Nematode (microworm), fish food

If you’re a fish enthusiast, you understand how crucial it is to feed your aquatic companions the greatest food possible. Nematodes, also referred to as microworms, stand out among the many options as a nutrient-dense option for your fish. These microscopic, living things have several advantages that can improve the well-being and vitality of the animals that live in your aquarium.

Because of their high protein content and capacity to encourage fish’s natural feeding habits, nematodes are particularly prized. When it comes to maintaining adult fish or raising fry, microworms can be a great addition to their usual diet. They’re a convenient choice for hobbyists who want to make sure their fish receive the best care because they’re simple to culture at home.

We’ll explore the many advantages of including nematodes in your fish diet in this post. We’ll go over how to culture them, why they’re better than other kinds of fish food, and how to incorporate them into your regular feeding schedule. You’ll have a thorough understanding of how microworms can maintain the happiness and health of your fish by the end.

Description of nematode and its varieties

Nematodes are tiny, one to two millimeter worms. Their entire body, which is mostly white, wriggles when they move. Nematodes can live indoors in spoiled food, beer leftovers, and yeast, as well as outdoors in puddles, damp soil, and diseased and rotting plants.

Grown at home, aquarists utilize these worms as fish food. Nematode breeding doesn’t require a lot of money or special conditions. Not all species of worms can be used for feeding, despite their wide variety and ease of reproduction.

The types of worms that fish can eat are displayed in the table. The following issues may arise from other kinds of worms:

• disease or discomfort inside the fish;
• water spoilage;
• creation of an environment for the development of bacteria and parasites.

These issues have the potential to cause fish mortality in addition to a host of other illnesses.

Where to get nematodes for starting cultivation?

Buying nematodes is not hard, but you should consider a few details to prevent getting charged more than you should. Worms are available for purchase:

1. At the bird market. Many bird owners feed their inhabitants and put micro-feed up for sale.
2. From fishermen. Here it is necessary to carefully check the nematodes for the presence of other worms that cannot be fed to aquarium fish.
3. In specialized stores. Although rare, such types of worms can be found in pet stores. There you can not only buy them, but also get advice.
4. In an online store. This is one of the riskiest ways to obtain them, so be careful when choosing.
5. From experienced aquarists. You can also get additional advice from them.

However, you have to rinse the nematodes well to remove any remaining environmental debris from wherever you purchased them. If not, there’s a chance the bacteria in the breeding habitat will kill your fish.

How to breed nematodes at home

Nematodes, unlike other live food, do not require special handling or supervision during reproduction, as was previously stated. Anywhere there are putrefactive bacteria, they will proliferate.

Worms can be bred at home in a few simple ways:

1. On milk. It is necessary to mix milk and bread until a thick gruel is obtained, since worms can die in a liquid consistency. Add the starter culture and close the container tightly. Put in a dark and warm place for 4 days.
2. On oatmeal. Pour boiling water over the oatmeal, let it cool. Add finely grated carrots to the same gruel. Then add the starter culture.
3. On thick boiled oatmeal. Boil the oatmeal in a ratio of 1:2 over low heat, let it cool, start the nematodes.
4. On sour milk. To speed up reproduction, it is better to add a couple of drops of diluted vinegar, mix well, and then plant the nematodes.
5. On bread. The bread crumb must be doused with boiling water, let it cool and squeeze out. You can add grated parsley scalded with boiling water carrots, and then place the culture.

The worms need to be kept between 23 and 28 degrees in a dark environment. But remember to firmly close the dishes; otherwise, the worms might escape. The process of active reproduction starts after three to four days. After reproducing for ten days, worm populations can multiply by 250–300 times.

In order to get them ready for use, you have to put something smooth inside the container for a few minutes so the nematodes can climb on it. Using a brush, gather the worms and place them in a different water-filled container. Washing the worms is necessary until the water turns clear.

How to store worms after reproduction

When dehydrated, nematodes can be kept in storage for a very long time. Their defensive response to cold temperatures is the cause of this.

The worms and their habitat need to be kept somewhere cool and dark. This place should be around zero degrees in temperature. In this manner, they can be kept for roughly two years. Bring them back to life if needed (the temperature should be raised gradually to 25–27 degrees). Nevertheless, only worms—whose life expectancy is 1-2 days—come to life in this manner.

Nematodes, also known as microworms, are a great food source for aquarium fish, particularly the smaller or fry species. These live, tiny worms are a great way to supplement your fish’s diet and encourage healthy growth because they are nutrient-rich. Microworms are an easy-to-cultivate, natural, and efficient feeding option that can help guarantee your fish’s success in their aquatic habitat.

A common problem when breeding nematodes

Mold is one of the biggest issues during breeding. This formation suggests that the following breeding requirements are not satisfied:

• the substrate consistency is too thin;
• too little starter culture in the medium;
• not high enough temperature;
• poor quality nematodes;
• exposure to direct sunlight.

In order to address this issue, a new habitat must be established, and all breeding regulations must be strictly adhered to, including:

• the consistency of the medium should be thick;
• the temperature should not be lower than 22 degrees;
• do not allow direct sunlight.

See knowledgeable aquarists if you have any questions or concerns.

Feeding fish

Nematodes can be used as bait and a primary food source. Since they are not particularly nourishing for adult fish, they are primarily used to feed fry. Nematodes need to be combined with particular food or vitamins in order to boost their nutritional level.

Following washing, the nematodes are either collected in a syringe and released close to the aerator, or they are poured into the aquarium with the remaining clear water. This is done to ensure that the worms are dispersed equally over the area. It’s important to replenish 10% of the water after feeding, or just collect the extra.

Since nematodes can survive for several days in an aquatic environment, feeding guidelines must be strictly followed. In order to accomplish this, you must track how long it takes the fry to consume the worms because nematodes have the potential to contaminate water and produce bacteria that could harm fish.

Microworms, also known as nematodes, are an excellent choice for feeding the fish in your aquarium. Because of their small size, they are ideal for smaller fish and fries, offering a wholesome and easily absorbed source of nutrition. You can make sure your fish get a well-rounded nutritional intake, which is crucial for their growth and health, by adding these tiny worms to their diet.

Nematodes are easy to culture at home, which is one of their many wonderful qualities. A consistent source of live food for your fish can save you money and guarantee freshness if you take some precautions. Just be careful to maintain a clean and well-kept culture environment to avoid any possible problems.

Nematodes are a great addition to your fish food collection overall. They give your fish more variety in their diet in addition to promoting their health and vitality. Therefore, if you haven’t already, think about trying these little worms out; they might be exactly what your aquatic friends need to flourish.

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