Feed spiny eel tubifex as black worm alternative?

[Libpete]

I cannot find any black worms for sale in the UK for my starry night eel, and read a post saying tubifex are our black worms. After some research I read they can be harmful and parasitic, being sewer worms an all! Surely the online sites breed there own clean ones and not catch them from the sewer?

How big are tubifex compared to black worms? And are they a healthy snack like the black worm?

 

[MonsterMinis]

assume nothing when it comes to obtaining live foods. tbh I've never delt with tubifex worms but another alternative might be some of the fw shrimp like CRS. You may also have good luck in finding appropriate substitues with a Local fishclub particularly ones that are raising killies and other small fish that gerenally require live foods.

 

[Libpete]

Okay, I think his main diet will be redworms/earthworms as thats going to be the easiest, and healthy enough. I cant get him to eat anything fish like, he turns his nose up at mysis shrimp and I tried offering him a freshly deceased baby guppy but he was not having any of it. The thought of those tubifex worms gives me the creeps anyway

 

[Libpete]

Result! My compost bin has a huge population of redworms/tiger worms. Ive never added any to it, but had a hole in the bottom in the hope they would enter. I just looked under the bin and there was a pile of them!

Eel be happy about that!

 

[MonsterMinis]

Awesome =) just be wary of any pesticides ect used in your area of compost. might not be a bad idea to bring in some and put in "clean" dirt and purge them 3-5 days just to make sure they aren't carrying anything else in them depending on your area. when in doubt ere on the side of caution.

 

[Libpete]

We haven't ever used any pesticides in our garden, and we are the only people to have ever lived here so its all good there. He has had a few random dendros dug up from the earth in the last few weeks. I love the ferociousness of feeding them live worms, he strikes like a little snake. Loves 'em!