Is it safe to feed feeder crickets and compost worms to my cichlids?

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...oops, I lied. But in all this I forgot to mention something. From what I've read in science sources, one species of fish may be resistant to the same pathogen or parasite that another species is threatened by. So, on the one hand the local worms may not carry something of particular threat to the particular fish you keep. On the other hand the local worms might be harmful if you kept a different species of fish or the local worms in another area might be harmful to the same fish you keep. Someone could reason this all gets fairly academic or the odds are low and not much concern, which is fine. But it's not unheard of...

petspoiler said:
Matt, read Miguels' posts on how his much-longed-for Midas died after being fed one worm from outside.
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Link? To some extent it's probably a roll of the dice, like a lot of things. But it's not unheard of. Friend of mine lost an oscar the same way.

ok... I'm off...
 
I sometimes feed live invertebrates to my fish, which I find my fish like. However, as a staple for insectivorous fish like my bettas I rely on freeze dried bloodworms and bloodworms in jelly(by tetra). there is always that factor of risk with live foods, pathogens and harmful nutrients and other factors. it can all be very risky, however chances are low. personally, I make sure I know collection points of those live insects well, and I avoid certain species.


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I remember that. Seems like the cause of death was from indigestion / intestinal blockage from eating the worm. If the fish died a slow death from intestinal parasites or some other wasting issue, I'd be more inclined to believe that some kind of nematode or parasite (perhaps from the single worm) might be involved. But that wasn't the case.

The only drum I'm beating is that the risk from nematodes or other terrestrial parasites from feeding live red wigglers or earthworms is very low.

Matt

petspoiler said:
Matt, read Miguels' posts on how his much-longed-for Midas died after being fed one worm from outside.
Possible cause?
You'll no doubt say that doesn't count. but it would seem more fair to find out what he thought.

BTW, you are the only one laboriously beating on percentages. That was never the point.
The only way you can keep going on & on is to keep being contentious, for contentions' sake.
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ecoli73 said:
Freeze dried from reliable sources is what I use, and unlike granny's fish; mine are not spoiled so they eat anything.
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I don't know what you are talking about
:naughty:
 
Matt,

Do you know if your culturing fetida or rebellus? M. Hellweg mentions in his book that fetida (which is the only species I can find for sale) releases a foul smelling yellow liquid and is not palatable to fish. I have also came across this on other forums. A few others say their fish will eat fetida no problem, but who knows what worm they actually have. Both worms are sold under the common name "red wriggler". I also recall reading some literature on fetida being used for feed for trout farming and the results were not good. But I can't find where I read that. I really want some rebullus!!
 
Those are all fetida. You chop them up and the fish still eat them? I'm curious because some of the people I hold in high regard as far as fish keepers have mentioned their fish won't eat fetida. Rebellus is what used to be known as the red wriggler back in the day. I am not sure when the switch came about, but fetida hit the market and now rebullus is hard to find. A lot of fishermen even complain about fetida, saying fish don't bite them as well as other worms.
 
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