dino Bichir

Earthworms are easy to find. You can get them out of your own backyard. Here's a good way to get a ton:


Uses:
Feeding of medium and large fish (over 4" long).
Culturing:
To raise earthworms cheaply and easily:
1.Build a box out of wood (any size is fine, a bigger box = more worms) (apartment dwellers can make do with a 1' x 1' x 8" box)
2.Attach the top with two cheap hinges.
3.Drill/cut two 2-inch holes in the front of the box in such a way as to line up the bottom of the hole with the bottom of the inside of the box
4.Paint the box with any outdoor rated, oil based paint.
5.Place a small piece of fine plastic screen against holes that were drilled/cut. Make sure the screen is placed on the inside of the box. Firmly nail the screen into place. The screen will allow the box to drain, but will not allow the worms to escape.
The box is now complete.
prepare the box for worms
1.Buy enough peat moss from a garden supply store or nursery to fill up the box (remember the peat moss will compact after it gets soaking wet).
2.Place the peat moss in the box and completely soak the peat moss (stir it up until it is uniformly wet).
3.Get 6 bricks.
4.Place one brick at each front corner and two bricks at each rear corner so that the box slopes forward and can drain from the holes.
5.Place a pan under the holes to catch the future runoff (unless the box is placed outside). Note, after worms are growing, the runoff is great for plants.
Now, for the worms
1.Go buy three or four boxes of the smallest worms that can be found at a fish and tackle shop.
2.Put the worms in the box
3.Buy some corn meal (a small bag will last forever). This is all the worms need for adequate nutrition.
4.Every three or four days, sprinkle a light layer of corn meal on top of the peat moss. Note: before each new layer is applied, use a small, tined garden hand tool to stir up the peat moss and to mix the corn meal left over from the previous feeding into the peat moss.
5.After about a month, there will be literally millions of worms ranging in size from tiny little young worms to fully adult worms. The baby worms can be used for small fish and very young fish, while the larger worms will easily satisfy the live food requirements of even the most ravenous large fish.
6.This is an infinitely renewable resource, which is difficult to overharvest!
7.The peat moss must be kept damp by periodic watering. Don't over water! 8.Do not allow it to dry out! The worms will die QUICKLY if the peat moss dries out. Fortunately, peat moss retains water very well, and watering is rarely needed.
9.The worms must not be allowed to freeze. The worms and the worm box will not smell and can be kept in garages or closets during the winter. The worms do not like being baked in the full evening sun in the summer (they will be killed). Place them in a shady location if they are left outside.
keep the lid closed, worms like it dark.
Other uses for Earthworms--
Potted plants love earthworms!!
Gardens love earthworms!!
Lawns love earthworms!!
Sources:
the backyard, bait shops, gardening shops, gardens, aquarium clubs.

http://faq.thekrib.com/live-food.html
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if the fish will eat prepared foods, i dont feed live at all because it is a very easy way to introduce lethal parasites and diseases. there are more than enough very high quality prepared foods out there, so there is no need to risk the lives of the fish.
 
Live food is great. It stimulates their natural enviroment, and shows behavior that normally isn't displayed in the tank.

Make sure to wash the worms, if you do that the risk to the fish is very small.
 
it also unnecessarily risks exposing many pathogens (and in wild caught foods, also chemicals such as pesticides, even if you dont use them on your lawn) to the fish that you dont risk doing when using more nutritionally complete prepared foods. i have also found it increases aggression levels in fish compared to ones that are never fed live. in my opinion and experience it is much better to only use prepared foods if the fish will take them. the only exception being when it is required to condition them for breeding. i think you meant simulates not stimulates their natural environment, but all that means is their food moves in nature and prepared food doesnt, there is no consequence of that. and seeing behavior not normally observed in the tank also is not worth risking their health. dont you think there is a reason zoos and aquariums will use prepared fodos as long as the fish and animals will take them?
 
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Delicious worms!

FreddytheFish said:
Earthworms are easy to find. You can get them out of your own backyard. Here's a good way to get a ton:......
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Awesome! Thank you very much for the source, FreddytheFish!!
Don't know how soon I could get to raising my own earthworms, but that's a project lined up along the rest... A man/woman's work is never ending.... plus taking care of all loved ones! :)~

Would I be able to mix raise other types of worms with the earthworms?
 
Delicious or poisoning?

reptileguy2727 said:
if the fish will eat prepared foods, i dont feed live at all because it is a very easy way to introduce lethal parasites and diseases......
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Thank you Reptileguy! If I decide to raise my own earthworms, need I still be concerned about chemical/parasites issues?
 
you can raise them indoors away from any risk of outdoor contamination. same with fish, breed them yourself and you get another tank to enjoy plus relatively safe food.
 
Reptile guy: I'm not saying that live food should be used as a staple. But its very beneficial to the fish to feed live every once in a while.

Would I be able to mix raise other types of worms with the earthworms?
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I don't see why not.
 
what benefits does it have? im openminded but have seen repeatedly that it isnt good to feed live if the animal will eat prepared.
 
Some benefits include:

Uneaten food doesn't immediatley decay
If raised by the keeper in a controlled enviroment, the food is almost always free of disease
It more closeley replicates the fishes natural diet
Awakens fish's natural instincts; fish absolutley love snapping up live food
 
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