Water donkey in an aquarium

The water donkey might be the ideal addition to your aquarium if you enjoy unusual and fascinating additions. This little creature can bring a lot of personality to your aquatic setup. It’s well-known for its unusual name and intriguing behavior. However, what is a water donkey exactly, and why should you think about getting one for your tank?

The water donkey is a small insect that lives on the water’s surface. It is sometimes referred to as a water strider or water skater. In addition to being a fascinating specimen to look at, it contributes to the ecosystem in your aquarium. It can be fascinating to watch these insects glide across the water’s surface because of their skill. Additionally, their presence can support a balanced environment in your tank and aid in the control of small pests.

It is important to take certain things into account when adding a water donkey to your aquarium. Because they depend on the water surface for mobility and feeding, they require a tank that is kept in good condition. Knowing their requirements and habits will guarantee that they blend in perfectly with your aquatic setting, adding aesthetic value as well as ecological advantages.

Natural habitat

The water donkey is a native of all of Europe. The Iberian Peninsula is the only location where it isn’t found. The invertebrate lives in lakes, rivers, and shallow reservoirs. prefers to establish itself in areas with lots of dense vegetation and stones. Dense plant thickets aid in the donkey’s concealment from predators, which in the wild include amphibians like frogs, toads, and newts, as well as small and large fish and water beetles.

Both clean and dirty water will feel perfectly comfortable to the donkey. Furthermore, saltwater environments are home to the water donkey. All the animal needs to survive is an abundance of leaves, which can come from nearby plants that are growing or from leaves that fall into the water.

A "water donkey," also called a water strider, can be an interesting and useful addition to an aquarium. These insects are a natural way to keep your tank cleaner because they aid in the control of mosquito larvae and other small pests. Even though they may not be the most common inhabitants of aquariums, knowing their function and how to take care of them can add something special to your aquatic setup, improving its ecosystem and aesthetic appeal.

Appearance

The water donkey is a tiny animal, with a body length of only 15 to 20 mm. The primary hues are deep brown tones accented with hints of orange. body type The head is composed of segments, which allows for a smooth transition from its somewhat flattened form to the body. There are segmentations within the chest as well. The gills that help with breathing are found on the legs of the water donkey, which are situated on the chest.

The water donkey resembles a woodlouse in appearance. A thin chitinous layer covers the entire body. On either side of the head are the eyes. Four pairs of whiskers and the jaw serve as an antenna. There are eight sets of legs. The fourth, fifth, and sixth pairs are all facing backward, while the three front pairs are facing forward. The row is completed by the eighth and final pair, which is two-branched, elevated above the body, and does not move with the animal.

The water donkey can only move swiftly in the water due to its extremely delicate and thin legs. On land, however, it moves very slowly and erratically because its legs—numbering as they are—cannot support the weight of even its tiny frame. Differentiating between a male and a female is not difficult. In addition to being twice as big, females’ shells are darker than those of males.

Features of keeping in an aquarium

In an aquarium, water donkeys can serve as both live food for fish and a regular resident of a man-made reservoir. Donkeys are casual aquarium residents that require little attention. They only require an aquarium that holds 20 liters; larger tanks are not necessary.

The ideal soil type is sandy, with a medium to large percentage of sand. You could add tiny pebbles to the sand.

Dense vegetation is crucial for the donkeys, and it should occupy at least half of the aquarium’s total volume.

It might seem odd, but since water donkeys lack aesthetic value, why breed them in aquariums? But, spending even a minute watching the antics of these diminutive yet highly gregarious animals is worthwhile because it will hold your interest entirely. And you have hours to watch them.

Whether they reside in a man-made fish tank or a species aquarium, donkeys always need to have a decent place to live. Placed on the bottom are grottoes, castles, driftwood, and jugs as well as other decorative elements (learn more about creating a grotto for an aquarium with your own hands). Water donkeys are comfortable in any environment and are not sensitive to temperature, acidity, hardness, or lighting requirements.

Behavior and character traits

Water donkeys are serene, tranquil animals. They can swim swiftly throughout the aquarium or they can spend hours frozen on the bottom in close proximity to food. They avoid getting into arguments with one another. They eat most of the time, for extended periods of time, and in large quantities that correspond to their body size.

The bottom is where water donkeys like to be, slowly crawling along it in search of food. These creatures could appear to be extremely passive and sluggish at the same time. However, you won’t find aquarium inhabitants moving any faster than them once they sense danger.

A water donkey can live as a fish pet in an aquarium. Fish won’t particularly encroach on the donkeys if you feed them on a regular and varied basis. They won’t be able to wipe out every member of these crustaceans’ population in the aquarium, anyway.

Fish and donkeys coexist peacefully and do not harm one another. Even though acanthocephalans, or worms, have intermediate hosts in crustaceans, there is very little chance that a fish eating a donkey will contract the infection.

Donkeys procreate quickly, frequently, and in large numbers, so you want to make sure there aren’t too many of them in the aquarium. The aquarium has to be cleaned right away if these prickly creatures have procreated widely.

Given that donkeys can survive in a variety of environments, including freshwater or saltwater, these animals stand out for having extremely high levels of physical endurance.

