Freeze-Dried Blood Worms + Corys = Belly-Up?

  • Get the NEW AquariaCentral iOS app --> http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1227181058 // Android version will be out soon!

ZomZom

AC Members
May 9, 2009
43
0
0
59
Davidsonville, MD
I had several Corys become sick with clamped fins, lethargy, then death (one even had a ruptured stomach) after feeding Hikari freeze-dried blood worms. None of the other fish in the tank (Cardinals, Glofish, Rummynose) had any illness. The Corys had been in quarantine for several weeks previous with no sign of trouble. Coincidence? Something else?
 

Rbishop

Administrator
Staff member
Dec 30, 2005
40,727
452
143
70
Real Name
Mr. Normal
Were the cory eating the freeze dried Hikari while in QT?
 

ZomZom

AC Members
May 9, 2009
43
0
0
59
Davidsonville, MD
No, I didn't buy the blood worms until after the Corys were in the main tank. And nobody has become sick since I stopped feeding the Blood Worms.
 

Rbishop

Administrator
Staff member
Dec 30, 2005
40,727
452
143
70
Real Name
Mr. Normal
Just a thought, nothing to back it up, was just wondering if the freeze dried food could expand considerably afterwards in those piggy little cory. I don't use any freeze dried foods, so no real experience with it. Tank size? Water parameters from a good liquid test kit?
 

ZomZom

AC Members
May 9, 2009
43
0
0
59
Davidsonville, MD
The tank is a 46-gallon bowfront. I keep on top of the water parameters, typically 0 0 5. G3 filter, Caribsea sand, lots of happy fish. Established for 2 years.
 

ponderingky

AC Members
Sep 24, 2009
491
0
16
61
Ashland, KY
Do you hydrate the freeze dried food first or just add it to the tank and let them eat it? I had a customer who bought some freeze dried blood worms from me a while back along with some really nice, healthy angels. I told him to hydrate them (freeze dried bw) first before feeding or they could cause bloat. Well - I didn't explain it well enough and he just added them to the tank. The angels ate them like crazy but in a couple of days they all had bloat and I think he lost all of them. Lesson learned for both of us. If you are going to feed them, I would let them soak in water for 10 or 15 minutes first, pour off the yucky water and feed. I only use frozen bw just to be safe.
 

ZomZom

AC Members
May 9, 2009
43
0
0
59
Davidsonville, MD
I did not soak the bloodworms before feeding. I had done so previously, but had stopped after reading many posts saying that it was unnecessary. Not decisive, but something to raise suspicions, for sure.
 

Juice

KillaOJ
Jan 4, 2009
1,132
0
36
37
NorCal
If it makes any difference I too feed the freeze dried blood worms to my cories (same brand) with no problem, however they float on the surface a while until they get water logged and then drop to the bottom where my cories devour them. I've had none of the same issues you are having..*knocks on wood*
 

ponderingky

AC Members
Sep 24, 2009
491
0
16
61
Ashland, KY
If it makes any difference I too feed the freeze dried blood worms to my cories (same brand) with no problem, however they float on the surface a while until they get water logged and then drop to the bottom where my cories devour them. I've had none of the same issues you are having..*knocks on wood*
Hey Juice - I kinda wondered about that too. Angels eat like pigs but they were eating them as soon as they hit the water. My cories don't come to the surface to eat either - curious to see if zomzom's were coming up and eating them off the surface or waiting until they hit the bottom.
 

Rbishop

Administrator
Staff member
Dec 30, 2005
40,727
452
143
70
Real Name
Mr. Normal
possible that the digestive tracks are a bit different...???
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store