Enhancing black worms

[Paul B]

Back in the days when I used to breed fish I would usually get them into breeding condition by feeding mostly live black worms. The problem was that the worms for sale were small and skinny and I could not keep them alive for more than a week or so. I still feed live black worms (along with other foods)to certain fish like moorish Idols and copperbanded butterflies but now I found a way to grow them larger and keep them indefinately. I keep them in a shallow container with some airation (which is common sense) but I feed them "Selcon" and some vitamins twice a day. The worms can suck up a lot of "Selcon" and in the process they get nice and plump, some of them grow to almost three inches, the diameter does not change too much. I keep a nice supply of worms and never find a dead one. I know that earthworms are supposed to be a very good food (for freshwater fish anyway) and I know from experience that blackworms can get saltwater fish into breeding condition in a couple of weeks. I used to breed clowns seahorses and blue devils. (Blue devils were expensive in the seventees)
Just something to think about.
Take care.
Paul

 

[ethanriley]

You realize you need to write a book!

 

[liveforphysics]

Thanks for the tip!

Im going to give it a try. I think feeding the fish live foods is very important. I've never tried black worms, but I love to experiment.

Looks like the selcon is pricey, do you have a suggestion for a cheap source?

 

[Paul B]

Andrew, I actually started a book about 20 years ago. I'm a slow wrighter,
I did publish about 15 magazine articles though. You may have noticed that there's not much money to be made in this hobby.
Liveforphysics. I feed about two drops of Selcon a day to about two portions of black worms. Give them a little aitation, not enough to swirl them around. They don't need light. I don't know a cheap source for Selcon but it should last a few months.
Take care.
Paul

 

[Paul B]

Thats supposed to read "airation" not aitation

 

[Coolie da Loach]

Where can I get black worms? And are Tubifex worms the same thing?

 

[Paul B]

No they are not the same thing but sometimes they are sold with the same name. Black worms are larger. I think you can get them on line. Just about all pet stores in NY sell them I am surprised you can't find them.
Paul