blood worms ~ masqito larva

[Mykayel]

blood worms are mosqito larva right? Would there be anything wrong with catching your own? I had a bucket outside that had some water in it from the previous rain, I was about to turn it over and dump it out to prevent masqitos and I saw the larva swiming around and I began to think about giving my fish a treat. So, is this a good idea or a posibility of introducing disease into my tank?

 

[RTR]

No, bloodworms are the red larve of a midge fly, not a mosquito.

Mosquito larvae are good food also, however you need to be sure that they don't get to hatch.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I'm in the process of putting together an article that addresses the collection and uses of both mosquito larvae and midge larvae (bloodworms).

Here's a photo of both of them together:

The bloodworms inhabit the substrate, while the mosquito larvae spend most of their time very close to the surface. Both of them are excellent fish food.

 

[Stix87]

if i did i might want to seal them in a ziplock bag and feeeze them 1st to make sure no bad bacteria is alive, once it feezes over night thaw and feed, thats a bit more safe

 

[greendeltatke]

I don't imagine there's too much risk with collecting your own larvae from a bucket, and feeding them immediately. I've been feeding my fish with mosquito larvae for the last two weeks. Its been fun to watch them hunt the larvae down, and my neons have started spawning.

 

[id10t]

Just be careful about chemicals if your state/county/city has a spraying program or similar...

 

[Mykayel]

that's a good warning about the chemicals... I live out in the country though so nothing like that for me to worry about.

 

[Lobo.]

BLACKworms are mosquito larvae- and i get them for free by stickin a bucket of water outside (to feed my native fish)

 

[Raskolnikov]

BLACKworms are mosquito larvae- and i get them for free by stickin a bucket of water outside

Actually blackworms are segmented worms related to tubifex; not larvae at all. Mosquito larvae area a great food source, though.

 

[Lobo.]

crapit my lfs doesnt know anything!