I'm starving my cats

[wuvmybetta]

As some may remember I bought 3 L200 lories from CM a few months ago. They were stuck in the blackout for 4 days in transit to me and in that time I grew very fond of them & hopeful for their safe arrival. Thankfully they arrived healthy and since then they've become extremely dear to me AND extremely spoiled.

Every night it is a chore to feed them, after turning off all their powerheads I distribute bloodworms in nice neat piles and as fast as I squirt out the worms they swish their tails through them and cause bloodworms to swirl around rocks and under crevices which makes a huge mess. I'm not complaining ,I think it's precious because they're just so brave and fearless that they'd probably eat right off the turkey baster if I gave them the chance But they're just soooo messy AND lazy, they don't even scavenge around, they just sit in their feeding spots waiting every night at about 6 in the evening,so tonight, for the 1st time....I didn't feed them I saw them sitting there....waiting... and I just ignored it ...I can't help but feel like I should run in there and feed them

 

[freshmike]

Awwww!!!! Poor little guys!!! You are such a meany!

 

[Inchworm]

But they're just soooo messy AND lazy, they don't even scavenge around, they just sit in their feeding spots waiting every night at about 6 in the evening,so tonight, for the 1st time....I didn't feed them I saw them sitting there....waiting... and I just ignored it ...I can't help but feel like I should run in there and feed them

Hi wuvmybetta

Sometimes it seems that no matter what you do live bloodworms will get into the substrate. I have this problem too, even with the corys who like to dig in the gravel for them.

What I've been doing is just siphoning the tank and when I get them into the bucket I swirl the water with my hand. This causes them to come to the center where they form a ball which can be picked out and put back into the tank so the fish can get to them. I doubt that many of them get into the gravel a second time.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I can't imagine feeding live bloodworms, where do you get those??
These are frozen & luckily it's a sand substrate, but every gravel vac (twice weekly,messy buggers)when I lift the rocks tons of rotten worms fly around & head for the filter because they just wont clean up after themselves

yeah, yeah,I know Mike ,it's tough love

 

[Inchworm]

I can't imagine feeding live bloodworms, where do you get those??

Sorry, wuvmybetta, I just pictured the corys scattering their dinner and thought your fish were doing the same. I feed live worms so I guess I figured you did too.

Any good lfs should carry them, especially the independent ones. If you find them, why not give them a try. All my fish love them, even the new betta who ate within a few minutes of being released into the tank. (From what I've been reading, some people have trouble getting them to eat at first. I'm glad I didn't have that problem.)

 

[wuvmybetta]

hmmm, I go to a little hole in the wall fish shop so the shopkeeper may just order some for me , I bet the bettas would love them

are they sterilized just like the frozen?

 

[Inchworm]

hmmm, I go to a little hole in the wall fish shop so the shopkeeper may just order some for me , I bet the bettas would love them

are they sterilized just like the frozen?

Sorry I took so long getting back to you on this, wuvmybetta, but first I lost the information (messy desk), then I couldn't remember where this thread was.

The live worms are not sterilized, but according to CFC, you can do it yourself by letting them stand in a solution of Myxazin (2 drops per gallon) for a half hour or so before feeding them to the fish. This will kill any bacteria clinging to them.

Please let me know if you give the worms a try and how your fish like them.