Re: [GSAS-Member] frozen bloodworms (was) Re: Was Bulk chemicals - now Salts...and fin rot in guppies...

[matt kaufman <igotadose@hotmail.com>]

I've *never* heard of tubifex worms referred to as bloodworms. Sometimes red 
tubifex where the blackworms we get in shops are sometimes called black 
tubifex. Bloodworms and tubifex worms are completely different and look 
different. I've never heard of frozen bloodworms being referred to as tubifex, 
or vice-versa. Sometimes bloodworms are referred to as 'red mosquito larvae' 
esp. by european aquarists, who refer to glassworms as 'white mosquito larvae.' 
All are larvae, but bloodworms and glassworms are not mosquito larvae.
 
Bloodworms may be harvested from clean conditions, but the processing is the 
problem - they're left out in the sun by the s. e. asian packers, start to die, 
get frozen, get shipped (maybe thaw/freeze a few times,) etc. I've known 
several long-time killi keepers who don't feed bloodworms because of the 
reactions they (the fishkeepers) have to the worms themselves, usually severe 
allergic reactions.
 
It's not like any pet fish food processing is overseen by any regulatory or 
compliance agency. It's 'you pays your money, and you takes your chances.' Some 
manufacturers are better than others, but they vary too.
 
 
One should always check that the frozen food you're buying hasn't thawed and 
refrozen. If it looks 'disfigured' in the packet, avoid it. The only variety I 
use is the Hikari one, and again, only sparingly. I also never thaw them out 
completely, I rinse in cold water till useable and feed - I'd rather not get 
the bacteria going again. And I keep almost exclusively killies, which are 
small, but robust insectivores, so they're used to a bit of bacteria in their 
food. Plus I always acclimate new foods with 'a little a day' and watch for any 
signs of stress.
 
 



> From: onefish2fish@comcast.net> To: gsas-member@thekrib.com> Date: Mon, 28 
> Jul 2008 11:37:08 -0700> Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] frozen bloodworms (was) 
> Re: Was Bulk chemicals - now Salts...and fin rot in guppies...> > There two 
> types in animal commonly referred to as "blood worms" one is> Tubifex (SP?) 
> worms also sometimes call sewer worms. You usually get them> live from fish 
> store. The other are true blood worm that aren't worms at> all but chironimid 
> larva (insect Larva). Tubifex are harvested from unclean> places but usually 
> by the time they are sold to hobbyists they systems have> been purged through 
> lack of feeding and constant water changes and fish love> them. The stuff 
> sold as frozen blood worms are chironimid larva. They come> from the bottoms 
> of lakes and streams. They will not tolerate unclean> condition. Also most 
> chironimid larva are cultured, not taken from the wild> so are very clean.> > 
> -----Original Message-----> From: gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com> 
> [mailto:gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Betty Goetz> Sent: 
> Monday, July 28, 2008 9:56 AM> To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member 
> chat> Subject: [GSAS-Member] frozen bloodworms (was) Re: Was Bulk chemicals - 
> now> Salts...and fin rot in guppies...> > > 2) They never fed bloodworms. 
> Paste foods that they made up (with much> > secrecy about the formulas). 
> Problem with frozen bloodworms is the filth> > they're harvested from. I 
> personally haven't had problems with the 'hikari> > bio-pure' brand but i use 
> it sparingly with my fish> > Gosh, I didn't know this about bloodworms. When 
> I get them in my daphnia> culture tanks, they seem like a 'clean' food as 
> they are sqirming about in> the water column. Seems 'clean'. Using frozen 
> bloodworms is what I think> killed my Dario dario and it's even more annoying 
> since I didn't HAVE to> give them bloodworms. I was just trying to vary their 
> diet since they took> frozen brine so well and I was short on live food at 
> the time. Live and> learn. And I'm not sure of the brand...whatever is sold 
> frozen at Denny's> Pet World.> > Betty Goetz> > 
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