Nightcrawlers and Parasites

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Kivstev

Kivstev

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2009
255
6
48
Massachusetts, USA
I believe that these worms carry some sort of parasite that makes fish flash, possibly even flukes. I buy them from the local bait store - Canadian Crawlers. I've never had problems with fish spitting food and not eating, shaking their heads, and flashing til I started feeding them nightcrawlers.

Anyone else think this is possible? I haven't been able to find anything in net land that substantiates they carry flukes or similar parasite that could be a danger to fish.

Off topic, but I also believe that bloodworms cause German Rams to bloat and die.
 
Well if its bait its likely SCENTED worms which can contain harmful chems. Be careful what u feed em, if the worms have parasites then most likely itll affect ur fish.

#1 S. Vettel
 
love The Jack Dempseys said:
Just go dig em up in the yard because the need to have a crazy smell for fishing with them(probably chemicals like said above)
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Yea but be careful for fetilyzers on ur property and what not. I goto a local creek and pull big rocks and wood and their all over. Atleast if their in a river or creek its 90% good!

#1 S. Vettel
 
These nightcrawlers that I buy are actually said to be 'aquarium fish friendly' so I doubt they have extra additives to make them smellier or more edible than the average backyard nightcrawler. The walmart colored worms obviously have extra additives.

I was surmising that any ordinary earthworm could potentially carry parasites that are harmful to aquarium fish. It's just a theory. However, if no one else has suspected this I'm probably wrong for the seventh time this year. ;)
 
It could be a simple irritant in the packing soil.
I read on forum to keep them in oatmeal for a couple days before feeding to fish, to clean out their gut-load. another recommendation was putting them in wheat germ.
 
Kivstev said:
I believe that these worms carry some sort of parasite that makes fish flash, possibly even flukes. I buy them from the local bait store - Canadian Crawlers. I've never had problems with fish spitting food and not eating, shaking their heads, and flashing til I started feeding them nightcrawlers.

Anyone else think this is possible? I haven't been able to find anything in net land that substantiates they carry flukes or similar parasite that could be a danger to fish.

Off topic, but I also believe that bloodworms cause German Rams to bloat and die.
Click to expand...

it depends on where they come from. generally, the nightcrawlers you'll get from canada are pretty good quality, as for instance, the province of ontario prohibits the use of pesticides and such chemicals. so if from ontario, chances are extremely low that they have come into contact with chemicals. some places in the country will allow it, but generally it's not a problem.

as far as parasites, it's much lower than feeder fish, but there's never a 100% certainty of a live food being parasiteless.
 
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