you already use fish flakes or other protein supplements, daphnia provides nutritional variety. Different protein sources offer different amino acid profiles, and rotating between them produces healthier animals than relying on a single supplement.

Which Invertebrates Benefit?

Isopods. Daphnia is well-received across all isopod species. Hardy beginner species like Porcellio scaber and Giant Orange (P. laevis) will demolish daphnia rapidly. More demanding species — Cubaris, Ardentiella, and other specialist tropicals — also accept it readily and benefit from the chitin content during moulting cycles.

Millipedes. All species in our millipede collection can be offered occasional daphnia as part of a varied diet. Larger species like Chocolate Millipedes and Ghana Speckled Leg will eat it, though leaf litter and rotting wood remain the staples.

Snails. Rodatzi GALS, Pink Lipped Panthera, and Unicorn Snails all benefit from occasional daphnia. The chitin and protein content support shell growth and overall health, and the rehydrated daphnia is soft enough for snails to consume easily.

Springtails. Springtail cultures respond well to daphnia. Crushed and sprinkled on substrate, it provides easily-accessible protein that boosts springtail population growth. Particularly useful when establishing new cultures or pushing existing ones to higher density.

Cockroaches. Species in our cockroach collection readily consume daphnia as part of a varied diet.

How to Feed

For isopods: Sprinkle a small pinch on the substrate or in a feeding dish. A pinch is plenty for a colony of 20–30 isopods. Offer 1–2 times per week. Don't overfeed — uneaten daphnia in a humid enclosure can rehydrate and develop mould within 24 hours.

For millipedes: A small amount placed on a flat surface near where they're active. Once weekly is sufficient, alternating with other protein sources for variety.

For snails: Crumble a small amount onto the substrate or mix with a vegetable serving. The daphnia will rehydrate quickly and become soft enough for snails to consume. Offer 1–2 times per week.

For springtails: Crush daphnia between fingers and sprinkle directly onto substrate. The springtails will swarm to it and process it rapidly, boosting culture growth.

Mixing with other supplements: Daphnia works particularly well as part of a rotation with other protein sources. Alternating between daphnia and fish flakes ensures your invertebrates get the broadest range of amino acids and nutrients across the week. Many keepers also crumble daphnia and mix it with fish flake powder to create a custom protein blend.

A Note on Mould

Like all dry foods in humid invertebrate enclosures, daphnia can develop mould if left uneaten. The general rule: feed small amounts that get consumed within 12–24 hours rather than large portions that sit. If you notice mould forming on uneaten daphnia, remove it and reduce portion size next time. A thriving springtail culture in the same enclosure will handle small amounts of leftover food before mould becomes a problem — another reason to pair springtails with isopods and millipedes by default.

Storage

Store the bag sealed and in a cool, dry place. Freeze-dried daphnia has a long shelf life when kept dry, but it readily absorbs moisture from the air, which can cause clumping or mould development over time. Keep the bag sealed between uses. The 100g size will typically last 6+ months for a small invertebrate collection — daphnia is offered in tiny quantities compared to fish feeding.

Composition

100% freeze-dried Black Sea daphnia. No fillers, additives, colourings, or preservatives. Just the dried whole organisms.

Analytical constituents:

• Crude protein: 50%
• Crude oils and fat: 10%
• Crude fibre: 7%
• Crude ash: 18%

The high fibre content (7%) reflects the chitin in daphnia exoskeletons — a key reason daphnia is valued as both a protein source and a digestive aid for invertebrates.

Daphnia vs Fish Flakes — Which Should You Use?

Both are excellent invertebrate protein supplements, and many serious keepers use both as part of a rotation:

• Daphnia: Whole-organism food. Higher protein (50% vs 46%), higher fibre/chitin content. Single ingredient, no processed additives. Best for variety, chitin supplementation, and natural feeding behaviour.
• Ultra Tropical Fish Flakes: Formulated blend with insect meal, fish hydrolysate, herring meal, and added vitamins. Best for complete nutrition, balanced amino acids, and added fatty acids (Omega-3, 6, 9).

The most effective approach is to use both — fish flakes 1–2 times per week for balanced nutrition, daphnia 1–2 times per week for natural protein and chitin. This rotation keeps things varied and prevents over-reliance on any single food source.

Pairs Well With

For complete invertebrate care:

• Ultra Tropical Fish Flakes — alternating protein source for variety
• Cuttlebone — essential calcium for moulting and shell health
• Malawi Limestone — passive calcium source
• Flake Soil — fermented hardwood substrate
• Kinshi — mushroom mycelium for tropical species
• Magnolia Leaves — primary leaf litter
• Bamboo Leaf Litter — structural leaf cover
• Asian Leaf Mix — premium native leaves for tropical species

For more on building balanced invertebrate diets, see our setting up guide. Browse the full accessories collection for everything else needed to keep your invertebrates thriving.