Blackworms???

[windsurfer]

black worms are tubiflex worms. They used to be common about 10 years ago, now everything is blood worms.

This is totally and completely false. If you've never used live california blackworms, you're missing out. Don't be confused by common names - tubifex are sometimes referred to as black worms by people that don't know the difference.

The true live tubifex worm is not used too much as they are vectors for disease - they live on fish crap. Blackworms (sp. Lumbriculus) live a different life and have a different diet. IMO, they are an awesome growth food for tropical fish.

windsurfer....

 

[Onion01]

black worms are tubiflex worms. They used to be common about 10 years ago, now everything is blood worms.

where do you get your facts?!?

 

[ironmunki]

When I get offline, I plan on trying them again and using my turkey baster (best tank tool EVER) to swirl the water a bit and try to make the worms look "alive", just for fun. Maybe it'll work.

Jessie*

turkey baster? great idea!

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

I'm so serious. HOB filter craps out? Need to restart it? Grab the turkey baster and shoot some water in the top real quick to get it going. Chunk of shrimp not get eaten? Use your same turkey baster to grab it real quick. Trying to harvest fish eggs? Turkey baster yet AGAIN. I'm now on my second - used the first so much it just sort of fell apart.

Jessie*

 

[Freedomradio]

I feed blackworms to my Oscars sometimes. You can pick some up in Denton at a place called Fish & Chirps . . Chris can get you the address.

 

[micstarz]

I'm so serious. HOB filter craps out? Need to restart it? Grab the turkey baster and shoot some water in the top real quick to get it going. Chunk of shrimp not get eaten? Use your same turkey baster to grab it real quick. Trying to harvest fish eggs? Turkey baster yet AGAIN. I'm now on my second - used the first so much it just sort of fell apart.

Jessie*

I use 100cc syringes - my dad's a doctor

I also use turkey basters and metal tongs though, but that's about it...

Syringes win hands down for sucking up smaller stuff and jet power. I use them to clear gaps in my rockwork of poop, beed brine shrimp and blackworms, etc...

Anyway...you should try feeding more scent-based foods (surprised that bloodworms didn't work)

Try cutting your earthworms so your bichirs can smell the juice...or try de-headed (for scent) mealworms...bichirs operate largely by scent.

 

[rnocera]

Wow this is old. . . But, for anyone who is reading through this thinking about picky eaters- Try garlic juice! They use it in a lot of fish baits (catfish baits, powerbait, etc. . .). We use it in the store I work in, and it works great. I've used it myself for reluctant feeders. Any time I have a new fish who doesn't want to eat the food I'm offering, I just put a little garlic juice on it.

As soon as it hits the water, almost all fish liven up instantly. It seems to work especially well with bottom feeders/scavenging fish.