Live Bloodworms

[SamLovesCorys]

I got some live bloodworms at my LFS today, and was wondering (1) how to keep them alive for a few days.

(2)How should I prepare them for feeding?

(3) Also, how many should I feed in one sitting to 2 Thick-lipped Gouramis, 2 Sterbai cories, 2 Three-line cories and 5 Black Neon Tetras?

Thanks, Sam

 

[D4n.gr33n]

Bloodworms are actually mosquito Larvae so the longer u keep them alive the more they'll hatch

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have always been told that live blood worms can potentially be be dangerous to feed unless you know they have been raised properly - ie no diseases etc. As a result many folks tend to use either live black worms or even the red worms used in composting (I have done these and they work great but these can get bigger size).

My choice for feeding bloods therefore has been to use the frozen ones From the Hikari bio-pure line. I do the same for tubifex. As with any food the basic guidlines are similar. Feed what your fish eat in a few minutes, So put in a couple and watch, if they are gone fast, add a few more.

Perhaps folks who do use the live ones can add something.

 

[Joshwainwright]

I'd be a little cautious using live bloodworm as diseases, bacteria and what not obviously won't have been killed off using radiation like it is with frozen bloodworm. I'm not too sure on how you should keep them but I would guess in a fridge of some sort like you would with maggots...

 

[SamLovesCorys]

I fed them it, they weren't particularly interested. Cross that one off the list then!

Edit: Sorry Josh, I fed it before I read your response! I'm pretty sure they were raised properly though TwoTankAmin

 

[Joshwainwright]

Back to frozen it is?

 

[SamLovesCorys]

Back to frozen it is?

I've never tried either to be honest until now, so I don't know if they'll even like it frozen!

 

[blendingshadow]

I use frozen, fill a cup with tank water n drop the frozen cap into the water, leave it for a few minutes n then poke with your finger. It should fall apart easily with you having to break it apart. Then just pour into the tank. Find that way more if my fish have chase it

 

[fish48]

They like it better alive. the risk of diseases from the blood worms or any live foods are very slim.

 

[Tonyb111111]

They like it better alive. the risk of diseases from the blood worms or any live foods are very slim.

I feed mine live once or twice a week. Either daphnia, bloodworm, tubifex or white worm, the fish love it. Slightly off topic, but I add a lot of live tubifex as they bury into the sand and keep the corys amused for hours hunting them out. This helps turn over the substrate, and as they are live they do not degrade and add unnecessary toxins like decomposing frozen and flake. Not sure if this is good practice though so please advise if not

 

[fish48]

tubifex is one of the best live foods lfs round here don’t sale it however I do collect my own daphnia and also collect plenty of mosquito larvae another very good live food. I also culture grindal worm. white worm. Erth worms. fruit flies. And micro worm . I feed live food almost daily although my fish do get a treat of flake food 2 or 3 time a week lol.

 

[candy429]

I feed mine live bloodworm and live daphnia as a treat and they all love it. I drain off the water so none goes in my tank.

 

[Tonyb111111]

I feed mine live bloodworm and live daphnia as a treat and they all love it. I drain off the water so none goes in my tank.

+1

I always do that, firstly because the smell suggests some toxins and secondly to get rid of the crud. I pour them straight into a plastic tea sieve, then empty the contents into a tumbler of tank water

 

[Dav]

I always drain my frozen blood worm off before feeding, I got told that whatever is used when they freeze it is not good for the fish but I'm still trying to find out what that might be, anyone have any idea or is it just a mith?



Cheers dav

 

[Joshwainwright]

It's probably just a lie, I doubt they would be allowed to freeze them in whatever they do if it was harmful...