An innumerable variety of tiny animals and plants, many of them invisible to the naked eye, form the basis of the food chain in the world's fresh and marine waters. This conglomeration of diverse organisms is loosely referred to as “plankton” and the larger species are an excellent and often vital food for tiny fry and filter feeding invertebrates. Plankton is most easily collected by using a mesh plankton net. Available through biological supply houses, these nets can be used from the shore and are also manufactured in styles that can be towed behind a boat. The use of plankton as a food source will greatly improve your success in breeding and raising a wide variety of otherwise delicate aquatic creatures.