what do bloodworms eat?

monkey_toes · May 17, 2006

My fish (especially my cory cats) love live bloodworms. I can only get them at one store locally, but the owner is moving the shop and he'll be down for 2-3 months. I bought a pound of live bloodworms and I'm keeping them in perforated-top containers in the fridge. I've had no problem keeping smaller quantities this way for a week or so, but to keep these alive for a couple months I'm guessing they'll need to be fed. Any idea what they eat?

rrkss · May 17, 2006

Bloodworms are mosquito larvae, if left alive they will grow into mosquitoes which will not be fun. I'd just buy them freeze dried, I am sure your fish will love them in the freeze dried state also.

suby7272 · May 18, 2006

rrkss said:
Bloodworms are mosquito larvae, if left alive they will grow into mosquitoes which will not be fun. I'd just buy them freeze dried, I am sure your fish will love them in the freeze dried state also.

To be precise Bloodworms are the Midge fly larvae. And yes, you cannot keep them alive and still prevent them from developing wings and taking to air

rrkss's freeze dried idea is fine.

Suby

Alestro Bakai · May 18, 2006

rrkss said:
Bloodworms are mosquito larvae, if left alive they will grow into mosquitoes which will not be fun. I'd just buy them freeze dried, I am sure your fish will love them in the freeze dried state also.

Ditto. Freeze dried is just fine. From the ones I've tried, Hikari brand beats all hands down. My fish can't get enough of them...

Hikari freeze dried bloodworms

monkey_toes · May 18, 2006

freeze-dried = crap

At least as far as my cories are concerned. The hatchets and glowlights eat freeze-dried no problem, but the cories refuse to touch them (not that many get to the bottom, anyway). Besides, I've already bought the live ones. In the store, we determined that they did not metamorphose for several weeks at room temperature (pushing 80°F); I assume the process will take longer at 36°F or so in the fridge. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to say so. But back to the question: anybody know what they eat?

Gumby131 · May 18, 2006

just chuck the live ones in the freezer then.

PeeJay · May 18, 2006

My Cories love frozen bloodworms...and they sink, unlike the freeze dried ones.

And sorry, I don't know what bloodworms eat.

RTR · May 18, 2006

Is the original poster asking about Blodworms (midge fly larvae) or California blackworm/redworms? There is a lot of confusion on the forums between these two.

Chickieepooh2u · May 18, 2006

Honestly I'm not positive what they eat. I would think that since they are called blood worms that maybe they eat...blood. Kudos to you, because I could so not have those in my fridge. Ick. lol I get mine freeze dried.

Star_Rider · May 18, 2006

If it's chironomidae..the typical midge they forge on decaying plant matter(some eat plants).

they spend most of thier lives as larval stage in the mud at the bottom or ponds etc.

once they reach the pupal stage they wiggle/drify(slowly) to the top and hatch out.

I would take them and place them in small trays(use the old frozen blood worm or brine shrimp trays) and freeze them


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