I need some opinions on feeding bettas (or any fish I guess) dried bloodworms. My betta finally recovered from a fungus problem, and is making huge bubble nests, flaring, eating like a pig, in his 5 gallon heated (80 degrees) tank. I do regular weekly water changes. But his tail starting curling, turning white, splitting, now he's turning white (losing scales?) again. I'm trying to find a connection--this has been ongoing since October. Seems like it happened after I fed him bloodworms and I read somewhere that they can cause parasites. Any ideas? :huh:
Bloodworms cause parasites?
- Thread starter renie
- Start date
Hikari freeze dried bloodworms are parasite free.. do you soak them before you feed them? they need to be soft.
what about frozen blood worms from the LFS, can they carry deseases? I only ask because I had an unexplained guppy death recently and it came after I started feeding them frozen foods.
I used to feed frozen bloodworms and other frozen food to my bettas and started losing them.. many would say that frozen food is fine but I have switched to the Hikari freeze dried bloodworms and have always fed the Hikari freeze dried brine shrimp.. I soak them thoroughly before feeding and have had no further problems with my bettas.. it might be coincidence but the freeze dried are the only way for me now. the bettas like them just as much as the frozen ones.
I seldom feed live bloodworms for fear that they carry some undesirable bacteria or diseases into the tank, try to go with the frozen ones, they're safer and looks as delicious as well.
Live bloodworms can introduce a pathogen if they aren't kept clean--if the source stinks, don't buy from them. Frozen and freeze dried are safe, though soaking freeze dried foods prior to feeding is recommended.
I would suspect something else in the tank--what's the maintenance? Established tank? Parameters?
I would suspect something else in the tank--what's the maintenance? Established tank? Parameters?
Oriongirl: He's in a 5 gallon heated tank. Ammonia is 0. Right now, 25% water changes every 4 days w/medicine (Jungle Fungus Eliminator). I treated him with Trisulfa prior to that and his back fin that was all apart, closed up almost 100%! Normally: 25% weekly water change. He's by himself in the tank, with silk plants and small castle that he loves to swim through. I think he tore his fin on the other prickly plastic plant that I have since removed, and got fin rot. Then the scales started disappearing. Can they get fin rot that way? I'm at a loss.