Yeah, I think the 50ºF recommendation is about not feeding and keeping their processes slowed. Also, they're just in a pile of nothing but each other, so their waste just builds and builds unlike in an aquarium or in the wild.
The California Blackworm
- Thread starter DeeDeeK
- Start date
Yikes, that lady's tank was so nasty. But it shows that worms will reproduce just fine in a regular aquarium. I think the reason she had that overpopulation was the lack of worm-eating fish.
I am considering giving tubifex worms a try, because they seem like the easiest worm to culture on your own in the substrate. If I could keep a population of worms going in my one and only main aquarium, that would save me having to maintain another whole system dedicated to worm breeding. I have lots of worm eating fish in my main tank, so I don't think worm overpopulation will be a problem. So far, worm underpopulation has been the issue.
The one thing that still concerns me about tubifex is the creepy way they squiggle the parts of them that stick out of the sand. Blackworms don't do that, which is nice because when people are looking at my aquarium, they don't notice the worms unless I point them out. I'm afraid the squiggle action of the tubifex would instantly draw people's attention, and really gross them out. It certainly grosses me out. I must give it more thought.
I am considering giving tubifex worms a try, because they seem like the easiest worm to culture on your own in the substrate. If I could keep a population of worms going in my one and only main aquarium, that would save me having to maintain another whole system dedicated to worm breeding. I have lots of worm eating fish in my main tank, so I don't think worm overpopulation will be a problem. So far, worm underpopulation has been the issue.
The one thing that still concerns me about tubifex is the creepy way they squiggle the parts of them that stick out of the sand. Blackworms don't do that, which is nice because when people are looking at my aquarium, they don't notice the worms unless I point them out. I'm afraid the squiggle action of the tubifex would instantly draw people's attention, and really gross them out. It certainly grosses me out. I must give it more thought.
DeeDeek, you are absolutely NUTS! I'm going to try something like this now. Up until I ran across this thread I've always considered them great fish food. But I guess there's always something more about anything....Great write up. I'll try this in my tank, hopefully the catfish don't eat them up too fast. Keep it up.
Hiii. 
I'm getting a second chance at my science compendium. I need to find the REAL classification of a balckworm because the one from Wikipedia doesn't seem right. Why would it be in Clittelata if it has no clitellium?
Please help me, my grade depends on this! :newbie:
I'm getting a second chance at my science compendium. I need to find the REAL classification of a balckworm because the one from Wikipedia doesn't seem right. Why would it be in Clittelata if it has no clitellium?
Please help me, my grade depends on this! :newbie:
Hiii.
I'm getting a second chance at my science compendium. I need to find the REAL classification of a balckworm because the one from Wikipedia doesn't seem right. Why would it be in Clittelata if it has no clitellium?
Please help me, my grade depends on this! :newbie:
Maybe they all have cl*ts?:girl:
Gosh I hope I don't get in trouble for that!
Ahem.... so aaaanyways.....
I haven't added a new portion of blackworms for a few weeks, yet their numbers seem to be holding steady. I can still see plenty of tiny red tails when I get down at eye level with the top of the sand. Dare I hope that my blackworms are breeding? Ever since I added new rainbowfish, I've been feeding more flake, so it could just be that the fish are eating less worms and more flake, therefore the worms are lasting longer. In fact, never mind, that's probably what it is.
I haven't added a new portion of blackworms for a few weeks, yet their numbers seem to be holding steady. I can still see plenty of tiny red tails when I get down at eye level with the top of the sand. Dare I hope that my blackworms are breeding? Ever since I added new rainbowfish, I've been feeding more flake, so it could just be that the fish are eating less worms and more flake, therefore the worms are lasting longer. In fact, never mind, that's probably what it is.
Hey i am new to this forum. I saw this thread on blackworms, and decided to join. Anyway I have several blackworms cultures going, mostly just a little plastic bins of water outside, with some gravel and blackworms, where i experiment to see what works. But I do have a 10 gallon tank inside where I culture them. In there own little tank with some plants and and an airstone.
Anyway, i was just wondering if anyone else has had trouble with snails in a blackworm tank, most species of snails i put in the tank will eat them. including physa acuta. I put in some ramshorns, and the ramshorn was either attacked by the blackworm, or was trying to eat it. I think the blafckworm may have been trying to get in its shell for some wierd reason. Anyone else noticed anything with blackworms and snails.
Anyway, i was just wondering if anyone else has had trouble with snails in a blackworm tank, most species of snails i put in the tank will eat them. including physa acuta. I put in some ramshorns, and the ramshorn was either attacked by the blackworm, or was trying to eat it. I think the blafckworm may have been trying to get in its shell for some wierd reason. Anyone else noticed anything with blackworms and snails.
Nice to see others that use Black Worms. I currently feed them to all my fish and add them daily to the tank to ensure a good supply of them. I do keep them in the fridge for storage as well but I'm probably one of hte few that wash and rinse them twice a day. I've seen what their water looks like after 12 hours or so I couldn't imagine waiting more then that, I guess occasionally I skip a time and they go 18 or so hours between rinses.
Craig
Craig
