White worms and fatty liver

[Ttw]

I have heard for years that we should not over feed our fish with white worms. If we do, it will result in a fatty liver or some other fatty deposit. How do we know this is true? Is there really any evidence or is this a tale that has been passed on through the years?

 

[Mike Wise]

I imagine it is more anecdotal than actual studies. I've seen photos of fish with fatty deposits, with claims that it was caused by feeding high fat foods. You could always try a feeding experiment and discover the results. My guess is that it isn't a bad as some claim. It probably depends on the ratio of worms to other foods and how fatty the other food are.

 

[Bilbo]

My guess is that it isn't a bad as some claim. It probably depends on the ratio of worms to other foods and how fatty the other food are.

I believe this is a very important point. To much of any one thing cant be good for them. The success of most fish is a varied diet of good food that may include a few things that traditionaly are thought to be bad. I feed white and grindal worms quite a bit but I also feed good flake or pellet food, lean meat shavings and other live food like daphnia, mossy larvae and mysid shrimp when I can get it.

I grew up with the same story about whiteworms but I am yet to see any problems.

 

[Rod]

White worms are too fatty
Daphnia cause gastric problems
Black worms can introduce disease
Blood worms tear intestines
Beef heart is too fatty too

I have seen fish years ago that were feed exclusively on white worms
(an old chaps who had big trays of worms everywhere)
and his fish looked like porky pig!!!

I think it is a mistake to feed any Live food exclusively......
but I have noticed significantly greater longevity in my fish since changing their staple diet to New life Spectrum foods!!!

I also believe we feed fish too much......
Feed live food in preparation for spawning....but cut back on protein for maintenance