Bloodworms!!!

[Noxs]

Hello! Everybody.... I'm Quite New Into The Apisto World...And Through My Research For Keeping And Breeding Them....I Have Heard In Many Videos That....You Cannot Feed Frozen Bloodworms To Apistos....Cuz They Are Harmful For Them...Now I Don't Have Many Experience With Apistos That Much....Bt I Have Kept And Bred Wild Betta Species Like Betta Smaragdina And Betta Coccina....I Know That... Too Much Bloodworms Can Cause Bloat In Any Fish.... That's Why I Feed It Sparingly Like Once A Week....Or Once Every Other Week....Bt In Those Videos They Specifically Say Not To Feed Apistos Any Bloodworms....So I'm Quite Not Sure Should I Feed Them Frozen Bloodworms Or Not

 

[MacZ]

It's a hit or miss, but most people I know keeping dwarf cichlids of any kind had problems with red mosquito larvae. From the fish being irritated and reclusive for a day or two, to death after 24h the whole spectrum of unwanted effects. Of course there are also people that haven't had any problems and obligatory those who probably had but never made the connection to the food. I have lost fish (not only cichlids) to red mosquito larvae more than once, hence I banned them from my fishes menu.

The actual reason is unknown, though. Some say they have barbs that can damage the inner organs, some say they contain high amounts of heavy metals. A newer theory might be allergic reactions to the high haemoglubin content. One thing that's clear: They have a somewhat unbalanced nutritional value.

Just for comparison of white, black and red moasquito larvae:

White mosquito larvae
Chaobarus flavicans, Chaoborus plumicornis, Chaoborus crystallinus,
Fats: 1%-2%, depending on the species
Protein: ca. 4%
Vitamins: no relevant amounts
Contain fiber and unsaturated fatty acids
Nutritional value: low to medium

Black mosquito larvae
Genus Culex and Aedes
Fats: 4%
Protein: 10%
Vitamins: A, D
Contain fiber and unsaturated fatty acids
Nutritional value: high

Red mosquito larvae (bloodworms)
Chironomus cf. plumosus, Chironomus spec.
Fats:1,1%
Protein: ca. 6%
Vitamins: no relevant amounts
Contain fiber and unsaturated fatty acids
Nutritional value: low to medium

 

[Noxs]

It's a hit or miss, but most people I know keeping dwarf cichlids of any kind had problems with red mosquito larvae. From the fish being irritated and reclusive for a day or two, to death after 24h the whole spectrum of unwanted effects. Of course there are also people that haven't had any problems and obligatory those who probably had but never made the connection to the food. I have lost fish (not only cichlids) to red mosquito larvae more than once, hence I banned them from my fishes menu.

The actual reason is unknown, though. Some say they have barbs that can damage the inner organs, some say they contain high amounts of heavy metals. A newer theory might be allergic reactions to the high haemoglubin content. One thing that's clear: They have a somewhat unbalanced nutritional value.

Just for comparison of white, black and red moasquito larvae:

White mosquito larvae
Chaobarus flavicans, Chaoborus plumicornis, Chaoborus crystallinus,
Fats: 1%-2%, depending on the species
Protein: ca. 4%
Vitamins: no relevant amounts
Contain fiber and unsaturated fatty acids
Nutritional value: low to medium

Black mosquito larvae
Genus Culex and Aedes
Fats: 4%
Protein: 10%
Vitamins: A, D
Contain fiber and unsaturated fatty acids
Nutritional value: high

Red mosquito larvae (bloodworms)
Chironomus cf. plumosus, Chironomus spec.
Fats:1,1%
Protein: ca. 6%
Vitamins: no relevant amounts
Contain fiber and unsaturated fatty acids
Nutritional value: low to mediuwi

How About Frozen Brine Shrimp?

 

[MacZ]

How About Frozen Brine Shrimp?

Great staple, just thaw and rinse before feeding to reduce salt content, otherwise the fishes kidneys might get damaged longterm and conductivity in blackwater tanks may rise.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

So I'm Quite Not Sure Should I Feed Them Frozen Bloodworms Or Not

I don't feed frozen Bloodworms (Chironomid Midge larvae), or live ones that have been collected commercially.