How and what to feed

The water donkey enjoys plant-based food just as much as dead microorganisms that have started to decompose. The following foods should be included in the diet of these crabs kept in aquariums:

• rotted leaves;
• alder and elm leaf blades;
• tender leaves of live plants planted directly in the tank.

Donkeys generally dislike eating coniferous and oak leaves, and they will probably turn them down. If the aquarium’s living conditions are kept in order, crayfish might not require extra feeding for a very long time.

Donkeys will gladly consume the plants and algae in the artificial reservoir if they are abundant and cover the stones and spread out in a thin web on the glass. Diatoms and filamentous algae are preferred when setting up an aquarium for these kinds of crustaceans.

Water donkeys eat a lot, often, and for a long time. They consume roughly 170 mg of rotted, living leaves over the course of their life cycle, which is more than ten times their body weight.

Reproduction and development

Observing water donkeys can be highly engaging, particularly in the breeding season. After 50 to 55 days from the time of birth, animals reach sexual maturity.

Donkeys require a water temperature of +7° to +8°C, not less, to begin reproducing.

From the second half of April to the start of September, individuals are ready to procreate and have offspring.

Donkey mating games are hilarious, but unlike most aquarium inhabitants, they do not feature lengthy, beautiful courtships in which two males compete for the female’s "heart." When the moment comes, the male spends a considerable amount of time—roughly four to seven days—sitting on the female’s back. Because this is the time in the life cycle when donkeys can reproduce, the male has been waiting for the female to begin molting.

Mating starts as soon as the female starts to molt. The male’s inner branches of his second pair of legs resemble a syringe. The male inserts sperm into the female’s genital opening with its assistance. After fertilization, the female completes her molting process and starts laying eggs, typically between 50 and 100 in number.

For a duration of three to six weeks, the female water donkey harbors her eggs in a pouch beneath her abdomen. This brood pouch is easily visible because it resembles a green bump. In addition to allowing the progeny to be preserved, this pouch continuously filters the water and removes impurities from the egg’s surface.

Offspring

Only when they reach a size of 1.5 mm do the emerging little donkeys emerge from the parent pouch. After that, they live independently and don’t require adult supervision or care.

It’s fascinating to watch how the emerging larvae develop into the water donkey. First, there are growths on the body’s sides, though it’s unclear what purpose they serve. A few theories exist; one states that the donkey breathes through these growths. According to a different account, the donkeys need these growths in order to push other people aside and create space in the water for themselves.

The female molts along with the larvae when they exit the pouch, discarding the unnecessary brood pouch.

The molting process

Everything that occurs in a water donkey’s life is peculiar and hilarious. Water donkeys have an interesting molting process. The beginning of it all occurs when the shell splits in half, dividing the fourth and fifth thoracic segments. Subsequently, the oviducts containing the eggs are opened when the shell first leaves the back of the body. The front portion of the body doesn’t molt until after this.

The molt occurs concurrently with the formation of a new brood pouch. In the course of the breeding season, the female can lay four or five eggs. A water donkey has a one-year life cycle.

Also read about the other occupants:

• poison dart frog;
• giant freshwater shrimp;
• axolotl.

What are the values of water donkeys in nature

It is hard to believe that water donkeys, which are small, spineless, and sometimes invisible, are such an important part of the ecosystem. These animals are unique in that they consume fallen, decaying leaves and convert them into different types of energy that are utilized by other living things.

Of all the freshwater animals, water donkeys are the most prominent. Furthermore, these crustaceans will develop more quickly and in larger quantities the more leaves that fall into the water where they reside. Not only are water donkeys food for fish, but they are particularly valuable food. Throughout their life cycle, crustaceans store a high concentration of beneficial compounds found in plant leaves within themselves.

Being inconspicuous creatures, water donkeys don’t require special conditions to survive; in fact, if the aquarium is filled with enough plants and algae, they can survive without outside food. If you arrange the aquarium’s lighting artfully, add plants, and toss in some water donkeys, you can spend hours observing this aquatic ecosystem and all of its swarming inhabitants.

Photo of a water donkey

A water donkey can be a delightful and unusual addition to your aquarium. These amazing animals, which are sometimes called "water donkeys" because of their unusual appearance and habits, bring charm and mystery to any aquatic environment. Their presence can add endless interest for you and your guests, as well as improve the tank’s aesthetic appeal.

Making sure a water donkey’s habitat is conducive to their well-being is crucial when taking care of them. Their health and happiness can be preserved by making sure they have enough space, the right tank mates, and the ideal water conditions. Your aquarium will remain lively and balanced with regular care and attention to their needs.

In general, adding a water donkey to your aquatic environment can be a great experience. These animals can become a prominent feature in your tank, adding some whimsy and beauty with the correct setup and maintenance. Take pleasure in observing them as they grow and adapt to their new surroundings and allow their distinct presence to add a new level of enjoyment to your aquarium experience.

Video on the topic

FORGOTTEN LIVE FOOD. WATER BUNK. Asellus aquaticus

Water donkey / Asellus aquaticus

Water donkey in nature and in an aquarium. // Clever Cricket