I just bought blackworms today... how often to people use this food? Do the worms burrow in the gravel? Can I plan on them surviving in the gravel and breeding? I know nothing of them other than fish like to eat them.
feeding blackworms
- Thread starter downset21
- Start date
I've been feeding blackworms to my smallest Juruense every other day. I alternate between small piece of MP and the worms and have had success. I actually use a turkey baster to target feed, so only a few worms make it to the substrate. My royal pleco is quickly on top of those, so I don't think they can culture my substrate. But, it seems all too possible for them to-not that this would be a had thing, as it would provide your fish a constant source of food and keep them busy.
I am more familiar with tubifex worms but here is the little I do know, tubifex has a bad reputation due to the old habits of wild collection, there are several large scale breeders and small cultures of clean worms for home breeding are available. The two worms are very similar, but black worms seldom breed in aquaria as they prefer color water. They often survive for short periods in the tank if not immediately eaten but will be eventually hunted down. Tubifex breed at higher temps and are more prolific so sometimes establish colonies in well established tanks, espially with under gravel filtration. they to however are seldom able to keep up with the rate at whiach they are consumed by fish. In both cases loachs and cory cats in particular will eat them until they are to full to eat any more. It is easier to find cultured blackworm than it is to find cultured tubifex but when you find them the tubifex tend to be a little larger and a bit cheaper. both are excellent food for fishes.
I really don't know about the fat content, I would not use them as the only food but they make great supplemental food and are very good for conditioning fish into breeding condition.TONY60 said:
Most good LFS sell live blackworms and they can be ordered online. Even chain petstores usually carry at least frozen ones, I prefer live.