Brushes - Small soft brushes are excellent for brushing insects, eggs, and worms off plants and rocks.
Plastic jars with lids - Peanut butter, mayonnaise, and other clear, wide mouthed, plastic jars are excellent for collecting live food. Why not use glass? Glass works fine, but can be broken.
Nets - The type and size of net will vary based on the method and type of live food being collected. A large windsock shaped net is excellent for sweeping up insects in tall grass. Nets with square or rectangular openings are good for use in water, as the straight edge allows the net to be dragged closely along the bottom.
What to Look For:
Plants and Trees - Almost any plant or tree in your yard has a variety of insect life that would make a tasty fish meal. Small soft-bodied insects are suitable for virtually all fish. Cichlids enjoy larger hard-shelled insects, such as beetles. Use a small brush to gently brush the insect off the plant and into a jar with a little water in the bottom. If the insect clings to the brush, dip it in water to dislodge it. Once you have a nice collection, swirl the water in the jar to dislodge the insects from the sides, and pour it into the aquarium.
Sidewalks - Yes, look at your sidewalks, those ants are tasty morsels for your fish. Place a small piece of ripe fruit in a clean jar tipped on its side (a peanut butter or mayonnaise jar works well). Once the fruit is covered with ants, pick it up and add enough water to cover the fruit. Cap the jar and swirl it gently to wash the ants off the fruit. Remove the fruit and pour the water with the ants into the tank. If you are fortunate enough to locate an ant nest, scoop up the eggs and feed those to your fish as well.
Patio Blocks and Rocks - Turn over a rock or sidewalk brick, and you'll usually find worms, larvae, and even insect eggs. If you live near a wooded area, take a walk and turn over dead branches, piles of leaves, etc. You'll find plenty of delectable live food for your aquarium fish.
Ponds, Rivers, and Ditches - Wherever water collects you'll find an excellent source of live food for your fish. Dragging a large net through the water will yield many morsels. Daphnia are found in abundance during the warm summer months, as are mosquito larvae. Place your harvested critters in a jar of water to keep them alive on the trip home.
Fields and Pastures - A field or pasture is an excellent source of live food. Select a large fine meshed net that tapers to a small end (similar to the shape of a windsock), swish it quickly through the grass, deposit the contents into jar and cap it. Taking a drive at dusk with a net held outside the car window will often yield some interesting insects.
After a Rainstorm - Run outside! The worms are out and waiting for you to scoop them up. Larger fish will eat them whole. Dice them up before feeding to the smaller fish.
What happens when summer is over? Even if you live in northern climates, you can still culture your own live foods all year long. Check the links I've provided to find out how you can provide your fish with a steady diet of live food year round.
