earthworms

[esoxlucius]

As part of my fishes healthy and diverse diet i'm thinking of feeding chopped worms from the garden. I've read that it's wise to prepare them first by storing them in a covered tub with damp newspaper for 24 hours so they can poop out any "badness" thus making them safe for the fish. However, i also know that worms will chomp quite happily on rotting newspaper from my time breeding them for angling purposes.
My question is, is there any danger to my fish from newspaper ink that the worms might ingest? Or is it safer not to do anything with the worms and just let the fish enjoy them as they are?

 

[tlindsey]

Most people do what you stated, but I have personally after a long rainfall collected earthworms off my driveway simply rinsed them first and tossed into the aquarium with no ill affects. With the newspaper never heard anyone that had a problem.

 

[tlindsey]

Just make sure you don't collect them were fertilizer has been used , if your not aware of this all ready.

 

[Kittiee Katt]

My question is, is there any danger to my fish from newspaper ink that the worms might ingest? Or is it safer not to do anything with the worms and just let the fish enjoy them as they are?

I've often wondered this...

Most people do what you stated, but I have personally after a long rainfall collected earthworms off my driveway simply rinsed them first and tossed into the aquarium with no ill affects. With the newspaper never heard anyone that had a problem.

What do you consider a 'long' rainfall? A few hours? Days?
And do you know if A4 printer paper could be used instead of newspaper? Or would the 'whitening' process of the paper make the worms toxic to my fish?

Post Script: I'm actually not sure if they 'whiten' printer paper, but its pretty darn white so I'd assume they do something to it.

 

[Drstrangelove]

Worms will come up and are easily caught at night after a rain if one uses a flashlight. There are other more high tech methods as well. The rain does not have to be extreme as I've heard and seen sprinklers bring them up as well. I could catch them even after a one hour rainstorm. Worms are terrestrial, so they have to surface if the top portion of the lawn begins to accumulate water.

I used to feed them whole to my fish in the summer when I lived in Illinois. I did nothing special to treat them except rinse them off. However, it's best to not feed them to your pets if insecticide has been used in the yard. (Maybe fertilized as well if that contains weed killer.) Since I "ran" my yard, I knew it was all natural.

I also fed crickets from the same yard. No issues with fish getting ill.

 

[piranhaman00]

Just rinse the dirt off of them so it doesnt end up in the aquarium, and like others said, only collect where you know chemical fertilizers are not being used.

Actually a very good addition to any fishes diet, can also easily gut load with whatever you choose.