I recently bought an ounce of live blackworms as a treat for my fish. I've read they can come with other critters like leeches but had never seen them before today. I kept them in a cottage cheese container in the fridge & rinse in dechlorinated water every day or 2. After several days there were 2 "other" animals on the side of the dish., oval or slightly tear drop shaped, maybe 1/8 x 1/16 inch or so. I know I've read about leeches & "possible" issues so I removed & squished them (a bit icky)...but maybe they'd be ok to feed?
I used to feel that way about "detritus" worms, chubby short red worms that show up in tanks' substrate or filters on occasion. Some fish eat them, it's no big deal right? But last time I saw 1 I fed it to my angels...& the "lucky 1" died a week or so later. Now these angels came to me as stunted adults but, was it coincidence? It's abdomen looked red...bacteria or worm? I can't dissect my fish but I did wonder. Many fish have some sort of teeth, either front of mouth or back farther (pharengeal?)...
What about other so called "harmless" critters like copepods, amphipods etc. I always thought they were just part of some tanks fauna although I've never noticed any in my tanks. Same thing, some fish eat them, nice live natural food.
I belong to an aquatic plant club so I often get plants from other people. I give them a quick tap water rinse, pick off any dead leaves, snails or eggs I see & done.
I also believe tubifex worms, even freeze dried, can harbor disease & haven't used them in almost 40 years. Frozen bloodworms, great, except I a tiny bit allergic to them. I just wash my hands after.
I'm feeling a bit grossed out just when I was comfortable grabbing a clump of wiggly blackworms & holding for my fish or slowing releasing them for my loaches.
So what does anyone else think or have experienced?
I used to feel that way about "detritus" worms, chubby short red worms that show up in tanks' substrate or filters on occasion. Some fish eat them, it's no big deal right? But last time I saw 1 I fed it to my angels...& the "lucky 1" died a week or so later. Now these angels came to me as stunted adults but, was it coincidence? It's abdomen looked red...bacteria or worm? I can't dissect my fish but I did wonder. Many fish have some sort of teeth, either front of mouth or back farther (pharengeal?)...
What about other so called "harmless" critters like copepods, amphipods etc. I always thought they were just part of some tanks fauna although I've never noticed any in my tanks. Same thing, some fish eat them, nice live natural food.
I belong to an aquatic plant club so I often get plants from other people. I give them a quick tap water rinse, pick off any dead leaves, snails or eggs I see & done.
I also believe tubifex worms, even freeze dried, can harbor disease & haven't used them in almost 40 years. Frozen bloodworms, great, except I a tiny bit allergic to them. I just wash my hands after.
I'm feeling a bit grossed out just when I was comfortable grabbing a clump of wiggly blackworms & holding for my fish or slowing releasing them for my loaches.
So what does anyone else think or have experienced?