You only get commercially exploitable densities of Bloodworms in grossly organically polluted water, such as at sewage farms.

I'm happy to feed living bloodworms that <"I have "ranched" myself">.

How About Frozen Brine Shrimp?

They are safe, but don't have a <"lot of food value">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Noxs]

Great staple, just thaw and rinse before feeding to reduce salt content, otherwise the fishes kidneys might get damaged longterm and conductivity in blackwater tanks may rise.

Ok thank you for the suggestion....looks like 1 pack of frozen bloodworms are down the drain...bt I'm happy to know about all these things.....

 

[Noxs]

Hi all,

I don't feed frozen Bloodworms (Chironomid Midge larvae), or live ones that have been collected commercially.

You only get commercially exploitable densities of Bloodworms in grossly organically polluted water, such as at sewage farms.

I'm happy to feed living bloodworms that <"I have "ranched" myself">.

They are safe, but don't have a <"lot of food value">.

cheers Darrel

Thank you Brother

 

[MacZ]

You only get commercially exploitable densities of Bloodworms in grossly organically polluted water, such as at sewage farms.

Almost forgot that one.

They are safe, but don't have a <"lot of food value">.

Hence I feed a rotation of Artemia, Cyclops and White Mosquito Larvae, supplemented with a few drops of Sera Fishtamin each week and insect meal-based dry foods like bug bites.

Usually it's a three-day rotation: day 1 frozen or live, day 2 dried, day 3 fasting day.

 

[Ttw]

Just my experience but I have fed frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms to my apistos for 30 years and have not had problems with the food.

 

[Julian]

is frozen baby brine shrimp the same as frozen adult brine shrimp?

 

[MacZ]

is frozen baby brine shrimp the same as frozen adult brine shrimp?

Basically, but different development stages. BBS are freshly hatched (less than a mm), adults are 5-10mm.

 

[Sowah]

I only feed live or frozen BBS, but recently I realised the wc apistos love the ADA AP Fish food! I'm not sure where you can get them in the US and they would be quite expensive out there.

 

[MacZ]

ADA is unbelievably expensive here in Germany. Interestingly you get the glass storage and portioner container but not the foods here. But there are plenty of alternatives.

 

[Sowah]

ADA is unbelievably expensive here in Germany. Interestingly you get the glass storage and portioner container but not the foods here. But there are plenty of alternatives.

They cost around 10 euro for 70g here, double the price when comparing with other brands but I was just giving it a try. I heard Dr Bassleer fish food works well too.

 

[MacZ]

They cost around 10 euro for 70g here, double the price when comparing with other brands but I was just giving it a try.

That's almost theft.

I heard Dr Bassleer fish food works well too.

Have no experience with that stuff, didn't even try as the ingredient lists show several different grains (wheat, corn) and legumes (soy) I don't want to feed my fish.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I realised the wc apistos love the ADA AP Fish food!

Have you tried <"Fluval Bugbites">? They seem to be accepted by a range of fish that won't normally eat dried food.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

Just my experience but I have fed frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms to my apistos for 30 years and have not had problems with the food.

Yes, the same here, but frozen bloodworms are a minor part of the diet. I try to be careful by buying only the top name brand products from shops I know are careful with their frozen foods.

 

[Sowah]

Hi all,

Have you tried <"Fluval Bugbites">? They seem to be accepted by a range of fish that won't normally eat dried food.

cheers Darrel

Yes, I tried feeding that several times to my apisto but he just put the pellet in his mouth and spit out unfortunately. It is even when I know he's hungry.

 

[yukondog]

Most of my fish dont seem to like frozen bloodworms, I only use live bloodworms and mosquito larva that I cultivate. Freeze the surplus and use in winter.

 

[anewbie]

Slight off topic but does unopen frozen bloodworm go bad ? I have some in the freezer for about 19 months and not sure if i can still use it or if i should toss it. I know once opened it is subject to freezer burn.... but not sure if there is a problem if unopened.