How to Culture Rotifers
Rotifers are an essential live food for marine fry, coral larvae, and filter feeders. They’re rich in protein, small enough for tiny mouths, and easy to digest. While it’s possible to culture them at home, it’s often more effort than most hobbyists expect.
Here’s how the process works — and why many reefers prefer to order live rotifers instead.
What You’ll Need
A clean container (usually 5–20L)
Marine saltwater (1.018–1.020 salinity)
Rotifer starter culture
Live phytoplankton (not optional)
Fine mesh sieve (53 microns or smaller)
Gentle aeration
Daily attention (feeding, harvesting, cleaning)
Setup Process
1. Prepare the Water
Mix saltwater to 1.020 and let it aerate. Rotifers are sensitive to sudden salinity shifts.
2. Add the Culture
Introduce your rotifers once the water is stable. Avoid overstocking early — they’ll crash quickly without enough food.
3. Feed Live Phytoplankton Daily
Rotifers need constant food. If the water isn’t slightly green, they’re starving. Live phyto works best, and must be dosed daily.
4. Harvest Gently
Use a fine sieve to collect rotifers, then rinse with clean saltwater. Always leave enough behind to maintain the population.
5. Clean, Top Off, Repeat
Rotifers foul water fast. Regular water changes and daily cleaning are necessary to avoid crashes. Cultures can die overnight if neglected.
Common Issues
Culture crashes from overfeeding, underfeeding, or poor water quality
Ammonia spikes within 24–48 hours
Starvation if live phyto isn’t fresh or abundant
Contamination from hands, buckets, or shared tools
Uneven population density, leading to poor feeding yield
A Smarter Option?
Unless you’re raising fry daily or culturing at scale, it might not be worth it.
That’s why many hobbyists choose to order live rotifers from trusted suppliers. Our cultures are dense, clean, and ready to feed — no crashing, no guessing, no wasted phyto.
Need rotifers fast?
We ship freshly harvested, live rotifers direct to your door — no stress, no daily dosing, no mess. Just results.
