black worms and plant/fish/invert compatibility.

[kamikaziechameleon]

Hope this is the right forum, I apologize for so many threads but designing a new tank has me full of questions.

I was wondering if putting black worms in a planted tank would result in them eating live plant roots, and resulting damage to my plants, or if they would be beneficial. If there are no worm predators in the tank will they overpopulate and damage ecosystem? I would maybe have dwarf frogs and khuli loaches that might eat young black worms. Will they harm or threaten any other inverts(snails, shrimp...)

 

[anarekist]

they like to eat rotting plant matter so they should be safe for your plants, sounds like an excellent clean up krew.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

great news. I'm trying to create a complex ecosystem in my tank with a filter just for pulling out particulate from the water column when the water becomes to nasty.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I read around on black worms and there are some frightful older rumors about them. Are they indeed dangerous in any capacity???

 

[andyjs]

They're actually pretty beneficial for a planted tank

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

They're actually pretty beneficial for a planted tank

awesome, where is a good place to pick them up?

 

[deeda]

You can see if your local fish store carries them or there is a vendor in the marketplace (Dan from Blackworms Direct) that sells live, frozen or freeze dried.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

awesome, didn't know if there was any special protocol for getting the right ones. Thanks.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Make sure your substrate is mature or else the worms may not get enough food.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I will, overfeeding is a specialty of mine.