Live BlackWorms: Best Fish and LPS Food Ever? - Page 2

snorvich · 09/17/2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart60611

Curious what you and others think of my approach as a viable way to keep the worms in mass.

Well Paul B has been doing it a long time and his approach works well; I am in progess getting started with this as he does it. Your approach is theoretical. Why reinvent when you can copy?

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley-Reefer

I just got some H2O 50/50 mix in that has brine, mysis and black worms in it

Quote:

Originally Posted by vaporize

blood worm is insect larvae, so unless you are in Asia, you don't typically buy those live

Pretty sure "H2O brand 50/50 mix" means frozen food... not really sure how you'd mix all that together as live food. Maybe I'm wrong though

snorvich · 09/17/2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

Pretty sure "H2O brand 50/50 mix" means frozen food... not really sure how you'd mix all that together as live food. Maybe I'm wrong though

Yes, that brand is frozen (which probably precludes black worms). Don't you sleep?

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Yes, that brand is frozen (which probably precludes black worms). Don't you sleep?

Best thing about my schedule is I finish work at 3pm.

And I will be buying blackworms today right after that, since the LFS here gets them in today. Nice fresh, fat, and squirmy!

snorvich · 09/17/2010, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

I have been using them all my life, and I'm old.

Ah, be careful about using pejoratives such as "old". What WE are is "experienced".

snorvich · 09/17/2010, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

Best thing about my schedule is I finish work at 3pm.

And I will be buying blackworms today right after that, since the LFS here gets them in today. Nice fresh, fat, and squirmy!

Ah, I finish work right after I fix breakfast!!

And who are you calling "Nice fresh, fat, and squirmy!"?

Bret61081 · 09/17/2010, 06:37 AM

I tried them in my reef tank a few years back when I was having trouble getting a Venusus to eat....nothing in my tank touched them! Just the bristle worms came out for them. Havent tried in years but my fish are kinda spoiled with the spectrum 3 times a day and PE once!

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret61081

I tried them in my reef tank a few years back when I was having trouble getting a Venustus to eat....nothing in my tank touched them! Just the bristle worms came out for them. Haven't tried in years but my fish are kinda spoiled with the spectrum 3 times a day and PE once!

IME fish are often kind of spooked by them. They don't really look like anything we normally feed. But once they try them once, they are usually hooked.

Quis · 09/17/2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

I have been telling people about these for 40 years. I use them every day and invented a worm keeper to keep them alive in. I don't like to put them in the fridge

Paul B · 09/17/2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

What WE are is "experienced".

Ah yes, that is what I meant. (but I have amphipods older than most members here)

jmaneyapanda · 09/17/2010, 09:06 AM

Does anyone know the nutritional value of them?

Stuart60611 · 09/17/2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Well Paul B has been doing it a long time and his approach works well; I am in progess getting started with this as he does it. Your approach is theoretical. Why reinvent when you can copy?

My idea is not something that I completely came up with, but it is rather something I got from postings on the web from others who have kept the worms this way with gravel. My only change would be instead of using gravel I would use bioballs or other biomedia so as to provide biofiltration. The only reason I would go my route is it seems a bit easier to make than having a trought and a pump going to feed the trough. As far as harvesting difficulties, I would think the jar approach I posted could solve that issue. I like Paul's way of doing it, I just like an easier approach than having to design the trought and return. Also, unlike Paul, I will not be doing this in a garage or the like, but I will be keeping these worms in a spare bedroom inside. As such, I want an approach that is not going to be messy with water spashing, etc.

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaneyapanda

Does anyone know the nutritional value of them?

I scoured various FW boards and discus forums, but never found any hard numbers...

Paul B · 09/17/2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Does anyone know the nutritional value of them?

I have no idea but I do know they are full of the correct oil that fish need. All of the fish I have ever gotten to breed including my still breeding gobies and fireclowns were conditioned with blackworms. I also got blue devils to spawn in 1972 using blackworms.
My fish keep in breeding condition with the addition of blackworms almost every day.

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/17/2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

I scoured various FW boards and discus forums, but never found any hard numbers...

I'm wondering if it depends on the "freshness" and what they're fed before/after purchase by a hobbyist. In other words, can you "gut load" them by feeding something nutritional before adding to your tank?

Though, Paul's obvious success feeding them on paper towels kind of throws that theory out the window.

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 10:39 AM

Where are the banana chips when you need them!?

I'm surprised a place like this doesn't spend some money to have the analysis done...
http://www.aquaticfoods.com/worms.html

ShellsSD · 09/17/2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

IME fish are often kind of spooked by them. They don't really look like anything we normally feed. But once they try them once, they are usually hooked.

Ah yes - fish heroin

What are the advantages to keeping them in your fridge or on a counter? It seems both Peter and twelvejewelz get about 2.5 or 3 weeks out of them.

Do you have to rinse more doing one or the other?

jefathome · 09/17/2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

Best thing about my schedule is I finish work at 3pm.

And I will be buying blackworms today right after that, since the LFS here gets them in today. Nice fresh, fat, and squirmy!

