Info about bloodworms"
"Bloodworms
Bloodworms are larvae of the midge family Chironomidae (Order Diptera, Class Insecta). Midges are mosquito-like insects. There may be more than 2000 species but only a small number have been formerly identified. Not all chironomid larvae are red in colour. While the most common ones are red, they can also be green, brown, or black. Also some are transparent and are commonly known as Glassworms. However, only those that contain haemoglobin are red and hence the name Bloodworm.
Chironomidae larvae and pupae are highly nutritious and nourishing and constitute one of the staple food items of many fishes in their natural environment. They are a commonly used live or frozen food source for aquarium fish culture. Almost all fishes will greedily devour them when they are offered. Research has found that most fishes when provided with bloodworms as a supplementary food item have better growth and spawning rates. Their nutritional value is considered very good. Chemical analysis shows that bloodworms contain 9.3% dry matter and of this there is 62.5% crude protein, 10.4% crude fat and 11.6% ash with 15.4% nitrogen free extract. They are also a good source of iron for the fish since they contain haemoglobin.
Chironomidae go through a complete metamorphosis in their life cycle, egg, larva, pupa, and winged adult midge. Each stage has different characteristics. After mating in flight the female releases the eggs while skimming the water surface. Egg numbers can range from 50 to 700. The eggs sink to the bottom where, under tropical conditions, they hatch in 24-48 hours into the next stage - the larva or aquatic stage. The newly hatched larva are not more than 1 mm long but they can measure up to 10-25 mm when they reach the last stage of the larva period. The larva stage can last from less than 2 weeks up to 7 weeks depending on temperature.
Each larva moults four times before it reaches the pupal stage. This stage of the chironomid forms a large part of a fish's natural diet as they leave the larval tube and actively swim to the surface of the water. Those that reach the surface emerge into flying adults after a few hours and immediately fly off to mate, living only a few hours or days. The adults do not feed during their adult existence and mating normally occurs during the night. The entire life cycle can be completed in 2 weeks, although it is common for the life cycle to take longer to complete.
Midge larvae can be found in all waters with muddy bottom. They occur in great numbers in ponds, swamps, and streams. Natural breeding sites for chironomid midges are diminishing due to urbanisation, land clearing and other changes to much of the natural environment. However, they are abundant in waste water channels, sewage treatment and settlement ponds, and other man-made water systems. It is these breeding areas that cause a variety of nuisance problems and public health agencies regularly spray these areas with insecticides to control their population and distribution.
If you wish to collect bloodworms the best time to catch them in large numbers is during the night when the larvae leave their self-made tubes and when the dissolved oxygen at the bottom of water is low. They can be caught easily using small mesh netting. Bloodworms can also be obtained by sieving the mud on the spot. The larvae and the coarse particles of detritus will remain in the sieve and then shaken into a bucket filled with water. After a while the larvae will swim to the surface where they can be fished out with a net.
Attempts to propagate bloodworms have been carried out in many countries without much success. The major problem is the inability to induce swarming and mating of the chironomid midges in captivity. However, there is now some successful cultivation of Bloodworms in Southeast Asia. "
From: Here
"Bloodworms
Bloodworms are larvae of the midge family Chironomidae (Order Diptera, Class Insecta). Midges are mosquito-like insects. There may be more than 2000 species but only a small number have been formerly identified. Not all chironomid larvae are red in colour. While the most common ones are red, they can also be green, brown, or black. Also some are transparent and are commonly known as Glassworms. However, only those that contain haemoglobin are red and hence the name Bloodworm.
Chironomidae larvae and pupae are highly nutritious and nourishing and constitute one of the staple food items of many fishes in their natural environment. They are a commonly used live or frozen food source for aquarium fish culture. Almost all fishes will greedily devour them when they are offered. Research has found that most fishes when provided with bloodworms as a supplementary food item have better growth and spawning rates. Their nutritional value is considered very good. Chemical analysis shows that bloodworms contain 9.3% dry matter and of this there is 62.5% crude protein, 10.4% crude fat and 11.6% ash with 15.4% nitrogen free extract. They are also a good source of iron for the fish since they contain haemoglobin.
Chironomidae go through a complete metamorphosis in their life cycle, egg, larva, pupa, and winged adult midge. Each stage has different characteristics. After mating in flight the female releases the eggs while skimming the water surface. Egg numbers can range from 50 to 700. The eggs sink to the bottom where, under tropical conditions, they hatch in 24-48 hours into the next stage - the larva or aquatic stage. The newly hatched larva are not more than 1 mm long but they can measure up to 10-25 mm when they reach the last stage of the larva period. The larva stage can last from less than 2 weeks up to 7 weeks depending on temperature.
Each larva moults four times before it reaches the pupal stage. This stage of the chironomid forms a large part of a fish's natural diet as they leave the larval tube and actively swim to the surface of the water. Those that reach the surface emerge into flying adults after a few hours and immediately fly off to mate, living only a few hours or days. The adults do not feed during their adult existence and mating normally occurs during the night. The entire life cycle can be completed in 2 weeks, although it is common for the life cycle to take longer to complete.
Midge larvae can be found in all waters with muddy bottom. They occur in great numbers in ponds, swamps, and streams. Natural breeding sites for chironomid midges are diminishing due to urbanisation, land clearing and other changes to much of the natural environment. However, they are abundant in waste water channels, sewage treatment and settlement ponds, and other man-made water systems. It is these breeding areas that cause a variety of nuisance problems and public health agencies regularly spray these areas with insecticides to control their population and distribution.
If you wish to collect bloodworms the best time to catch them in large numbers is during the night when the larvae leave their self-made tubes and when the dissolved oxygen at the bottom of water is low. They can be caught easily using small mesh netting. Bloodworms can also be obtained by sieving the mud on the spot. The larvae and the coarse particles of detritus will remain in the sieve and then shaken into a bucket filled with water. After a while the larvae will swim to the surface where they can be fished out with a net.
Attempts to propagate bloodworms have been carried out in many countries without much success. The major problem is the inability to induce swarming and mating of the chironomid midges in captivity. However, there is now some successful cultivation of Bloodworms in Southeast Asia. "
From: Here
