Raising and feeding worms to your fish. I got questions!

[J. H.]

You'll be fine.Fat is the enemy not protein.
My knowledge on this is limited.I would tag RD in.He is very knowledgeable on such matters.

RD.

 

[alecrromine]

So after spending a bit of time doing g some reading online I have decided to try and raise some red wiggler worms for my fish. It just so happens that I found a place online that is local to me so I will be picking up my order soon. Here is where I am buying from.

https://www.wormcomposting.ca

They seem easy enough to raise and breed so I should have an endless supply for my fish. I don't know how often I will feed these worms or how much at a time but I will figure that out as time goes.

I will update this once I get the tub setup and do a video of my first feeding. Hopefully my GT will love them.

I just dumped the mornings coffee grounds in the bin with them. it seemed to work well, I had red wrigglers and Alabama jumpers in the bin. worked well until I moved and released all of them in the yard. I threw in a few dozen of each and just waited a few monthd before I started pulling them out, and always made sure not to take any with the egg things on them.

 

[shamrock]

I don't know? Perhaps there are reasons you don't see worms for sale at most LFS. I could see if you quarantined or cleaned them, but GTs are herbivores-this is the first time I have heard or read that they are omnivores-they are opportunist which means if given the chance they will eat insects or small fish-that does not necessarily mean live food is good for them.

I could eat hot dogs everyday and not die, but eventually will affect my digestive system and create health problems in the future.

 

[philipraposo1982]

I don't know? Perhaps there are reasons you don't see worms for sale at most LFS. I could see if you quarantined or cleaned them, but GTs are herbivores-this is the first time I have heard or read that they are omnivores-they are opportunist which means if given the chance they will eat insects or small fish-that does not necessarily mean live food is good for them.

I could eat hot dogs everyday and not die, but eventually will affect my digestive system and create health problems in the future.

You said it all right there ^

You comparing a clearly healthy food source to once that is not considered to be one.

Where did you read that rivs are herbivores?

All these state they are omnivorous
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/andinoacara-rivulatus/
http://meethepet.com/green-terror-aequidens-rivulatus/
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+889+2218&pcatid=2218
http://www.fishforums.net/threads/gold-saum-andinoacara-rivulatus.412823/

I think you might be misinformed.

 

[BIG-G]

I don't know? Perhaps there are reasons you don't see worms for sale at most LFS. I could see if you quarantined or cleaned them, but GTs are herbivores-this is the first time I have heard or read that they are omnivores-they are opportunist which means if given the chance they will eat insects or small fish-that does not necessarily mean live food is good for them.

I could eat hot dogs everyday and not die, but eventually will affect my digestive system and create health problems in the future.

There are a few reason their are not usually worms at the LFS. But I would say the main reason is most people don't have fish capable of devouring an earthworm 8 inches or more in size like most of us here.
I doubt most people are going to want to chop up worms for their neons and cherry barbs.
But if they did I guarantee the fish would eat them.
I dont get the hot dog comparison? If a hot dog occurred naturally and we could just come swimming along and eat it , maybe it would make more sense.
Worms, insects along with vegetation and many other things are natural foods for fish.
Even vegetarian fish will eat the odd snail or crustacean now and again. I would even wager that most would eat a worm or two as well.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Gt's herbivores? Well you learn something new everyday

 

[RD.]

Sorry, very late to this topic and missed the tag, but I wanted to add that I agree with Shamrock in so much as I would not personally feed worms to a GT. It has nothing to do with protein or fat, but simply that many of the aquarium strains of this species do tend to have somewhat sensitive gastrointestinal systems. This is not just something that I have noticed over the years, many others have as well - which is why some folks believe they are more herbivorous, as they don't do real well on more meaty diets. I have no idea how this plays out in the wild, this is solely based on captive bred strains that have most likely been sourced from Singapore or ponds in Florida.

From a previous discussion, where Tom (Aquanero) posted the following .....

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/green-terror-diet.443154/

One of the keys to the successful raising of GTs is to avoid too meaty of a diet as their digestive system needs to be kept moving and anything that is difficult to digest especially when young leads to trouble such as bacterial infections of the digestive tract which is often misdiagnosed at internal parasites due to the presents of the "white stringy poop"

Just my Canadian 2 cents worth .......