Culturing blackworms in aquarium

blackwaterguy

I've been looking into live foods and found something that intrigued me, namely people putting blackworms into their tanks and allowing them to live and breed in there. It's supposed to help aerate the substrate as well as also provide the occasional fish snack. Does anyone on here do that? Are there any drawbacks or is it just a case of helping to add to the ecosystem like 'pest' snails do?

Chesherca

Interesting question, wish I had and answer for you. . . I'd like to know more about safely and easily culturing live foods, also!

blackwaterguy

I've been searching the net and still haven't turned up anything new. I'd experiment myself, but the only way I've found them is 3/4 of a pound. That seems like a lot, but I've never seen them so don't know for sure. Just seems to be a lot of extra bioload for a 29 gallon so I'm putting it on the back burner and trying to see if moina or daphnia can be cultured in the tank if it's densely planted enough.

Chesherca

hmmm... I have no idea! 12oz sounds like a lot of worms to me, too! I'm more interested in daphina, anyway...you'll have to let me know what you turn up, if you don't mind!

AbbeysDad

From researching only, it seems that California blackworms don't really culture well in a tank with fish as they are preyed upon too much - their numbers will need to be replenished from time to time. Perhaps a better way is to setup a culture tank (which might also culture daphia?) and harvest periodically.

blackwaterguy

From what I had read California blackworm cultures don't yield nearly as much as other live foods do. A mixed blackworm/Daphnia culture seems possible though and much more productive. I'd have to find room for another tank, since I don't want to give up my quarantine tank.

Not sure about Chesherca, but I wasn't concerned about total sustainability (more time in between replenishments would of course be nice). I was more interested in a constant in tank food source, so that shy feeders might be able to feed at their leisure.

Chesherca

I'm interested, in general. . . just starting to look into live foods as an option, so thanks for the tips :)