SD GUy... What LFS carries them?
I have yet to find on here int he OC that does... so I may have to head down south (heading to Oceanside on Sunday anyway).

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShellsSD

Ah yes - fish heroin

What are the advantages to keeping them in your fridge or on a counter? It seems both Peter and twelvejewelz get about 2.5 or 3 weeks out of them.

Do you have to rinse more doing one or the other?

My guess would be simple metabolism: faster when warmer, slower when colder. So, it would stand to reason that their nutritional content would decrease slower, in the fridge, than ifon the countertop. Also, I would assume they produce waste slower when cold, so the water won't get dirty as quickly. But as Paul pointed out, you can't feed them in the fridge either.

jmaneyapanda · 09/17/2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by der_wille_zur_macht

I'm wondering if it depends on the "freshness" and what they're fed before/after purchase by a hobbyist. In other words, can you "gut load" them by feeding something nutritional before adding to your tank?

Though, Paul's obvious success feeding them on paper towels kind of throws that theory out the window.

I just wonder even about this. Live brine is often used to get fish feeding too, and is an empty diet, even when gut loaded, for all but juvenile fish. Dont get me wrong, I love blackworms, and do feed them. I just dont know if theyre the elixir of life that may be construed from this conversation.

Besides, they are especially wonderful when then get out of the container in the fridge and end up on your pizza below. Dont ask me how I know that.

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaneyapanda

Besides, they are especially wonderful when then get out of the container in the fridge and end up on your pizza below. Dont ask me how I know that.

Never use a container with corners. Don't ask me how I know that.

ShellsSD · 09/17/2010, 11:18 AM

I think I am going to try my hand at them again (since I now know the whole rising thing) really stunk last time

Besides, never hurts to stop by Vet Pets on my way home and see what new fishies they have

Round container
Rinse daily
Don't put above Pizza

got it

SDguy · 09/17/2010, 11:26 AM

Shelly, I just keep a 1g jug of RO/DI water in the fridge next to them. It's best to rinse them with same temperature water, IME. Just be sure to refill the jug as needed so that you have cold water ready to go next time you rinse them. I keep them in a large plastic tub (like the kind you get with potato salad at the grocery store). Works well for up to 10 portions. Any more than that, and I'd definitely recommend a larger container.

ShellsSD · 09/17/2010, 11:31 AM

Thanks Peter. Chris just got a new batch in today so I will stop on my way home and pick some up there. My fishes and corals will be so happy.

Ycore · 09/17/2010, 12:00 PM

Another noticed by product of using these to feed LPS as well. My freaking annoying cleaner shrimp would always pilfer mysis dropped on my LPS. Didn't matter how much I spot feed him, he's always interested in ripping mysis straight out of the polyps of my acans and scolys. The cleaner isn't interested in blackworms at all, allowing me to feed my LPS without having to chase him off with my turkey baster every few minutes.

09/17/2010, 10:39 AM	#41
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Where are the banana chips when you need them!? I'm surprised a place like this doesn't spend some money to have the analysis done... http://www.aquaticfoods.com/worms.html __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

09/17/2010, 11:18 AM	#47
ShellsSD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 128	I think I am going to try my hand at them again (since I now know the whole rising thing) really stunk last time Besides, never hurts to stop by Vet Pets on my way home and see what new fishies they have Round container Rinse daily Don't put above Pizza got it __________________ Shelly 180g Reef 150g FO 5g FWP (office tank)

09/17/2010, 11:26 AM	#48
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Shelly, I just keep a 1g jug of RO/DI water in the fridge next to them. It's best to rinse them with same temperature water, IME. Just be sure to refill the jug as needed so that you have cold water ready to go next time you rinse them. I keep them in a large plastic tub (like the kind you get with potato salad at the grocery store). Works well for up to 10 portions. Any more than that, and I'd definitely recommend a larger container. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

09/17/2010, 11:31 AM	#49
ShellsSD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 128	Thanks Peter. Chris just got a new batch in today so I will stop on my way home and pick some up there. My fishes and corals will be so happy. __________________ Shelly 180g Reef 150g FO 5g FWP (office tank)

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09/17/2010, 06:37 AM	#32
Bret61081 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,078	I tried them in my reef tank a few years back when I was having trouble getting a Venusus to eat....nothing in my tank touched them! Just the bristle worms came out for them. Havent tried in years but my fish are kinda spoiled with the spectrum 3 times a day and PE once!

09/17/2010, 09:06 AM	#36
jmaneyapanda Commencing hatred Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,784	Does anyone know the nutritional value of them?

09/17/2010, 12:00 PM	#50
Ycore Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 315	Another noticed by product of using these to feed LPS as well. My freaking annoying cleaner shrimp would always pilfer mysis dropped on my LPS. Didn't matter how much I spot feed him, he's always interested in ripping mysis straight out of the polyps of my acans and scolys. The cleaner isn't interested in blackworms at all, allowing me to feed my LPS without having to chase him off with my turkey baster every few minutes.