feeding tubiflex worms to larvae

[monomike]

Hey all. Just looking for advice with this new food source for me. I'm chopping and feeding these guys to my 2.5 cm larvae. They are chomping them down so far, but I worry about fouling the tank and all that stuff. How long do they live before I should be worried about them? I'm getting live ones from a local pet store and also wonder how to feed them or if that's unrealistic.

Thanks all!

 

[Kaysie]

They're probably blackworms, rather than tubifex. Depending on how small they're chopped, they should live for at least a couple hours. You should clean up all uneaten food each day.

 

[Jennewt]

In all probability, the worms are not tubifex. They are probably blackworms. Pet shops are pretty sloppy with common names, and tend to call them bloodworms or tubifex, but they aren't. Do they look like these?
http://aquaticfoods.com/blackwormcare.html
"Real" tubifex are smaller and more pink in color.

Chopped blackworms are an excellent food for larvae. I couldn't raise larvae without them. If the worms are kept rinsed and fridged, they last for weeks. The chopped ones in the tank with the larvae will live for a couple of days, even chopped in pieces. Just be sure you're chopping them cleanly, not mushing them. I use a razor blade to chop them.

Good luck!

 

[Jennewt]

Hehe, we seem to be doing simultaneous posting today, Kaysie!